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Jung JH, Lee H, Jeon J, Lee YJ, Nada H, Kim M, Lee H, Bhattarai D, Lee K, Ko HW. A novel indole derivative, 2-{3-[1-(benzylsulfonyl)piperidin-4-yl]-2-methyl-1H-indol-1-yl}-1-(pyrrolidin-1-yl)ethenone, suppresses hedgehog signaling and drug-resistant tumor growth. Arch Pharm (Weinheim) 2024:e2400218. [PMID: 38963677 DOI: 10.1002/ardp.202400218] [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: 03/25/2024] [Revised: 06/07/2024] [Accepted: 06/10/2024] [Indexed: 07/05/2024]
Abstract
The Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway plays important roles in various physiological functions. Several malignancies, such as basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and medulloblastoma (MB), have been linked to the aberrant activation of Hh signaling. Although therapeutic drugs have been developed to inhibit Hh pathway-dependent cancer growth, drug resistance remains a major obstacle in cancer treatment. Here, we show that the newly identified, 2-{3-[1-(benzylsulfonyl)-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridin-4-yl]-2-methyl-1H-indol-1-yl}-1-(pyrrolidin-1-yl)ethenone analog (LKD1214) exhibits comparable potency to vismodegib in suppressing the Hh pathway activation. LKD1214 represses Smoothened (SMO) activity by blocking its ciliary translocation. Interestingly, we also identified that it has a distinctive binding interface with SMO compared with other SMO-regulating chemicals. Notably, it maintains an inhibitory activity against the SmoD477H mutant, as observed in a patient with vismodegib-resistant BCC. Furthermore, LKD1214 inhibits tumor growth in the mouse model of MB. Collectively, these findings suggest that LKD1214 has the therapeutic potential to overcome drug-resistance in Hh-dependent cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joo Hyun Jung
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Life Science and Biotechnology, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea
- College of Pharmacy, Dongguk University, Goyangsi, Gyeonggido, Korea
| | - Hwayoung Lee
- College of Pharmacy, Dongguk University, Goyangsi, Gyeonggido, Korea
| | - Jiyeon Jeon
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Life Science and Biotechnology, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Yoon Ji Lee
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Life Science and Biotechnology, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea
- College of Pharmacy, Dongguk University, Goyangsi, Gyeonggido, Korea
| | - Hossam Nada
- College of Pharmacy, Dongguk University, Goyangsi, Gyeonggido, Korea
| | - Minkyoung Kim
- College of Pharmacy, Dongguk University, Goyangsi, Gyeonggido, Korea
| | - Hankyu Lee
- College of Pharmacy, Dongguk University, Goyangsi, Gyeonggido, Korea
| | - Deepak Bhattarai
- College of Pharmacy, Dongguk University, Goyangsi, Gyeonggido, Korea
| | - Kyeong Lee
- College of Pharmacy, Dongguk University, Goyangsi, Gyeonggido, Korea
| | - Hyuk Wan Ko
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Life Science and Biotechnology, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea
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Li Q, Liu Y, Wu J, Zhu Z, Fan J, Zhai L, Wang Z, Du G, Zhang L, Hu J, Ma DK, Liu JO, Huang H, Tan M, Dang Y, Jiang W. P4HA2 hydroxylates SUFU to regulate the paracrine Hedgehog signaling and promote B-cell lymphoma progression. Leukemia 2024:10.1038/s41375-024-02313-8. [PMID: 38909089 DOI: 10.1038/s41375-024-02313-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2024] [Revised: 06/05/2024] [Accepted: 06/11/2024] [Indexed: 06/24/2024]
Abstract
Aberrations in the Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway are significantly prevailed in various cancers, including B-cell lymphoma. A critical facet of Hh signal transduction involves the dynamic regulation of the suppressor of fused homolog (SUFU)-glioma-associated oncogene homolog (GLI) complex within the kinesin family member 7 (KIF7)-supported ciliary tip compartment. However, the specific post-translational modifications of SUFU-GLI complex within this context have remained largely unexplored. Our study reveals a novel regulatory mechanism involving prolyl 4-hydroxylase 2 (P4HA2), which forms a complex with KIF7 and is essential for signal transduction of Hh pathway. We demonstrate that, upon Hh pathway activation, P4HA2 relocates alongside KIF7 to the ciliary tip. Here, it hydroxylates SUFU to inhibit its function, thus amplifying the Hh signaling. Moreover, the absence of P4HA2 significantly impedes B lymphoma progression. This effect can be attributed to the suppression of Hh signaling in stromal fibroblasts, resulting in decreased growth factors essential for malignant proliferation of B lymphoma cells. Our findings highlight the role of P4HA2-mediated hydroxylation in modulating Hh signaling and propose a novel stromal-targeted therapeutic strategy for B-cell lymphoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quanfu Li
- Key Laboratory of Metabolism and Molecular Medicine, Ministry of Education, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Yiyang Liu
- Key Laboratory of Metabolism and Molecular Medicine, Ministry of Education, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Jingxian Wu
- Department of pathology, College of Basic Medicine, Molecular Medicine Diagnostic and Testing Center, Department of Pathology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China
| | - Zewen Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Metabolism and Molecular Medicine, Ministry of Education, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Jianjun Fan
- Basic Medicine Research and Innovation Center for Novel Target and Therapeutic Intervention, Ministry of Education, College of Pharmacy, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China
| | - Linhui Zhai
- Translational Research Institute of Brain and Brain-Like Intelligence, Shanghai Fourth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200434, China
| | - Ziruoyu Wang
- Key Laboratory of Metabolism and Molecular Medicine, Ministry of Education, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Guiping Du
- Women's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Ling Zhang
- Basic Medicine Research and Innovation Center for Novel Target and Therapeutic Intervention, Ministry of Education, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China
| | - Junchi Hu
- Basic Medicine Research and Innovation Center for Novel Target and Therapeutic Intervention, Ministry of Education, College of Pharmacy, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China
| | - Dengke K Ma
- Department of Physiology, Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Jun O Liu
- Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Hai Huang
- Department of Cell Biology, and Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Minjia Tan
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Yongjun Dang
- Basic Medicine Research and Innovation Center for Novel Target and Therapeutic Intervention, Ministry of Education, College of Pharmacy, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China.
| | - Wei Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Metabolism and Molecular Medicine, Ministry of Education, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
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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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Zhen L, Zhu Y, Wu Z, Liao J, Deng L, Ma Q, Wu Q, Ning G, Lin Q, Zhou L, Huang Y, Zhuo Z, Chen R, Yu D. Activated hedgehog gene pattern correlates with dismal clinical outcome and tumor microenvironment heterogeneity in hepatocellular carcinoma. Heliyon 2024; 10:e26989. [PMID: 38468970 PMCID: PMC10926087 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e26989] [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: 05/07/2023] [Revised: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Activation of the Hedgehog signaling pathway is linked to the initiation and development of human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, its impact on clinical outcomes and the HCC microenvironment remains unclear. Methods We performed comprehensive analyses of Hedgehog pathway genes in a large cohort of HCC patients. Specifically, we utilized univariate Cox regression analysis to identify Hedgehog genes linked to overall survival, and the LASSO algorithm was used to construct a Hedgehog-related gene pattern. We subsequently examined the correlation between the Hedgehog pattern and the HCC microenvironment employing the CIBERSORT and ssGSEA algorithms. Furthermore, Tumor Immune Dysfunction and Exclusion (TIDE) algorithm and the anti-PD-L1 treatment dataset (IMvigor210) are used to evaluate the clinical response of the Hedgehog pattern in predicting immune checkpoint inhibitors. Results We found that the Hedgehog activation score (HHAS), a prognostic score based on 11 Hedgehog genes, was significantly associated with HCC patient survival. Patients exhibiting high HHAS experienced markedly reduced survival rates compared to those with low HHAS, and HHAS emerged as an independent prognostic factor for HCC. Functional enrichment analysis unveiled the association of the HHAS phenotype with functions related to the immune system, and further investigation demonstrated that HCC patients exhibiting low HHAS displayed elevated levels of anti-tumor immune activation in CD8+ T cells, while high HHAS were linked to immune escape phenotypes and increased infiltration of immune suppressive cells. In addition, in the Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor (ICI) cohort of IMvigor210, patients with higher HHAS had worse ICI treatment outcomes and shortened survival time, indicating that the HHAS is a useful indicator for predicting patient response to immunotherapy. Conclusions In summary, our study offers valuable insights for advancing research on Hedgehog and its impact on tumor immunity, which provides an opportunity to optimize prognosis and immune therapy for HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Limin Zhen
- Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, 510080, Guangdong, China
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, 510080, Guangdong, China
| | - Yi Zhu
- Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, 510080, Guangdong, China
- Department of Anesthesiology, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, 510080, Guangdong, China
| | - Zhen Wu
- Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, 510080, Guangdong, China
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, 510080, Guangdong, China
| | - Jinyao Liao
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, 510080, Guangdong, China
| | - Liaoyuan Deng
- School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, China
| | - Qianqian Ma
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, 510080, Guangdong, China
| | - Qili Wu
- Medical Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Gang Ning
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Guangzhou Digestive Diseases Center, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Qiuxiong Lin
- Medical Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Liya Zhou
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Hainan General Hospital, Hainan Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, Hainan Province, China
| | - Yanjie Huang
- Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, 510080, Guangdong, China
| | - Zewei Zhuo
- Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, 510080, Guangdong, China
- School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, China
| | - Ren Chen
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, 510080, Guangdong, China
| | - Dongnan Yu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, 510080, Guangdong, China
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Mohammed OA, Doghish AS, Saleh LA, Alghamdi M, Alamri MMS, Alfaifi J, Adam MIE, Alharthi MH, Alshahrani AM, Alhalafi AH, BinAfif WF, Rezigalla AA, Abdel-Reheim MA, El-Wakeel HS, Attia MA, Elmorsy EA, Al-Noshokaty TM, Nomier Y, Saber S. Itraconazole halts hepatocellular carcinoma progression by modulating sonic hedgehog signaling in rats: A novel therapeutic approach. Pathol Res Pract 2024; 253:155086. [PMID: 38176308 DOI: 10.1016/j.prp.2023.155086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2023] [Revised: 12/24/2023] [Accepted: 12/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024]
Abstract
Liver cancer stands as the fourth leading global cause of death, and its prognosis remains grim due to the limited effectiveness of current medical interventions. Among the various pathways implicated in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the hedgehog signaling pathway has emerged as a crucial player. Itraconazole, a relatively safe and cost-effective antifungal medication, has gained attention for its potential as an anticancer agent. Its primary mode of action involves inhibiting the hedgehog pathway, yet its impact on HCC has not been elucidated. The main objective of this study was to investigate the effect of itraconazole on diethylnitrosamine-induced early-stage HCC in rats. Our findings revealed that itraconazole exhibited a multifaceted arsenal against HCC by downregulating the expression of key components of the hedgehog pathway, shh, smoothened (SMO), and GLI family zinc finger 1 (GLI1), and GLI2. Additionally, itraconazole extended survival and improved liver tissue structure, attributed mainly to its inhibitory effects on hedgehog signaling. Besides, itraconazole demonstrated a regulatory effect on Notch1, and Wnt/β-catenin signaling molecules. Consequently, itraconazole displayed diverse anticancer properties, including anti-inflammatory, antiangiogenic, antiproliferative, and apoptotic effects, as well as the potential to induce autophagy. Moreover, itraconazole exhibited a promise to impede the transformation of epithelial cells into a more mesenchymal-like phenotype. Overall, this study emphasizes the significance of targeting the hedgehog pathway with itraconazole as a promising avenue for further exploration in clinical studies related to HCC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Osama A Mohammed
- Department of Pharmacology, College of medicine, University of Bisha, Bisha 61922, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Ahmed S Doghish
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Badr University in Cairo (BUC), Badr City, Cairo 11829, Egypt; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Azhar University, Nasr City, Cairo 11231, Egypt.
| | - Lobna A Saleh
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo 11566, Egypt; Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Collage of Pharmacy, Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Mushabab Alghamdi
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, College of Medicine, University of Bisha, Bisha 61922, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Mohannad Mohammad S Alamri
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of medicine, University of Bisha, Bisha 61922, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Jaber Alfaifi
- Department of Child Health, College of Medicine, University of Bisha, Bisha 61922, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Masoud I E Adam
- Department of Medical Education and Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Bisha, Bisha 61922, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Muffarah Hamid Alharthi
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of medicine, University of Bisha, Bisha 61922, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Abdullah M Alshahrani
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of medicine, University of Bisha, Bisha 61922, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Abdullah Hassan Alhalafi
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of medicine, University of Bisha, Bisha 61922, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Waad Fuad BinAfif
- Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Bisha, Bisha 61922, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Assad Ali Rezigalla
- Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine, University of Bisha, Bisha 61922, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Mustafa Ahmed Abdel-Reheim
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Shaqra University, Shaqra 11961, Saudi Arabia; Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Beni-Suef University, Beni Suef 62521, Egypt.
| | - Hend S El-Wakeel
- Physiology Department, Benha Faculty of Medicine, Benha University, Qalubyia 13518, Egypt; Physiology Department, Al-Baha Faculty of Medicine, Al-Baha University, Al-Baha 65799, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Mohammed A Attia
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura 35516, Egypt; Department of Basic Medical Sciences , College of Medicine Almaarefa University Diriyiah, 13713, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Elsayed A Elmorsy
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura 35516, Egypt; Pharmacology and Therapeutics Department, Qassim College of Medicine, Qassim University, Buraydah 51452, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Tohada M Al-Noshokaty
- Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Heliopolis University, Cairo 11785, Egypt.
| | - Yousra Nomier
- Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman.
| | - Sameh Saber
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Delta University for Science and Technology, Gamasa 11152, Egypt.
