Correlation of Chitinase 3-Like 1 Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms with Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Taiwan

The role of the Chitinase 3-Like 1 (CHI3L1) genes in the preeclampsia pathophysiology

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between Chitinase 3-Like 1 gene polymorphisms and the occurrence of preeclampsia in a selected cohort of pregnant women.

METHODS

A total of 75 pregnant women participated in the study, 35 of whom were diagnosed with preeclampsia, while 40 served as healthy controls. The preeclamptic group was subdivided based on severity. Real-time polymerase chain reaction was employed to analyze the serum samples for variations in Chitinase 3-Like 1 gene polymorphisms.

RESULTS

The rs880633 polymorphism was found to be significantly more frequent in the control group (80%) compared with the overall preeclamptic group (60