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Truong DD, Weistuch C, Murgas KA, Deasy JO, Mikos AG, Tannenbaum A, Ludwig J. Mapping the Single-cell Differentiation Landscape of Osteosarcoma. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.09.13.555156. [PMID: 37745374 PMCID: PMC10515803 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.13.555156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
The genetic and intratumoral heterogeneity observed in human osteosarcomas (OS) poses challenges for drug development and the study of cell fate, plasticity, and differentiation, processes linked to tumor grade, cell metastasis, and survival. To pinpoint errors in OS differentiation, we transcriptionally profiled 31,527 cells from a tissue-engineered model that directs MSCs toward adipogenic and osteoblastic fates. Incorporating pre-existing chondrocyte data, we applied trajectory analysis and non-negative matrix factorization (NMF) to generate the first human mesenchymal differentiation atlas. This 'roadmap' served as a reference to delineate the cellular composition of morphologically complex OS tumors and quantify each cell's lineage commitment. Projecting these signatures onto a bulk RNA-seq OS dataset unveiled a correlation between a stem-like transcriptomic phenotype and poorer survival outcomes. Our study takes the critical first step in accurately quantifying OS differentiation and lineage, a prerequisite to better understanding global differentiation bottlenecks that might someday be targeted therapeutically.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danh D. Truong
- Department of Sarcoma Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | - Corey Weistuch
- Department of Medical Physics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
| | - Kevin A. Murgas
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
| | - Joseph O. Deasy
- Department of Medical Physics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
| | | | - Allen Tannenbaum
- Department of Applied Mathematics and Statistics, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
- Department of Computer Science, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
| | - Joseph Ludwig
- Department of Sarcoma Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
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Rothschild SC, Row RH, Martin BL, Clements WK. Sclerotome is compartmentalized by parallel Shh and Bmp signaling downstream of CaMKII. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.07.21.550086. [PMID: 37503202 PMCID: PMC10370206 DOI: 10.1101/2023.07.21.550086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
The sclerotome in vertebrates comprises an embryonic population of cellular progenitors that give rise to diverse adult tissues including the axial skeleton, ribs, intervertebral discs, connective tissue, and vascular smooth muscle. In the thorax, this cell population arises in the ventromedial region of each of the segmented tissue blocks known as somites. How and when sclerotome adult tissue fates are specified and how the gene signatures that predate those fates are regulated has not been well studied. We have identified a previously unknown role for Ca 2+ /calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) in regulating sclerotome patterning in zebrafish. Mechanistically, CaMKII regulates the activity of parallel signaling inputs that pattern sclerotome gene expression. In one downstream arm, CaMKII regulates distribution of the established sclerotome-inductive morphogen sonic hedgehog (Shh), and thus Shh-dependent sclerotome genes. In the second downstream arm, we show a previously unappreciated inductive requirement for Bmp signaling, where CaMKII activates expression of bmp4 and consequently Bmp activity. Bmp activates expression of a second subset of stereotypical sclerotome genes, while simultaneously repressing Shh-dependent markers. Our work demonstrates that CaMKII promotes parallel Bmp and Shh signaling as a mechanism to first promote global sclerotome specification, and that these pathways subsequently regionally activate and refine discrete compartmental genetic programs. Our work establishes how the earliest unique gene signatures that likely drive distinct cell behaviors and adult fates arise within the sclerotome.
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van Son KC, Verschuren L, Hanemaaijer R, Reeves H, Takkenberg RB, Drenth JPH, Tushuizen ME, Holleboom AG. Non-Parenchymal Cells and the Extracellular Matrix in Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:1308. [PMID: 36831649 PMCID: PMC9954729 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15041308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2022] [Revised: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in the setting of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)-related cirrhosis and even in the pre-cirrhotic state is increasing in incidence. NAFLD-related HCC has a poor clinical outcome as it is often advanced at diagnosis due to late diagnosis and systemic treatment response is poor due to reduced immune surveillance. Much of the focus of molecular research has been on the pathological changes in hepatocytes; however, immune cells, hepatic stellate cells, liver sinusoidal endothelial cells and the extracellular matrix may play important roles in the pathogenesis of NAFLD-related HCC as well. Here, we review the role of non-parenchymal cells in the liver in the pathogenesis of HCC in the context of NAFLD-NASH, with a particular focus on the innate and the adaptive immune system, fibrogenesis and angiogenesis. We review the key roles of macrophages, hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), T cells, natural killer (NK) cells, NKT cells and liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs) and the role of the extracellular matrix in hepatocarcinogenesis within the steatotic milieu.
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Affiliation(s)
- Koen C. van Son
- Department of Vascular and Internal Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Center, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Radboud University Medical Center, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Lars Verschuren
- Department of Metabolic Health Research, Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research, 2333 BE Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Roeland Hanemaaijer
- Department of Metabolic Health Research, Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research, 2333 BE Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Helen Reeves
- Newcastle University Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, UK
| | - R. Bart Takkenberg
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Amsterdam University Medical Center, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Joost P. H. Drenth
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Radboud University Medical Center, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Maarten E. Tushuizen
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Adriaan G. Holleboom
- Department of Vascular and Internal Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Center, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Zhang ZW, Teng X, Zhao F, Ma C, Zhang J, Xiao LF, Wang Y, Chang M, Tian Y, Li C, Zhang Z, Song S, Tong WM, Liu P, Niu Y. METTL3 regulates m6A methylation of PTCH1 and GLI2 in Sonic hedgehog signaling to promote tumor progression in SHH-medulloblastoma. Cell Rep 2022; 41:111530. [DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.111530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2021] [Revised: 07/31/2022] [Accepted: 09/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
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10
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Shokouhian B, Aboulkheyr Es H, Negahdari B, Tamimi A, Shahdoust M, Shpichka A, Timashev P, Hassan M, Vosough M. Hepatogenesis and hepatocarcinogenesis: Alignment of the main signaling pathways. J Cell Physiol 2022; 237:3984-4000. [PMID: 36037302 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.30862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2022] [Revised: 07/06/2022] [Accepted: 08/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Development is a symphony of cells differentiation in which different signaling pathways are orchestrated at specific times and periods to form mature and functional cells from undifferentiated cells. The similarity of the gene expression profile in malignant and undifferentiated cells is an interesting topic that has been proposed for many years and gave rise to the differentiation-therapy concept, which appears a rational insight and should be reconsidered. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), as the sixth common cancer and the third leading cause of cancer death worldwide, is one of the health-threatening complications in communities where hepatotropic viruses are endemic. Sedentary lifestyle and high intake of calories are other risk factors. HCC is a complex condition in which various dimensions must be addressed, including heterogeneity of cells in the tumor mass, high invasiveness, and underlying diseases that limit the treatment options. Under these restrictions, recognizing, and targeting common signaling pathways during liver development and HCC could expedite to a rational therapeutic approach, reprograming malignant cells to well-differentiated ones in a functional state. Accordingly, in this review, we highlighted the commonalities of signaling pathways in hepatogenesis and hepatocarcinogenesis, and comprised an update on the current status of targeting these pathways in laboratory studies and clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bahare Shokouhian
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.,Department of Regenerative Medicine, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Babak Negahdari
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Atena Tamimi
- Department of Regenerative Medicine, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | - Maryam Shahdoust
- School of Biological Science, Institute for Research in Fundamental Sciences (IPM), Tehran, Iran
| | - Anastasia Shpichka
- World-Class Research Center "Digital biodesign and personalized healthcare", Sechenov University, Moscow, Russia.,Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Sechenov University, Moscow, Russia.,Chemistry Department, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Peter Timashev
- World-Class Research Center "Digital biodesign and personalized healthcare", Sechenov University, Moscow, Russia.,Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Sechenov University, Moscow, Russia.,Chemistry Department, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Moustapha Hassan
- Experimental Cancer Medicine, Institution for Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.,Clinical Research Center (KFC) and Center for Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation (CAST), Karolinska University Hospital, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Massoud Vosough
- Department of Regenerative Medicine, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran.,Experimental Cancer Medicine, Institution for Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.,Clinical Research Center (KFC) and Center for Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation (CAST), Karolinska University Hospital, Huddinge, Sweden
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11
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mTOR: A Potential New Target in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23169196. [PMID: 36012464 PMCID: PMC9409235 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23169196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2022] [Revised: 08/10/2022] [Accepted: 08/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The global prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) continues to rise, yet effective treatments are lacking due to the complex pathogenesis of this disease. Although recent research has provided evidence for the “multiple strikes” theory, the classic “two strikes” theory has not been overturned. Therefore, there is a crucial need to identify multiple targets in NAFLD pathogenesis for the development of diagnostic markers and targeted therapeutics. Since its discovery, the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) has been recognized as the central node of a network that regulates cell growth and development and is closely related to liver lipid metabolism and other processes. This paper will explore the mechanisms by which mTOR regulates lipid metabolism (SREBPs), insulin resistance (Foxo1, Lipin1), oxidative stress (PIG3, p53, JNK), intestinal microbiota (TLRs), autophagy, inflammation, genetic polymorphisms, and epigenetics in NAFLD. The specific influence of mTOR on NAFLD was hypothesized to be divided into micro regulation (the mechanism of mTOR’s influence on NAFLD factors) and macro mediation (the relationship between various influencing factors) to summarize the influence of mTOR on the developmental process of NAFLD, and prove the importance of mTOR as an influencing factor of NAFLD regarding multiple aspects. The effects of crosstalk between mTOR and its upstream regulators, Notch, Hedgehog, and Hippo, on the occurrence and development of NAFLD-associated hepatocellular carcinoma are also summarized. This analysis will hopefully support the development of diagnostic markers and new therapeutic targets in NAFLD.
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12
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Chrysavgis L, Giannakodimos I, Diamantopoulou P, Cholongitas E. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma: Clinical challenges of an intriguing link. World J Gastroenterol 2022; 28:310-331. [PMID: 35110952 PMCID: PMC8771615 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v28.i3.310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2021] [Revised: 10/19/2021] [Accepted: 01/06/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has emerged as the most common liver disorder worldwide mainly attributed to the epidemic spread of obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Although it is considered a benign disease, NAFLD can progress to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Most data regarding the epidemiology of NAFLD-related HCC are derived from cohort and population studies and show that its incidence is increasing as well as it is likely to emerge as the leading indication for liver transplantation, especially in the Western World. Although cirrhosis constitutes the main risk factor for HCC development, in patients with NAFLD, HCC can arise in the absence of cirrhosis, indicating specific carcinogenic molecular pathways. Since NAFLD as an underlying liver disease for HCC is often underdiagnosed due to lack of sufficient surveillance in this population, NAFLD-HCC patients are at advanced HCC stage at the time of diagnosis making the management of those patients clinically challenging and affecting their prognostic outcomes. In this current review, we summarize the latest literature on the epidemiology, other than liver cirrhosis-pathogenesis, risk factors and prognosis of NAFLD-HCC patients. Finally, we emphasize the prevention of the development of NAFLD-associated HCC and we provide some insight into the open questions and issues regarding the appropriate surveillance policies for those patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lampros Chrysavgis
- Department of Experimental Physiology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens 11527, Greece
| | - Ilias Giannakodimos
- First Department of Internal Medicine, "Laiko" General Hospital of Athens, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens 11527, Greece
| | - Panagiota Diamantopoulou
- First Department of Internal Medicine, "Laiko" General Hospital of Athens, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens 11527, Greece
| | - Evangelos Cholongitas
- First Department of Internal Medicine, "Laiko" General Hospital of Athens, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens 11527, Greece
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13
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Progressive Liver Fibrosis in Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease. Cells 2021; 10:cells10123401. [PMID: 34943908 PMCID: PMC8699709 DOI: 10.3390/cells10123401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2021] [Revised: 11/29/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a chronic and progressive form of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Its global incidence is increasing and makes NASH an epidemic and a public health threat. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is associated with major morbidity and mortality, with a heavy burden on quality of life and liver transplant requirements. Due to repeated insults to the liver, patients are at risk for developing hepatocellular carcinoma. The progression of NASH was initially defined according to a two-hit model involving an initial development of steatosis, followed by a process of lipid peroxidation and inflammation. In contrast, current evidence proposes a “multi-hit” or “multi-parallel hit” model that includes multiple pathways promoting progressive fibrosis and oncogenesis. This model includes multiple cellular, genetic, immunological, metabolic, and endocrine pathways leading to hepatocellular carcinoma development, underscoring the complexity of this disease.
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14
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Chai JY, Sugumar V, Alshawsh MA, Wong WF, Arya A, Chong PP, Looi CY. The Role of Smoothened-Dependent and -Independent Hedgehog Signaling Pathway in Tumorigenesis. Biomedicines 2021; 9:1188. [PMID: 34572373 PMCID: PMC8466551 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9091188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2021] [Revised: 08/29/2021] [Accepted: 09/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The Hedgehog (Hh)-glioma-associated oncogene homolog (GLI) signaling pathway is highly conserved among mammals, with crucial roles in regulating embryonic development as well as in cancer initiation and progression. The GLI transcription factors (GLI1, GLI2, and GLI3) are effectors of the Hh pathway and are regulated via Smoothened (SMO)-dependent and SMO-independent mechanisms. The SMO-dependent route involves the common Hh-PTCH-SMO axis, and mutations or transcriptional and epigenetic dysregulation at these levels lead to the constitutive activation of GLI transcription factors. Conversely, the SMO-independent route involves the SMO bypass regulation of GLI transcription factors by external signaling pathways and their interacting proteins or by epigenetic and transcriptional regulation of GLI transcription factors expression. Both routes of GLI activation, when dysregulated, have been heavily implicated in tumorigenesis of many known cancers, making them important targets for cancer treatment. Hence, this review describes the various SMO-dependent and SMO-independent routes of GLI regulation in the tumorigenesis of multiple cancers in order to provide a holistic view of the paradigms of hedgehog signaling networks involving GLI regulation. An in-depth understanding of the complex interplay between GLI and various signaling elements could help inspire new therapeutic breakthroughs for the treatment of Hh-GLI-dependent cancers in the future. Lastly, we have presented an up-to-date summary of the latest findings concerning the use of Hh inhibitors in clinical developmental studies and discussed the challenges, perspectives, and possible directions regarding the use of SMO/GLI inhibitors in clinical settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Yi Chai
- School of Biosciences, Faculty of Health & Medical Sciences, Taylor’s University, 1 Jalan Taylors, Subang Jaya 47500, Malaysia; (J.Y.C.); (P.P.C.)
| | - Vaisnevee Sugumar
- School of Medicine, Faculty of Health & Medical Sciences, Taylor’s University, 1 Jalan Taylors, Subang Jaya 47500, Malaysia;
| | | | - Won Fen Wong
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia;
| | - Aditya Arya
- School of Biosciences, Faculty of Science, Building 184, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia;
| | - Pei Pei Chong
- School of Biosciences, Faculty of Health & Medical Sciences, Taylor’s University, 1 Jalan Taylors, Subang Jaya 47500, Malaysia; (J.Y.C.); (P.P.C.)
- Centre for Drug Discovery and Molecular Pharmacology (CDDMP), Faculty of Health & Medical Sciences, Taylor’s University, 1 Jalan Taylors, Subang Jaya 47500, Malaysia
| | - Chung Yeng Looi
- School of Biosciences, Faculty of Health & Medical Sciences, Taylor’s University, 1 Jalan Taylors, Subang Jaya 47500, Malaysia; (J.Y.C.); (P.P.C.)
- Centre for Drug Discovery and Molecular Pharmacology (CDDMP), Faculty of Health & Medical Sciences, Taylor’s University, 1 Jalan Taylors, Subang Jaya 47500, Malaysia
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15
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Kumar S, Duan Q, Wu R, Harris EN, Su Q. Pathophysiological communication between hepatocytes and non-parenchymal cells in liver injury from NAFLD to liver fibrosis. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2021; 176:113869. [PMID: 34280515 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2021.113869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 118] [Impact Index Per Article: 39.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2021] [Revised: 06/16/2021] [Accepted: 07/11/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a multifactorial disease that encompasses a spectrum of pathological conditions, ranging from simple steatosis (NAFL), nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), fibrosis/cirrhosis which can further progress to hepatocellular carcinoma and liver failure. The progression of NAFL to NASH and liver fibrosis is closely associated with a series of liver injury resulting from lipotoxicity, oxidative stress, redox imbalance (excessive nitric oxide), ER stress, inflammation and apoptosis that occur sequentially in different liver cells which ultimately leads to the activation of liver regeneration and fibrogenesis, augmenting collagen and extracellular matrix deposition and promoting liver fibrosis and cirrhosis. Type 2 diabetes is a significant risk factor in NAFLD development by accelerating liver damage. Here, we overview recent findings from human study and animal models on the pathophysiological communication among hepatocytes (HCs), Kupffer cells (KCs), hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs) during the disease development. The mechanisms of crucial signaling pathways, including Toll-like receptor, TGFβ and hedgehog mediated hepatic injury are also discussed. We further highlight the potentials of precisely targeting hepatic individual cell-type using nanotechnology as therapeutic strategy for the treatment of NASH and liver fibrosis.
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16
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Carballo GB, Ribeiro JH, Lopes GPDF, Ferrer VP, Dezonne RS, Pereira CM, Spohr TCLDSE. GANT-61 Induces Autophagy and Apoptosis in Glioblastoma Cells despite their heterogeneity. Cell Mol Neurobiol 2021; 41:1227-1244. [PMID: 32504326 DOI: 10.1007/s10571-020-00891-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2020] [Accepted: 05/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common adult primary tumor of the CNS characterized by rapid growth and diffuse invasiveness into the brain parenchyma. The GBM resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs may be due to the presence of cancer stem cells (CSCs). The CSCs activate the same molecular pathways as healthy stem cells such as WNT, Sonic hedgehog (SHH), and Notch. Mutations or deregulations of those pathways play a key role in the proliferation and differentiation of their surrounding environment, leading to tumorigenesis. Here we investigated the effect of SHH signaling pathway inhibition in human GBM cells by using GANT-61, considering stem cell phenotype, cell proliferation, and cell death. Our results demonstrated that GANT-61 induces apoptosis and autophagy in GBM cells, by increasing the expression of LC3 II and cleaved caspase 3 and 9. Moreover, we observed that SHH signaling plays a crucial role in CSC phenotype maintenance, being also involved in the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) phenotype. We also noted that SHH pathway modulation can regulate cell proliferation as revealed through the analysis of Ki-67 and c-MYC expressions. We concluded that SHH signaling pathway inhibition may be a promising therapeutic approach to treat patients suffering from GBM refractory to traditional treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriela Basile Carballo
- Instituto Estadual Do Cérebro Paulo Niemeyer, Rua do Rezende 156, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 20231-092, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Anatomia Patológica, Hospital Universitário Clementino Fraga Filho, Universidade Federal Do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Orofacial Development and Regeneration, Institute of Oral Biology, Centre for Dental Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Jessica Honorato Ribeiro
- Instituto Estadual Do Cérebro Paulo Niemeyer, Rua do Rezende 156, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 20231-092, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Anatomia Patológica, Hospital Universitário Clementino Fraga Filho, Universidade Federal Do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Radiobiology Unit, Belgian Nuclear Research Centre, SCK·CEN, Mol, Belgium
| | - Giselle Pinto de Faria Lopes
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Anatomia Patológica, Hospital Universitário Clementino Fraga Filho, Universidade Federal Do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Departamento de Biotecnologia Marinha, Instituto de Estudos do Mar Almirante Paulo Moreira (IEAPM)/Coordenação de Pesquisa, Instituto Nacional de Câncer (INCA), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Valéria Pereira Ferrer
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Anatomia Patológica, Hospital Universitário Clementino Fraga Filho, Universidade Federal Do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Institute of Biology, Fluminense Federal University, Niteroi, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Romulo Sperduto Dezonne
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biomedicina Translacional, Universidade Do Grande Rio, Duque de Caxias, Brazil
| | - Cláudia Maria Pereira
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biomedicina Translacional, Universidade Do Grande Rio, Duque de Caxias, Brazil
| | - Tania Cristina Leite de Sampaio E Spohr
- Instituto Estadual Do Cérebro Paulo Niemeyer, Rua do Rezende 156, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 20231-092, Brazil.
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Anatomia Patológica, Hospital Universitário Clementino Fraga Filho, Universidade Federal Do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
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17
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Bhat A, Yadav J, Thakur K, Aggarwal N, Tripathi T, Chhokar A, Singh T, Jadli M, Bharti AC. Exosomes from cervical cancer cells facilitate pro-angiogenic endothelial reconditioning through transfer of Hedgehog-GLI signaling components. Cancer Cell Int 2021; 21:319. [PMID: 34167524 PMCID: PMC8223267 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-021-02026-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2020] [Accepted: 06/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Angiogenic switch is a hallmark feature of transition from low-grade to high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) in cervical cancer progression. Therefore, early events leading to locally-advanced cervical metastatic lesions demand a greater understanding of the underlying mechanisms. Recent leads indicate the role of tumor-derived exosomes in altering the functions of endothelial cells in cervical cancer, which needs further investigation. METHODS Exosomes isolated from cervical cancer cell lines were assessed for their angiogenic effect on the human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) using tube formation and wound healing assay. The exosomal uptake by HUVEC cells was monitored using PKH-67 labelling followed by fluorescence microscopy. Alterations in Hh-GLI signaling components, PTCH1 and GLI1, in HUVEC were measured by immunoblotting. Changes in angiogenesis-related transcripts of vascular endothelial growth factor VEGF-A, VEGF-B, VEGFR2 and angiopoietin-1, angiopoietin-2, osteopontin were measured in exosome-treated HUVEC and in the exosomal RNA by RT-PCR. RESULTS Enhanced tube formation, with an increased number of nodes and branching was observed in HUVEC's treated with exosomes derived from different cervical cancer cell lines. HPV-positive (SiHa and HeLa) cells' exosomes were more angiogenic. Exosome-treated HUVEC showed increased migration rate. PKH-67 labelled exosomes were found internalized in HUVEC. A high level of PTCH1 protein was detected in the exosome-treated endothelial cells. Subsequent RT-PCR analysis showed increased transcripts of Hh-GLI downstream target genes VEGF-A, VEGFR2, angiopoietin-2, and decreased expression of VEGF-B, and angiopoietin-1, suggestive of active Hh-GLI signaling. These effects were more pronounced in HUVEC's treated with exosomes of HPV-positive cells. However, these effects were independent of tumor-derived VEGF-A as exosomal cargo lacked VEGF-A transcripts or proteins. CONCLUSION Overall, the data showed cervical cancer exosomes promote pro-angiogenic response in endothelial cells via upregulation of Hh-GLI signaling and modulate downstream angiogenesis-related target genes. The study provides a novel exosome-mediated mechanism potentially favoring cervical angiogenesis and thus identifies the exosomes as potential pharmacological targets against locally-advanced metastatic cervical lesions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anjali Bhat
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Delhi (North Campus), Delhi, 110007, India
| | - Joni Yadav
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Delhi (North Campus), Delhi, 110007, India
| | - Kulbhushan Thakur
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Delhi (North Campus), Delhi, 110007, India
| | - Nikita Aggarwal
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Delhi (North Campus), Delhi, 110007, India
| | - Tanya Tripathi
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Delhi (North Campus), Delhi, 110007, India
| | - Arun Chhokar
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Delhi (North Campus), Delhi, 110007, India
| | - Tejveer Singh
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Delhi (North Campus), Delhi, 110007, India
| | - Mohit Jadli
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Delhi (North Campus), Delhi, 110007, India
| | - Alok Chandra Bharti
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Delhi (North Campus), Delhi, 110007, India.
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18
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Epigenetic-Based Therapy-A Prospective Chance for Medulloblastoma Patients' Recovery. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22094925. [PMID: 34066495 PMCID: PMC8124462 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22094925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2021] [Revised: 04/21/2021] [Accepted: 04/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Medulloblastoma (MB) is one of the most frequent and malignant brain tumors in children. The prognosis depends on the advancement of the disease and the patient's age. Current therapies, which include surgery, chemotherapy, and irradiation, despite being quite effective, cause significant side effects that influence the central nervous system's function and cause neurocognitive deficits. Therefore, they substantially lower the quality of life, which is especially severe in a developing organism. Thus, there is a need for new therapies that are less toxic and even more effective. Recently, knowledge about the epigenetic mechanisms that are responsible for medulloblastoma development has increased. Epigenetics is a phenomenon that influences gene expression but can be easily modified by external factors. The best known epigenetic mechanisms are histone modifications, DNA methylation, or noncoding RNAs actions. Epigenetic mechanisms comprehensively explain the complex phenomena of carcinogenesis. At the same time, they seem to be a potential key to treating medulloblastoma with fewer complications than past therapies. This review presents the currently known epigenetic mechanisms that are involved in medulloblastoma pathogenesis and the potential therapies that use epigenetic traits to cure medulloblastoma while maintaining a good quality of life and ensuring a higher median overall survival rate.
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19
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Ramai D, Tai W, Rivera M, Facciorusso A, Tartaglia N, Pacilli M, Ambrosi A, Cotsoglou C, Sacco R. Natural Progression of Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis to Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Biomedicines 2021; 9:biomedicines9020184. [PMID: 33673113 PMCID: PMC7918599 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9020184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2021] [Revised: 02/01/2021] [Accepted: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a chronic and progressive form of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Its global incidence is increasing which makes NASH an epidemic and a public health threat. Due to repeated insults to the liver, patients are at risk for developing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The progression of NASH to HCC was initially defined according to a two-hit model which involved the development of steatosis, followed by lipid peroxidation and inflammation. However, current research defines a “multi-hit” or “multi-parallel hit” model which synthesizes several contributing pathways involved in progressive fibrosis and oncogenesis. This perspective considers the effects of cellular, genetic, immunologic, metabolic, and endocrine pathways leading up to HCC which underscores the complexity of this condition. This article will provide an updated review of the pathogenic mechanisms leading from NASH to HCC as well as an exploration of the role of biomarkers and screening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daryl Ramai
- Department of Internal Medicine, The Brooklyn Hospital Center, Brooklyn, NY 11201, USA; (D.R.); (W.T.); (M.R.)
| | - Waqqas Tai
- Department of Internal Medicine, The Brooklyn Hospital Center, Brooklyn, NY 11201, USA; (D.R.); (W.T.); (M.R.)
| | - Michelle Rivera
- Department of Internal Medicine, The Brooklyn Hospital Center, Brooklyn, NY 11201, USA; (D.R.); (W.T.); (M.R.)
| | - Antonio Facciorusso
- Section of Gastroenterology, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Foggia, 71122 Foggia, Italy;
| | - Nicola Tartaglia
- General Surgery Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Foggia, 71122 Foggia, Italy; (N.T.); (M.P.); (A.A.)
| | - Mario Pacilli
- General Surgery Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Foggia, 71122 Foggia, Italy; (N.T.); (M.P.); (A.A.)
| | - Antonio Ambrosi
- General Surgery Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Foggia, 71122 Foggia, Italy; (N.T.); (M.P.); (A.A.)
| | - Christian Cotsoglou
- General Surgey Unit, Department of Surgery, ASST-Vimercate, 20871 Vimercate, Italy;
| | - Rodolfo Sacco
- Section of Gastroenterology, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Foggia, 71122 Foggia, Italy;
- Correspondence:
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20
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Abstract
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the major drivers for the rising trend in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Over the past three decades, the incidence of both NAFLD and HCC have increased two- to threefold. It has been forecasted that the number of patients with NAFLD in the Unites States will reach 101 million by 2030; global increase is also foreseen. This trend will likely continue to translate into increased HCC in the Unites States and across the globe. In this chapter, we summarize the current evidence linking NAFLD, metabolic syndrome, particularly obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus, and HCC. We describe the main molecular mechanisms connecting these metabolic perturbations and hepatocarcinogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bubu A Banini
- Section of Digestive Diseases, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Arun J Sanyal
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, United States.
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21
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Papaioannou E, Yánez DC, Ross S, Lau CI, Solanki A, Chawda MM, Virasami A, Ranz I, Ono M, O'Shaughnessy RFL, Crompton T. Sonic Hedgehog signaling limits atopic dermatitis via Gli2-driven immune regulation. J Clin Invest 2019; 129:3153-3170. [PMID: 31264977 PMCID: PMC6668675 DOI: 10.1172/jci125170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2018] [Accepted: 05/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Hedgehog (Hh) proteins regulate development and tissue homeostasis, but their role in atopic dermatitis (AD) remains unknown. We found that on induction of mouse AD, Sonic Hedgehog (Shh) expression in skin and Hh pathway action in skin T cells were increased. Shh signaling reduced AD pathology and the levels of Shh expression determined disease severity. Hh-mediated transcription in skin T cells in AD-induced mice increased Treg populations and their suppressive function through increased active transforming growth factor–β (TGF-β) in Treg signaling to skin T effector populations to reduce disease progression and pathology. RNA sequencing of skin CD4+ T cells from AD-induced mice demonstrated that Hh signaling increased expression of immunoregulatory genes and reduced expression of inflammatory and chemokine genes. Addition of recombinant Shh to cultures of naive human CD4+ T cells in iTreg culture conditions increased FOXP3 expression. Our findings establish an important role for Shh upregulation in preventing AD, by increased Gli-driven, Treg cell–mediated immune suppression, paving the way for a potential new therapeutic strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleftheria Papaioannou
- Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Diana C Yánez
- Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom.,School of Medicine, Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Susan Ross
- Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ching-In Lau
- Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Anisha Solanki
- Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Mira Manilal Chawda
- Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Alex Virasami
- Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ismael Ranz
- Department of Respiratory Medicine and Allergy, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Masahiro Ono
- Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom.,Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ryan F L O'Shaughnessy
- Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom.,Blizard Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Tessa Crompton
- Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom
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22
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Frank MO, Koyama T, Rhrissorrakrai K, Robine N, Utro F, Emde AK, Chen BJ, Arora K, Shah M, Geiger H, Felice V, Dikoglu E, Rahman S, Fang A, Vacic V, Bergmann EA, Vogel JLM, Reeves C, Khaira D, Calabro A, Kim D, Lamendola-Essel MF, Esteves C, Agius P, Stolte C, Boockvar J, Demopoulos A, Placantonakis DG, Golfinos JG, Brennan C, Bruce J, Lassman AB, Canoll P, Grommes C, Daras M, Diamond E, Omuro A, Pentsova E, Orange DE, Harvey SJ, Posner JB, Michelini VV, Jobanputra V, Zody MC, Kelly J, Parida L, Wrzeszczynski KO, Royyuru AK, Darnell RB. Sequencing and curation strategies for identifying candidate glioblastoma treatments. BMC Med Genomics 2019; 12:56. [PMID: 31023376 PMCID: PMC6485090 DOI: 10.1186/s12920-019-0500-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2018] [Accepted: 03/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Prompted by the revolution in high-throughput sequencing and its potential impact for treating cancer patients, we initiated a clinical research study to compare the ability of different sequencing assays and analysis methods to analyze glioblastoma tumors and generate real-time potential treatment options for physicians. Methods A consortium of seven institutions in New York City enrolled 30 patients with glioblastoma and performed tumor whole genome sequencing (WGS) and RNA sequencing (RNA-seq; collectively WGS/RNA-seq); 20 of these patients were also analyzed with independent targeted panel sequencing. We also compared results of expert manual annotations with those from an automated annotation system, Watson Genomic Analysis (WGA), to assess the reliability and time required to identify potentially relevant pharmacologic interventions. Results WGS/RNAseq identified more potentially actionable clinical results than targeted panels in 90% of cases, with an average of 16-fold more unique potentially actionable variants identified per individual; 84 clinically actionable calls were made using WGS/RNA-seq that were not identified by panels. Expert annotation and WGA had good agreement on identifying variants [mean sensitivity = 0.71, SD = 0.18 and positive predictive value (PPV) = 0.80, SD = 0.20] and drug targets when the same variants were called (mean sensitivity = 0.74, SD = 0.34 and PPV = 0.79, SD = 0.23) across patients. Clinicians used the information to modify their treatment plan 10% of the time. Conclusion These results present the first comprehensive comparison of technical and machine augmented analysis of targeted panel and WGS/RNA-seq to identify potential cancer treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mayu O Frank
- New York Genome Center, 101 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY, 10013, USA.,Laboratory of Molecular Neuro-Oncology, The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Takahiko Koyama
- IBM Thomas J. Watson Research Center, Yorktown Heights, NY, 10598, USA
| | | | - Nicolas Robine
- New York Genome Center, 101 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY, 10013, USA
| | - Filippo Utro
- IBM Thomas J. Watson Research Center, Yorktown Heights, NY, 10598, USA
| | - Anne-Katrin Emde
- New York Genome Center, 101 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY, 10013, USA
| | - Bo-Juen Chen
- New York Genome Center, 101 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY, 10013, USA.,Present address: Google, 76 9th Avenue, New York, NY, 10011, USA
| | - Kanika Arora
- New York Genome Center, 101 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY, 10013, USA
| | - Minita Shah
- New York Genome Center, 101 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY, 10013, USA
| | - Heather Geiger
- New York Genome Center, 101 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY, 10013, USA
| | - Vanessa Felice
- New York Genome Center, 101 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY, 10013, USA
| | - Esra Dikoglu
- New York Genome Center, 101 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY, 10013, USA.,Present address: Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Sadia Rahman
- New York Genome Center, 101 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY, 10013, USA
| | - Alice Fang
- New York Genome Center, 101 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY, 10013, USA
| | - Vladimir Vacic
- New York Genome Center, 101 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY, 10013, USA.,Present address: 23&Me, 899 W Evelyn Ave, Mountain View, CA, 94041, USA
| | - Ewa A Bergmann
- New York Genome Center, 101 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY, 10013, USA.,Present address: Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, Stübeweg 51 D-79108, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Julia L Moore Vogel
- New York Genome Center, 101 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY, 10013, USA.,Laboratory of Molecular Neuro-Oncology, The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10065, USA.,Present address: The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 N. Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Catherine Reeves
- New York Genome Center, 101 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY, 10013, USA
| | - Depinder Khaira
- New York Genome Center, 101 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY, 10013, USA
| | - Anthony Calabro
- New York Genome Center, 101 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY, 10013, USA.,Present address: The Tisch Cancer Institute, 1470 Madison Avenue, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Duyang Kim
- New York Genome Center, 101 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY, 10013, USA
| | - Michelle F Lamendola-Essel
- New York Genome Center, 101 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY, 10013, USA.,Present address: Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Cecilia Esteves
- New York Genome Center, 101 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY, 10013, USA.,Present address: Harvard Medical School, 10 Shattuck Street, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Phaedra Agius
- New York Genome Center, 101 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY, 10013, USA
| | - Christian Stolte
- New York Genome Center, 101 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY, 10013, USA
| | - John Boockvar
- Northwell Health, Lenox Hill Hospital, 100 E. 77th Street, New York, NY, 10075, USA
| | - Alexis Demopoulos
- Northwell Health, The Brain Tumor Center, 450 Lakeville Road, Lake Success, Lakeville, NY, 11042, USA
| | | | - John G Golfinos
- New York University, School of Medicine, 550 First Avenue, New York, NY, 10016, USA
| | - Cameron Brennan
- Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Jeffrey Bruce
- Columbia University Medical Center, 710 West 168th Street, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Andrew B Lassman
- Columbia University Medical Center, 710 West 168th Street, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Peter Canoll
- Columbia University Medical Center, 710 West 168th Street, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Christian Grommes
- Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Mariza Daras
- Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Eli Diamond
- Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Antonio Omuro
- Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10065, USA.,Present address: Yale School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT, 06510, USA
| | - Elena Pentsova
- Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Dana E Orange
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuro-Oncology, The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10065, USA.,Hospital for Special Surgery, 535 E. 70th Street, New York, NY, 10021, USA
| | - Stephen J Harvey
- IBM Watson Health, NW Broken Sound Bkwy, Boca Raton, FL, 33487, USA
| | - Jerome B Posner
- Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | | | - Vaidehi Jobanputra
- New York Genome Center, 101 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY, 10013, USA.,Columbia University Medical Center, 710 West 168th Street, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Michael C Zody
- New York Genome Center, 101 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY, 10013, USA
| | - John Kelly
- IBM Thomas J. Watson Research Center, Yorktown Heights, NY, 10598, USA
| | - Laxmi Parida
- IBM Thomas J. Watson Research Center, Yorktown Heights, NY, 10598, USA
| | | | - Ajay K Royyuru
- IBM Thomas J. Watson Research Center, Yorktown Heights, NY, 10598, USA
| | - Robert B Darnell
- New York Genome Center, 101 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY, 10013, USA. .,Laboratory of Molecular Neuro-Oncology, The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10065, USA. .,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10065, USA.
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23
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Noguchi H, Castillo JG, Nakashima K, Pleasure SJ. Suppressor of fused controls perinatal expansion and quiescence of future dentate adult neural stem cells. eLife 2019; 8:42918. [PMID: 30973324 PMCID: PMC6459675 DOI: 10.7554/elife.42918] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2018] [Accepted: 03/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Adult hippocampal neurogenesis requires the quiescent neural stem cell (NSC) pool to persist lifelong. However, establishment and maintenance of quiescent NSC pools during development is not understood. Here, we show that Suppressor of Fused (Sufu) controls establishment of the quiescent NSC pool during mouse dentate gyrus (DG) development by regulating Sonic Hedgehog (Shh) signaling activity. Deletion of Sufu in NSCs early in DG development decreases Shh signaling activity leading to reduced proliferation of NSCs, resulting in a small quiescent NSC pool in adult mice. We found that putative adult NSCs proliferate and increase their numbers in the first postnatal week and subsequently enter a quiescent state towards the end of the first postnatal week. In the absence of Sufu, postnatal expansion of NSCs is compromised, and NSCs prematurely become quiescent. Thus, Sufu is required for Shh signaling activity ensuring expansion and proper transition of NSC pools to quiescent states during DG development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hirofumi Noguchi
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, United States
| | - Jesse Garcia Castillo
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, United States
| | - Kinichi Nakashima
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Samuel J Pleasure
- Programs in Neuroscience and Developmental Biology, Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, United States
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24
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Recent Insight into the Role of Fibrosis in Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis-Related Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20071745. [PMID: 30970564 PMCID: PMC6480228 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20071745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2019] [Revised: 03/20/2019] [Accepted: 03/23/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most widespread tumors in the world and its prognosis is poor because of lack of effective treatments. Epidemiological studies show that non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and advanced fibrosis represent a relevant risk factors to the HCC development. However little is known of pathophysiological mechanisms linking liver fibrogenesis to HCC in NASH. Recent advances in scientific research allowed to discover some mechanisms that may represent potential therapeutic targets. These include the integrin signaling, hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) activation, Hedgehog signaling and alteration of immune system. In the near future, knowledge of fibrosis-dependent carcinogenic mechanisms, will help optimize antifibrotic therapies as an approach to prevent and treat HCC in patients with NASH and advanced fibrosis.
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25
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Lin J, Tan H, Nie Y, Wu D, Zheng W, Lin W, Zhu Z, Yang B, Chen X, Chen T. Krüppel-like factor 2 inhibits hepatocarcinogenesis through negative regulation of the Hedgehog pathway. Cancer Sci 2019; 110:1220-1231. [PMID: 30719823 PMCID: PMC6447955 DOI: 10.1111/cas.13961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2018] [Revised: 01/24/2019] [Accepted: 01/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignancies worldwide. The most important reason for the occurrence of HCC is hepatitis C or B infection. Moreover, genetic factors play an important role in the tumorigenesis of HCC. Here, we demonstrated that Krüppel-like factor 2 (KLF2) expression was downregulated in HCC samples compared with adjacent tissues. Additionally, KLF2 was shown to inhibit the growth, migration and colony-formation ability of liver cancer cells. Further mechanistic studies revealed that KLF2 can compete with Gli1 for interaction with HDAC1 and restrains Hedgehog signal activation. Together, our results suggest that KLF2 has potential as a diagnostic biomarker and therapeutic target for the treatment of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- JinBo Lin
- Longgang Central Hospital of Shenzhen, Affiliated Longgang Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Huifang Tan
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yingjie Nie
- Clinical Research Lab Center, Guizhou Provincial People's Hospital, Guiyang, China
| | - Dongwen Wu
- The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Weiji Zheng
- Longgang Central Hospital of Shenzhen, Affiliated Longgang Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Wensong Lin
- Longgang Central Hospital of Shenzhen, Affiliated Longgang Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Zheng Zhu
- Longgang Central Hospital of Shenzhen, Affiliated Longgang Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Bing Yang
- Longgang Central Hospital of Shenzhen, Affiliated Longgang Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xiaoliang Chen
- Shenzhen Guangming District Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guangdong, China
| | - Tao Chen
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China.,Clinical Research Lab Center, Guizhou Provincial People's Hospital, Guiyang, China
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26
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Dou C, Zhou Z, Xu Q, Liu Z, Zeng Y, Wang Y, Li Q, Wang L, Yang W, Liu Q, Tu K. Hypoxia-induced TUFT1 promotes the growth and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma by activating the Ca 2+/PI3K/AKT pathway. Oncogene 2018; 38:1239-1255. [PMID: 30250300 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-018-0505-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 93] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2018] [Revised: 08/29/2018] [Accepted: 08/30/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Tuftelin1 (TUFT1), an acidic protein constituent of developing and mineralizing tooth tissues, is regulated by hypoxia and the Hedgehog signaling pathway. We investigated the role of TUFT1 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). qRT-PCR, immunohistochemistry and western blot were employed to evaluate TUFT1 level in HCC. MTT, BrdU, 3D culture and Transwell assays were used to assess cell viability, proliferation, in vitro growth, migration, and invasion. Subcutaneous and tail vein injection models were established to investigate in vivo growth and metastasis. Chromatin immunoprecipitation was performed to assess binding of hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α) to TUFT1 promoter. A microRNA array was used to identify hypoxia-related microRNAs. TUFT1 was elevated in HCC, and correlated with unfavorable clinicopathologic characteristics and poor survival. TUFT1 promoted HCC cell growth, metastasis and epithelial-mesenchymal transition in vitro and in vivo via activation of Ca2+/PI3K/AKT pathway. Hypoxia induced TUFT1 expression in an HIF-1α dependent manner, and TUFT1 expression was positively correlated with HIF-1α level in HCC tissues. Hypoxiaenhanced TUFT1 expression by downregulating miR-671-5p rather than by directly promoting the binding of HIF-1α to TUFT1 promoter. MiR-671-5p interacted with the 3'-UTR of TUFT1 mRNA and subsequently inhibited TUFT1 expression. Consequently, knockdown of TUFT1 blocked the effects of hypoxia in promoting HCC progression. TUFT1 promoted the growth, metastasis and EMT of HCC cells through activating Ca2+/PI3K/AKT pathway. The hypoxic microenvironment increased the expression of TUFT1 via downregulation of miR-671-5p. TUFT1 may function as a potential therapeutic target for the intervention and treatment of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Changwei Dou
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, 710061, China.,Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery and Minimally invasive Surgery, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital (People's Hospital of Hangzhou Medical College), Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, 310014, China
| | - Zhenyu Zhou
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, 510120, China
| | - Qiuran Xu
- Key Laboratory of Tumor Molecular Diagnosis and Individualized Medicine of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital (People's Hospital of Hangzhou Medical College), Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, 310014, China
| | - Zhikui Liu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, 710061, China
| | - Yuqun Zeng
- Department of Nephrology, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital (People's Hospital of Hangzhou Medical College), Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, 310014, China
| | - Yufeng Wang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, 710061, China
| | - Qing Li
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, 710061, China
| | - Liang Wang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, 710061, China
| | - Wei Yang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, 710061, China
| | - Qingguang Liu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, 710061, China.
| | - Kangsheng Tu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, 710061, China.
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27
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Spit M, Koo BK, Maurice MM. Tales from the crypt: intestinal niche signals in tissue renewal, plasticity and cancer. Open Biol 2018; 8:rsob.180120. [PMID: 30209039 PMCID: PMC6170508 DOI: 10.1098/rsob.180120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2018] [Accepted: 08/17/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Rapidly renewing tissues such as the intestinal epithelium critically depend on the activity of small-sized stem cell populations that continuously generate new progeny to replace lost and damaged cells. The complex and tightly regulated process of intestinal homeostasis is governed by a variety of signalling pathways that balance cell proliferation and differentiation. Accumulating evidence suggests that stem cell control and daughter cell fate determination is largely dictated by the microenvironment. Here, we review recent developments in the understanding of intestinal stem cell dynamics, focusing on the roles, mechanisms and interconnectivity of prime signalling pathways that regulate stem cell behaviour in intestinal homeostasis. Furthermore, we discuss how mutational activation of these signalling pathways endows colorectal cancer cells with niche-independent growth advantages during carcinogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maureen Spit
- Cell Biology, Center for Molecular Medicine, UMC Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Bon-Kyoung Koo
- IMBA - Institute of Molecular Biotechnology, Dr Bohr-Gasse 3, 1030 Vienna, Austria
| | - Madelon M Maurice
- Cell Biology, Center for Molecular Medicine, UMC Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands .,Oncode Institute, The Netherlands
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28
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Molecular Pathogenesis of Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis- (NASH-) Related Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Can J Gastroenterol Hepatol 2018; 2018:8543763. [PMID: 30228976 PMCID: PMC6136489 DOI: 10.1155/2018/8543763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2018] [Accepted: 08/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The proportion of obese or diabetic population has been anticipated to increase in the upcoming decades, which rises the prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and its progression to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Recent evidence indicates that NASH is the main cause of chronic liver diseases and it is an important risk factor for development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Although the literature addressing NASH-HCC is growing rapidly, limited data is available about the etiology of NASH-related HCC. Experimental studies on the molecular mechanism of HCC development in NASH reveal that the carcinogenesis is relevant to complex changes in signaling pathways that mediate cell proliferation and energy metabolism. Genetic or epigenetic modifications and alterations in metabolic, immunologic, and endocrine pathways have been shown to be closely related to inflammation, liver injury, and fibrosis in NASH along with its subsequent progression to HCC. In this review, we provide an overview on the current knowledge of NASH-related HCC development and emphasize molecular signaling pathways regarding their mechanism of action in NASH-derived HCC.
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29
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Zhuang H, Cao G, Kou C, Liu T. CCL2/CCR2 axis induces hepatocellular carcinoma invasion and epithelial-mesenchymal transition in vitro through activation of the Hedgehog pathway. Oncol Rep 2017; 39:21-30. [PMID: 29115520 PMCID: PMC5783597 DOI: 10.3892/or.2017.6069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2016] [Accepted: 09/12/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 2 (CCL2) has been shown to play an important role in the regulation of tumor cell growth, metastasis and host immune response. CCL2 preferentially binds to the C-C chemokine receptor type 2 (CCR2), which is expressed in various tissues. However, the role of the CCL2/CCR2 axis in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) invasion and its molecular mechanisms remain unclear. The aim of this study was to elucidate this issue. The human HCC cell line MHCC-97H was treated with CCL2. Cyclopamine, a smoothened (SMO) antagonist, was used to inhibit SMO activity. CCR2 siRNA and Gli-1 siRNA were used to inhibit CCR2 and Gli-1 expression respectively. The effect of CCL2 and Hedgehog (Hh) signaling on cancer cell epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and invasion was evaluated by quantitative real-time PCR analysis, western blotting and Transwell invasion assay. Our results revealed that CCL2 induced HCC cell invasion and EMT. This effect was accompanied by the activation of Hh signaling, the upregulation of Snail and vimentin and the reduction of E-cadherin. Notably, prior silencing of CCR2 with siRNA abolished CCL2-induced Hh signaling activation, Snail and vimentin upregulation, E-cadherin reduction, as well as HCC cell invasion and EMT. Furthermore, pretreatment with cyclopamine or predepletion of Gli-1 by siRNA also eliminated the changes of Snail, vimentin and E-cadherin, and HCC invasion and EMT caused by CCL2. Collectively, our results revealed that the link between the CCL2/CCR2 axis and the Hh pathway plays an important role in HCC progression. Therefore, the CCL2/CCR2 axis may represent a promising therapeutic target to prevent HCC progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huijie Zhuang
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Xuzhou Central Hospital, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221009, P.R. China
| | - Gang Cao
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Xuzhou Central Hospital, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221009, P.R. China
| | - Changhua Kou
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Xuzhou Central Hospital, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221009, P.R. China
| | - Tao Liu
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Xuzhou Central Hospital, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221009, P.R. China
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30
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Hasegawa D, Ochiai-Shino H, Onodera S, Nakamura T, Saito A, Onda T, Watanabe K, Nishimura K, Ohtaka M, Nakanishi M, Kosaki K, Yamaguchi A, Shibahara T, Azuma T. Gorlin syndrome-derived induced pluripotent stem cells are hypersensitive to hedgehog-mediated osteogenic induction. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0186879. [PMID: 29088246 PMCID: PMC5663396 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0186879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2017] [Accepted: 10/09/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Gorlin syndrome is an autosomal dominant inherited syndrome that predisposes a patient to the formation of basal cell carcinomas, odontogenic keratocysts, and skeletal anomalies. Causative mutations in several genes associated with the sonic hedgehog (SHH) signaling pathway, including PTCH1, have been identified in Gorlin syndrome patients. However, no definitive genotype-phenotype correlations are evident in these patients, and their clinical presentation varies greatly, often leading to delayed diagnosis and treatment. We generated iPSCs from four unrelated Gorlin syndrome patients with loss-of-function mutations in PTCH1 using the Sendai virus vector (SeVdp(KOSM)302). The patient-derived iPSCs exhibited basic iPSC features, including stem cell marker expression, totipotency, and the ability to form teratomas. GLI1 expression levels were greater in fibroblasts and patient-derived iPSCs than in the corresponding control cells. Patient-derived iPSCs expressed lower basal levels than control iPSCs of the genes encoding the Hh ligands Indian Hedgehog (IHH) and SHH, the Hh acetyltransferase HHAT, Wnt proteins, BMP4, and BMP6. Most of these genes were upregulated in patient-derived iPSCs grown in osteoblast differentiation medium (OBM) and downregulated in control iPSCs cultured in OBM. The expression of GLI1 and GLI2 substantially decreased in both control and patient-derived iPSCs cultured in OBM, whereas GLI3, SHH, and IHH were upregulated in patient-derived iPSCs and downregulated in control iPSCs grown in OBM. Activation of Smoothened by SAG in cells grown in OBM significantly enhanced alkaline phosphatase activity in patient-derived iPSCs compared with control iPSC lines. In summary, patient-derived iPSCs expressed lower basal levels than the control iPSCs of the genes encoding Hh, Wnt, and bone morphogenetic proteins, but their expression of these genes strongly increased under osteogenic conditions. These findings indicate that patient-derived iPSCs are hypersensitive to osteogenic induction. We propose that Hh signaling is constituently active in iPSCs from Gorlin syndrome patients, enhancing their response to osteogenic induction and contributing to disease-associated abnormalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daigo Hasegawa
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Tokyo Dental College, Tokyo, Japan
| | | | - Shoko Onodera
- Department of Biochemistry, Tokyo Dental College, Tokyo, Japan
| | | | - Akiko Saito
- Department of Biochemistry, Tokyo Dental College, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takeshi Onda
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Tokyo Dental College, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Katsuhito Watanabe
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Tokyo Dental College, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Ken Nishimura
- Laboratory of Gene Regulation, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Manami Ohtaka
- Biotechnology Research Institute for Drug Discovery, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Mahito Nakanishi
- Biotechnology Research Institute for Drug Discovery, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Kenjiro Kosaki
- Center for Medical Genetics, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Akira Yamaguchi
- Oral Health Science Center, Tokyo Dental College, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takahiko Shibahara
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Tokyo Dental College, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Toshifumi Azuma
- Department of Biochemistry, Tokyo Dental College, Tokyo, Japan
- Oral Health Science Center, Tokyo Dental College, Tokyo, Japan
- * E-mail:
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Zhou Q, Zhou Y, Liu X, Shen Y. GDC-0449 improves the antitumor activity of nano-doxorubicin in pancreatic cancer in a fibroblast-enriched microenvironment. Sci Rep 2017; 7:13379. [PMID: 29042665 PMCID: PMC5645386 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-13869-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2017] [Accepted: 10/03/2017] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer is one of the most lethal human cancers that currently does not have effective therapies. Novel treatments including nanomedicines and combination therapies are thus urgently needed for these types of deadly diseases. A key feature of pancreatic cancer is its tumor protective dense stroma, which is generated by cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). The interaction between CAFs and pancreatic cancer cells abnormally activates sonic hedgehog (SHH) signaling and facilitates tumor growth, metastasis, and drug resistance. Here, we report that the commercial SHH inhibitor GDC-0449 reverses fibroblast-induced resistance to doxorubicin in Smoothened (SMO)-positive pancreatic cancer cells by downregulating SHH signaling proteins. Importantly, the synergistic combination of GDC-0449 with PEG-PCL-Dox exhibited potent antitumor efficacy in a BxPC-3 tumor xenograft model, whereas single treatments did not significantly inhibit tumor growth. Our findings reveal a potential treatment strategy for fibroblast-enriched pancreatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quan Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Biomass Chemical Engineering of Ministry of Education and Center for Bionanoengineering, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yongcun Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Biomass Chemical Engineering of Ministry of Education and Center for Bionanoengineering, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xiangrui Liu
- Key Laboratory of Biomass Chemical Engineering of Ministry of Education and Center for Bionanoengineering, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
| | - Youqing Shen
- Key Laboratory of Biomass Chemical Engineering of Ministry of Education and Center for Bionanoengineering, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
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32
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Multi-layered mutation in hedgehog-related genes in Gorlin syndrome may affect the phenotype. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0184702. [PMID: 28915250 PMCID: PMC5600381 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0184702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2016] [Accepted: 08/29/2017] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Gorlin syndrome is a genetic disorder of autosomal dominant inheritance that predisposes the affected individual to a variety of disorders that are attributed largely to heterozygous germline patched1 (PTCH1) mutations. PTCH1 is a hedgehog (Hh) receptor as well as a repressor, mutation of which leads to constitutive activation of Hh pathway. Hh pathway encompasses a wide variety of cellular signaling cascades, which involve several molecules; however, no associated genotype–phenotype correlations have been reported. Recently, mutations in Suppressor of fused homolog (SUFU) or PTCH2 were reported in patients with Gorlin syndrome. These facts suggest that multi-layered mutations in Hh pathway may contribute to the development of Gorlin syndrome. We demonstrated multiple mutations of Hh-related genes in addition to PTCH1, which possibly act in an additive or multiplicative manner and lead to Gorlin syndrome. High-throughput sequencing was performed to analyze exome sequences in four unrelated Gorlin syndrome patient genomes. Mutations in PTCH1 gene were detected in all four patients. Specific nucleotide variations or frameshift variations of PTCH1 were identified along with the inferred amino acid changes in all patients. We further filtered 84 different genes which are closely related to Hh signaling. Fifty three of these had enough coverage of over ×30. The sequencing results were filtered and compared to reduce the number of sequence variants identified in each of the affected individuals. We discovered three genes, PTCH2, BOC, and WNT9b, with mutations with a predicted functional impact assessed by MutationTaster2 or PolyPhen-2 (Polymorphism Phenotyping v2) analysis. It is noticeable that PTCH2 and BOC are Hh receptor molecules. No significant mutations were observed in SUFU. Multi-layered mutations in Hh pathway may change the activation level of the Hh signals, which may explain the wide phenotypic variability of Gorlin syndrome.
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33
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Maiti S, Mondal S, Satyavarapu EM, Mandal C. mTORC2 regulates hedgehog pathway activity by promoting stability to Gli2 protein and its nuclear translocation. Cell Death Dis 2017; 8:e2926. [PMID: 28703798 PMCID: PMC5550848 DOI: 10.1038/cddis.2017.296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2017] [Revised: 04/22/2017] [Accepted: 05/03/2017] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
mTORC2 is aberrantly activated in cancer and therefore is considered to be an important therapeutic target. The hedgehog pathway, which is also often hyperactivated, regulates transcription of several genes associated with angiogenesis, metastasis, cellular proliferation and cancer stem cell (CSC) regeneration. However, the contribution of mTORC2 toward hedgehog pathway activity has not been explored yet. Here we have addressed the molecular cross talk between mTORC2 and hedgehog pathway activities in the context of glioblastoma multiforme, a malignant brain tumor using as a model system. We observed that higher mTORC2 activity enhanced the expression of a few hedgehog pathway molecules (Gli1, Gli2 and Ptch1) and amplified its target genes (Cyclin D1, Cyclin D2, Cyclin E, Snail, Slug and VEGF) both in mRNA and protein levels as corroborated by increased metastasis, angiogenesis, cellular proliferation and stem cell regeneration. Inhibition of mTORC2 formation decreased hedgehog pathway activity and attenuated all these above-mentioned events, suggesting their cross talk with each other. Further investigations revealed that mTORC2 inhibited ubiquitination of Gli2 by inactivating GSK3β, and thus it promotes stability to Gli2 and its nuclear translocation. Moreover, enhanced mTORC2 activity led to the increased clonogenic properties and CD133+ cells, indicating its role in CSC regeneration. mTORC2 inhibitor directed the reduction of hedgehog pathway proteins and also reduced CSCs. Thus, our observations support a role for elevated mTORC2 activity in regulating angiogenesis, metastasis, cellular proliferation and CSC regeneration via hedgehog pathway activity. Taken together, it provides a rationale for including the mTOR2 inhibitor as part of the therapeutic regimen for CSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samarpan Maiti
- Cancer Biology and Inflammatory Disorder Division, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, 4, Raja S.C. Mullick Road, Jadavpur, Kolkata 700032, India
| | - Susmita Mondal
- Cancer Biology and Inflammatory Disorder Division, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, 4, Raja S.C. Mullick Road, Jadavpur, Kolkata 700032, India
| | - Eswara M Satyavarapu
- Cancer Biology and Inflammatory Disorder Division, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, 4, Raja S.C. Mullick Road, Jadavpur, Kolkata 700032, India
| | - Chitra Mandal
- Cancer Biology and Inflammatory Disorder Division, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, 4, Raja S.C. Mullick Road, Jadavpur, Kolkata 700032, India
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Della Corte CM, Viscardi G, Papaccio F, Esposito G, Martini G, Ciardiello D, Martinelli E, Ciardiello F, Morgillo F. Implication of the Hedgehog pathway in hepatocellular carcinoma. World J Gastroenterol 2017; 23:4330-4340. [PMID: 28706416 PMCID: PMC5487497 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v23.i24.4330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2017] [Revised: 04/13/2017] [Accepted: 05/19/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The prognosis for patients who are diagnosed with advanced stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is poor because there are few treatment options. Recent research has focused on the identification of novel molecular entities that can be targeted to inhibit oncogenic signals that are involved in the carcinogenesis, proliferation and progression of HCC. Among all of the pathways that are involved in the development of HCC, Hedgehog (HH) signalling has demonstrated a substantial role in hepatocarcinogenesis and HCC progression. HH plays a physiological role in embryogenesis, through the induction of the differentiation of hepatocytes from endodermal progenitors. The re-activation of the HH pathway in chronic damaged liver is a mechanism of fibrotic degeneration and is implicated in various stages of HCC development. HH activation sustains the sub-population of immature liver epithelial cells that are involved in the pathogenesis of cirrhosis and HCC, and HH itself is a mediator of the alcohol-derived malignant transformation of liver cells. High levels of expression of HH protein markers in liver tumour tissues are correlated with aggressive histological and biological features and a poor clinical outcome. In vitro and in vivo inhibition models of the HH pathway confirm that HH is essential in maintaining tumour growth, metastasis and a mesenchymal phenotype.
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Ally A, Balasundaram M, Carlsen R, Chuah E, Clarke A, Dhalla N, Holt RA, Jones SJ, Lee D, Ma Y, Marra MA, Mayo M, Moore RA, Mungall AJ, Schein JE, Sipahimalani P, Tam A, Thiessen N, Cheung D, Wong T, Brooks D, Robertson AG, Bowlby R, Mungall K, Sadeghi S, Xi L, Covington K, Shinbrot E, Wheeler DA, Gibbs RA, Donehower LA, Wang L, Bowen J, Gastier-Foster JM, Gerken M, Helsel C, Leraas KM, Lichtenberg TM, Ramirez NC, Wise L, Zmuda E, Gabriel SB, Meyerson M, Cibulskis C, Murray BA, Shih J, Beroukhim R, Cherniack AD, Schumacher SE, Saksena G, Pedamallu CS, Chin L, Getz G, Noble M, Zhang H, Heiman D, Cho J, Gehlenborg N, Saksena G, Voet D, Lin P, Frazer S, Defreitas T, Meier S, Lawrence M, Kim J, Creighton CJ, Muzny D, Doddapaneni H, Hu J, Wang M, Morton D, Korchina V, Han Y, Dinh H, Lewis L, Bellair M, Liu X, Santibanez J, Glenn R, Lee S, Hale W, Parker JS, Wilkerson MD, Hayes DN, Reynolds SM, Shmulevich I, Zhang W, Liu Y, Iype L, Makhlouf H, Torbenson MS, Kakar S, Yeh MM, Jain D, Kleiner DE, Jain D, Dhanasekaran R, El-Serag HB, Yim SY, Weinstein JN, Mishra L, Zhang J, Akbani R, Ling S, Ju Z, Su X, Hegde AM, Mills GB, Lu Y, Chen J, Lee JS, Sohn BH, Shim JJ, Tong P, Aburatani H, Yamamoto S, Tatsuno K, Li W, Xia Z, Stransky N, Seiser E, Innocenti F, Gao J, Kundra R, Zhang H, Heins Z, Ochoa A, Sander C, Ladanyi M, Shen R, Arora A, Sanchez-Vega F, Schultz N, Kasaian K, Radenbaugh A, Bissig KD, Moore DD, Totoki Y, Nakamura H, Shibata T, Yau C, Graim K, Stuart J, Haussler D, Slagle BL, Ojesina AI, Katsonis P, Koire A, Lichtarge O, Hsu TK, Ferguson ML, Demchok JA, Felau I, Sheth M, Tarnuzzer R, Wang Z, Yang L, Zenklusen JC, Zhang J, Hutter CM, Sofia HJ, Verhaak RG, Zheng S, Lang F, Chudamani S, Liu J, Lolla L, Wu Y, Naresh R, Pihl T, Sun C, Wan Y, Benz C, Perou AH, Thorne LB, Boice L, Huang M, Rathmell WK, Noushmehr H, Saggioro FP, Tirapelli DPDC, Junior CGC, Mente ED, Silva ODC, Trevisan FA, Kang KJ, Ahn KS, Giama NH, Moser CD, Giordano TJ, Vinco M, Welling TH, Crain D, Curley E, Gardner J, Mallery D, Morris S, Paulauskis J, Penny R, Shelton C, Shelton T, Kelley R, Park JW, Chandan VS, Roberts LR, Bathe OF, Hagedorn CH, Auman JT, O'Brien DR, Kocher JPA, Jones CD, Mieczkowski PA, Perou CM, Skelly T, Tan D, Veluvolu U, Balu S, Bodenheimer T, Hoyle AP, Jefferys SR, Meng S, Mose LE, Shi Y, Simons JV, Soloway MG, Roach J, Hoadley KA, Baylin SB, Shen H, Hinoue T, Bootwalla MS, Van Den Berg DJ, Weisenberger DJ, Lai PH, Holbrook A, Berrios M, Laird PW. Comprehensive and Integrative Genomic Characterization of Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Cell 2017; 169:1327-1341.e23. [PMID: 28622513 PMCID: PMC5680778 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2017.05.046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1666] [Impact Index Per Article: 238.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2016] [Revised: 04/02/2017] [Accepted: 05/26/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Liver cancer has the second highest worldwide cancer mortality rate and has limited therapeutic options. We analyzed 363 hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cases by whole-exome sequencing and DNA copy number analyses, and we analyzed 196 HCC cases by DNA methylation, RNA, miRNA, and proteomic expression also. DNA sequencing and mutation analysis identified significantly mutated genes, including LZTR1, EEF1A1, SF3B1, and SMARCA4. Significant alterations by mutation or downregulation by hypermethylation in genes likely to result in HCC metabolic reprogramming (ALB, APOB, and CPS1) were observed. Integrative molecular HCC subtyping incorporating unsupervised clustering of five data platforms identified three subtypes, one of which was associated with poorer prognosis in three HCC cohorts. Integrated analyses enabled development of a p53 target gene expression signature correlating with poor survival. Potential therapeutic targets for which inhibitors exist include WNT signaling, MDM4, MET, VEGFA, MCL1, IDH1, TERT, and immune checkpoint proteins CTLA-4, PD-1, and PD-L1.
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36
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Actein ameliorates hepatobiliary cancer through stemness and p53 signaling regulation. Biomed Pharmacother 2017; 88:242-251. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2017.01.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2016] [Revised: 01/04/2017] [Accepted: 01/05/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
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37
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Ye Y, Wei Y, Xu Y, Li Y, Wang R, Chen J, Zhou Y, Fu Z, Chen Y, Wang X, Yu R, Bai C, Li G, Chen R, Chen T. Induced MiR-1249 expression by aberrant activation of Hedegehog signaling pathway in hepatocellular carcinoma. Exp Cell Res 2017; 355:9-17. [PMID: 28365245 DOI: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2017.03.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2016] [Revised: 03/04/2017] [Accepted: 03/07/2017] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Aberrant activations of Hedegehog (Hh) signaling were found in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and some other cancer types. However, the details have not been completely understood and the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Here we reported that miR-1249 transcription in HCC cells was regulated through direct binding to the conserved sequences in miR-1249 promoter region by Gli1, which functions as a transcription factor and is a component in the Hh signaling pathway. Interestingly, expression of tumor suppressor PTCH1, which is another component of the Hh signaling pathway, was inhibited by miR-1249 through targeting its 3'-untranslated region. Down-regulation of PTCH1 further enhanced the downstream effects mediated by Gli1. In consistent with these findings, miR-1249 expression level was correlated with degree of prognosis (p=0.005) in HCC patients. Taken together, our results suggested the existence of a positive feedback loop comprised of Gli1, miR-1249 and PTCH1. During the process of HCC progression, this positive feedback loop could be continuously activated to enhance tumor cell growth, migration and invasion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yibiao Ye
- Department of Hepato-Pancreato-Billiary Surgery, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China; Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Gene Regulation and Target Therapy of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yunping Wei
- Department of Hepato-Pancreato-Billiary Surgery, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China; Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Gene Regulation and Target Therapy of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yunxiuxiu Xu
- Department of Hepato-Pancreato-Billiary Surgery, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China; Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Gene Regulation and Target Therapy of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yanshan Li
- Department of Hepato-Pancreato-Billiary Surgery, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China; Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Gene Regulation and Target Therapy of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ruomei Wang
- Department of Hepato-Pancreato-Billiary Surgery, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China; Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Gene Regulation and Target Therapy of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jie Chen
- Department of Hepato-Pancreato-Billiary Surgery, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China; Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Gene Regulation and Target Therapy of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yu Zhou
- Department of General Surgery, Guangdong General Hospital, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhiqiang Fu
- Department of Hepato-Pancreato-Billiary Surgery, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China; Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Gene Regulation and Target Therapy of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yan Chen
- Pearl Laboratory Animal Sci. & Tech. Co., Ltd., Guangzhou, China
| | - Xin Wang
- Key Laboratory of National Education Ministry for Mammalian Reproductive Biology and Biotechnology, Inner Mongolia University, Huhhot, PR China; Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA; Hepatoscience Inc., Sunnyvale, CA 94085, USA
| | - Ruiping Yu
- Key Laboratory of National Education Ministry for Mammalian Reproductive Biology and Biotechnology, Inner Mongolia University, Huhhot, PR China
| | - Chunling Bai
- Key Laboratory of National Education Ministry for Mammalian Reproductive Biology and Biotechnology, Inner Mongolia University, Huhhot, PR China
| | - Guangpeng Li
- Key Laboratory of National Education Ministry for Mammalian Reproductive Biology and Biotechnology, Inner Mongolia University, Huhhot, PR China
| | - Rufu Chen
- Department of Hepato-Pancreato-Billiary Surgery, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China; Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Gene Regulation and Target Therapy of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Tao Chen
- Department of Hepato-Pancreato-Billiary Surgery, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China; Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Gene Regulation and Target Therapy of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
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38
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Wong CR, Nguyen MH, Lim JK. Hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. World J Gastroenterol 2016; 22:8294-8303. [PMID: 27729736 PMCID: PMC5055860 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v22.i37.8294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2016] [Revised: 08/03/2016] [Accepted: 08/23/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common chronic liver disease in the United States and represents an increasingly important etiology of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with annual cumulative incidence rates ranging from 2% to 12% in cohorts of NAFLD cirrhosis. While the risk of progression of NAFLD to HCC remains higher among patients with fibrosis or cirrhosis, an increasing amount of literature describes NAFLD-HCC as a disease that can occur in the absence of cirrhosis. Efforts to characterize the pathogenesis of NAFLD-HCC have suggested mechanisms that strongly associate with states of hyperinsulinemia and chronic inflammation, cellular mechanisms including adaptive immune responses and hepatic progenitor cell populations, and genetic polymorphisms including mutations of PNPLA3. Current literature describes NAFLD-HCC mostly as a disease of late presentation with lower rates of receipt of curative therapy and worse prognosis. However, a growing body of evidence has reported comparable and potentially more favorable disease-free and overall survival rates among patients with NAFLD-HCC after receipt of curative treatment. This review summarizes current evidence of epidemiology, pathophysiology, disease presentation, demand and receipt of curative therapy, post-treatment outcomes, and overall survival of NAFLD-associated HCC.
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Machado MV, Diehl AM. Pathogenesis of Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis. Gastroenterology 2016; 150:1769-77. [PMID: 26928243 PMCID: PMC4887389 DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2016.02.066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 330] [Impact Index Per Article: 41.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2015] [Revised: 01/30/2016] [Accepted: 02/18/2016] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a necro-inflammatory response that ensues when hepatocytes are injured by lipids (lipotoxicity). NASH is a potential outcome of nonalcoholic fatty liver (NAFL), a condition that occurs when lipids accumulate in hepatocytes. NASH may be reversible, but it can also result in cirrhosis and primary liver cancer. We are beginning to learn about the mechanisms of progression of NAFL and NASH. NAFL does not inevitably lead to NASH because NAFL is a heterogeneous condition. This heterogeneity exists because different types of lipids with different cytotoxic potential accumulate in the NAFL, and individuals with NAFL differ in their ability to defend against lipotoxicity. There are no tests that reliably predict which patients with NAFL will develop lipotoxicity. However, NASH encompasses the spectrum of wound-healing responses induced by lipotoxic hepatocytes. Differences in these wound-healing responses among individuals determine whether lipotoxic livers regenerate, leading to stabilization or resolution of NASH, or develop progressive scarring, cirrhosis, and possibly liver cancer. We review concepts that are central to the pathogenesis of NASH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana Verdelho Machado
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA,Gastroenterology Department, Hospital de Santa Maria, CHLN, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Anna Mae Diehl
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina.
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Tu KS, Yao YM. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition and related signaling pathways in hepatocellular carcinoma. Shijie Huaren Xiaohua Zazhi 2016; 24:2131-2142. [DOI: 10.11569/wcjd.v24.i14.2131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common forms of liver cancer and the third leading cause of cancer-related mortality in the world. Although numerous therapeutic strategies have been employed to treat this fatal disease, the prognosis of HCC patients remains dismal with a low 5-year survival rate of approximately 30%. Postoperative recurrence and metastasis of HCC are the leading cause of poor prognosis. Metastasis has been thought to rely on non-motile epithelial tumor cells acquiring characteristics of mesenchymal cells, which are more migratory. This change is known as the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). EMT has been considered one of the main reasons for the invasion and metastasis of HCC. Notably, increasing evidence indicates that several signaling pathways participate in the regulation of EMT in HCC. In the current review, we will discuss the current progress in research of EMT and its related signaling pathways in HCC.
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Mäemets-Allas K, Belitškin D, Jaks V. The inhibition of Akt-Pdpk1 interaction efficiently suppresses the growth of murine primary liver tumor cells. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2016; 474:118-125. [PMID: 27103434 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2016.04.082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2016] [Accepted: 04/18/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The lack of primary liver tumor cells has hampered testing of potential chemotherapeutic agents in vitro. To overcome this issue we developed a primary mouse liver tumor cell line K07074. The K07074 cells were immortal, exhibited a biliary phenotype, formed colonies in soft agar and displayed an increase in Hedgehog, Notch and Akt signaling. To study the effect of single and combined inhibition of the liver tumor-related pathways on the growth of K07074 cells we treated these with small-molecule antitumor agents. While the inhibition of Akt and Notch pathways strongly inhibited the growth of K07074 cells the inhibition of Wnt and Hedgehog pathways was less efficient in cell growth suppression. Interestingly, the inhibition of Akt pathway at the level of Akt-Pdpk1 interaction was sufficient to suppress the growth of tumor cells and no significant additive effect could be detected when co-treated with the inhibitors of Wnt, Hedgehog or Notch pathways. Only when suboptimal doses of Akt-Pdpk1 interaction inhibitor NSC156529 were used an additive effect with Notch inhibition was seen. We conclude that the Akt pathway inhibitor NSC156529 is potentially useful as single treatment for liver tumors with hyperactivated Akt signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Denis Belitškin
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Viljar Jaks
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia; Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
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Chen SR, Qiu HC, Hu Y, Wang Y, Wang YT. Herbal Medicine Offered as an Initiative Therapeutic Option for the Management of Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Phytother Res 2016; 30:863-77. [PMID: 26879574 DOI: 10.1002/ptr.5594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2015] [Revised: 12/28/2015] [Accepted: 01/22/2016] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common malignant cancer and is the third leading cause of death worldwide. Effective treatment of this disease is limited by the complicated molecular mechanism underlying HCC pathogenesis. Thus, therapeutic options for HCC management are urgently needed. Targeting the Wnt/β-catenin, Hedgehog, Notch, and Hippo-YAP signaling pathways in cancer stem cell development has been extensively investigated as an alternative treatment. Herbal medicine has emerged as an initiative therapeutic option for HCC management because of its multi-level, multi-target, and coordinated intervention effects. In this article, we summarized the recent progress and clinical benefits of targeting the above mentioned signaling pathways and using natural products such as herbal medicine formulas to treat HCC. Proving the clinical success of herbal medicine is expected to deepen the knowledge on herbal medicine efficiency and hasten the adoption of new therapies. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shao-Ru Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine and Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Avenida da Universidade, Taipa, Macao, SAR, China
| | - Hong-Cong Qiu
- Guangxi Institute of Traditional Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Guangxi Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Quality Standards, Nanning, 530022, China
| | - Yang Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine and Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Avenida da Universidade, Taipa, Macao, SAR, China
| | - Ying Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine and Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Avenida da Universidade, Taipa, Macao, SAR, China
| | - Yi-Tao Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine and Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Avenida da Universidade, Taipa, Macao, SAR, China
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Zhang X, Wang Y, Wang J, Sun F. Protein-protein interactions among signaling pathways may become new therapeutic targets in liver cancer (Review). Oncol Rep 2015; 35:625-38. [PMID: 26717966 DOI: 10.3892/or.2015.4464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2015] [Accepted: 07/06/2015] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Numerous signaling pathways have been shown to be dysregulated in liver cancer. In addition, some protein-protein interactions are prerequisite for the uncontrolled activation or inhibition of these signaling pathways. For instance, in the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, protein AKT binds with a number of proteins such as mTOR, FOXO1 and MDM2 to play an oncogenic role in liver cancer. The aim of the present review was to focus on a series of important protein-protein interactions that can serve as potential therapeutic targets in liver cancer among certain important pro-carcinogenic signaling pathways. The strategies of how to investigate and analyze the protein-protein interactions are also included in this review. A survey of these protein interactions may provide alternative therapeutic targets in liver cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Zhang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital of Tongji University, Shanghai 200072, P.R. China
| | - Yulan Wang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital of Tongji University, Shanghai 200072, P.R. China
| | - Jiayi Wang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital of Tongji University, Shanghai 200072, P.R. China
| | - Fenyong Sun
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital of Tongji University, Shanghai 200072, P.R. China
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44
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Rovida E, Stecca B. Mitogen-activated protein kinases and Hedgehog-GLI signaling in cancer: A crosstalk providing therapeutic opportunities? Semin Cancer Biol 2015; 35:154-67. [PMID: 26292171 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2015.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2015] [Revised: 08/07/2015] [Accepted: 08/10/2015] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
The Hedgehog-GLI (HH-GLI) signaling is of critical importance during embryonic development, where it regulates a number of cellular processes, including patterning, proliferation and differentiation. Its aberrant activation has been linked to several types of cancer. HH-GLI signaling is triggered by binding of ligands to the transmembrane receptor patched and is subsequently mediated by transcriptional effectors belonging to the GLI family, whose function is fine tuned by a series of molecular interactions and modifications. Several HH-GLI inhibitors have been developed and are in clinical trials. Similarly, the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) are involved in a number of biological processes and play an important role in many diseases including cancer. Inhibiting molecules targeting MAPK signaling, especially those elicited by the MEK1/2-ERK1/2 pathway, have been developed and are moving into clinical trials. ERK1/2 may be activated as a consequence of aberrant activation of upstream signaling molecules or during development of drug resistance following treatment with kinase inhibitors such as those for PI3K or BRAF. Evidence of a crosstalk between HH-GLI and other oncogenic signaling pathways has been reported in many tumor types, as shown by recent reviews. Here we will focus on the interaction between HH-GLI and the final MAPK effectors ERK1/2, p38 and JNK in cancer in view of its possible implications for cancer therapy. Several reports highlight the existence of a consistent crosstalk between HH signaling and MAPK, especially with the MEK1/2-ERK1/2 pathway, and this fact should be taken into consideration for designing optimal treatment and prevent tumor relapse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabetta Rovida
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche Sperimentali e Cliniche "Mario Serio", Sezione di Patologia, Università degli Studi di Firenze, Firenze, Italy
| | - Barbara Stecca
- Laboratory of Tumor Cell Biology, Core Research Laboratory-Istituto Toscano Tumori (CRL-ITT), Florence, Italy; Department of Oncology, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy.
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Wang YH, Sui XM, Sui YN, Zhu QW, Yan K, Wang LS, Wang F, Zhou JH. BRD4 induces cell migration and invasion in HCC cells through MMP-2 and MMP-9 activation mediated by the Sonic hedgehog signaling pathway. Oncol Lett 2015; 10:2227-2232. [PMID: 26622824 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2015.3570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2014] [Accepted: 07/16/2015] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a highly aggressive form of carcinoma with poor prognosis, and HCC-associated mortality primarily occurs due to migration and invasion of HCC cells. The manipulation of epigenetic proteins, such as BRD4, has recently emerged as an alternative therapeutic strategy. The present study aimed to investigate the novel mechanism of BRD4 involvement in the migration and invasion of HCC cells. Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to assess BRD4 mRNA expression levels in HCC cell lines. This analysis demonstrated that BRD4 was significantly overexpressed in HCC cell lines compared with a human immortalized normal liver cell line. A short hairpin RNA (shRNA) was then used to suppress BRD4 expression in HCC cells, and resulted in impaired HCC cell proliferation, migration and invasion. When the HepG2 HCC cell line was treated with recombinant human sonic hedgehog (SHH) peptide, the migration and invasion capabilities of HepG2 cells that were inhibited by BRD4 silencing were restored. BRD4 induced cell migration and invasion in HepG2 cells through the activation of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9, mediated by the SHH signaling pathway. Taken together, the results of the present study demonstrated the importance of BRD4 in HCC cell proliferation and metastasis. Thus, BRD4 is a potential novel target for the development of therapeutic approaches against HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong-Hui Wang
- Department of General Surgery, The Affiliated Zhongda Hospital, Medical School, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, P.R. China
| | - Xiao-Mei Sui
- Radiotherapy Department of Affiliated Hospital of Weifang Medical University, Weifang, Shandong 261000, P.R. China
| | - Ya-Na Sui
- Emergency Department of Weifang Traditional Chinese Hospital, Weifang, Shandong 261041, P.R. China
| | - Qin-Wei Zhu
- Emergency Department of Weifang Traditional Chinese Hospital, Weifang, Shandong 261041, P.R. China
| | - Kai Yan
- Department of General Surgery, The Affiliated Zhongda Hospital, Medical School, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, P.R. China
| | - Li-Shan Wang
- Department of General Surgery, The Affiliated Zhongda Hospital, Medical School, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, P.R. China
| | - Fei Wang
- Department of Hematology and Oncology (Key Department of Jiangsu Medicine), Medical School, Zhongda Hospital, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, P.R. China
| | - Jia-Hua Zhou
- Department of General Surgery, The Affiliated Zhongda Hospital, Medical School, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, P.R. China
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Histone acetyltransferase PCAF accelerates apoptosis by repressing a GLI1/BCL2/BAX axis in hepatocellular carcinoma. Cell Death Dis 2015; 6:e1712. [PMID: 25855960 PMCID: PMC4650545 DOI: 10.1038/cddis.2015.76] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2014] [Revised: 02/12/2015] [Accepted: 02/23/2015] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
P300/CBP-associated factor (PCAF), a histone acetyltransferase (HAT), has been found to regulate numerous cell signaling pathways controlling cell fate by acetylating both histone and non-histone proteins. We previously reported that PCAF upregulates cell apoptosis by inactivating Serine/Threonine Protein Kinase 1 (AKT1) signaling and consequently inhibits hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell growth. Here, we show that PCAF can directly acetylate cytoplasmic GLI1 protein at lysine 518, preventing its nuclear translocation and promoter occupancy, and consequently suppressing Hedgehog (Hh) signaling in HCC. Further, our results show that GLI1 can increase Bcl-2 expression and downregulate BAX. Interestingly, forced expression of PCAF reduced Bcl-2 expression, upregulated BAX and repressed cell apoptosis. Further, we provide evidence that knockdown of GLI1 abrogates the inhibitory effect of PCAF on the growth of HCC in vitro. PCAF was also found to sensitize HCC cells to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) treatment by regulating GLI1/Bcl-2/BAX axis-dependent apoptosis. In vivo experiments also confirmed the regulatory effect of PCAF on the GLI1/Bcl-2/BAX axis and its synergistic antitumor effects with 5-FU. Gene expression microarray studies showed that PCAF was downregulated in HCC tissues compared with adjacent liver tissues and that PCAF expression was significantly associated with longer overall survival and recurrence-free survival after surgery. Together, these results show that PCAF can induce cell apoptosis by modulating a GLI1/Bcl-2/BAX axis that in turn suppresses HCC progression, and suggest that 5-FU may exert a stronger anti-tumor effect in patients with PCAF expression in HCC tumors.
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Jeng KS, Chang CF, Jeng WJ, Sheen IS, Jeng CJ. Heterogeneity of hepatocellular carcinoma contributes to cancer progression. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol 2015; 94:337-47. [PMID: 25680939 DOI: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2015.01.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2014] [Revised: 10/24/2014] [Accepted: 01/21/2015] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a highly heterogeneous disease displaying differences in angiogenesis, extracellular matrix proteins, the immune microenvironment and tumor cell populations. Additionally, genetic variations and epigenetic changes of HCC cells could lead to aberrant signaling pathways, induce cancer stem cells and enhance tumor progression. Thus, the heterogeneity in HCC contributes to disease progression and a better understanding of its heterogeneity will greatly aid in the development of strategies for the HCC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kuo-Shyang Jeng
- Department of Surgery, Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan; Department of Medical Research, Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan.
| | - Chiung-Fang Chang
- Department of Medical Research, Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Wen-Juei Jeng
- Department of Hepato-Gastroenterology, Chang-Gung Memorial Hospital, LinKou Medical Center, Chang Gung University, Taiwan
| | - I-Shyan Sheen
- Department of Hepato-Gastroenterology, Chang-Gung Memorial Hospital, LinKou Medical Center, Chang Gung University, Taiwan
| | - Chi-Juei Jeng
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
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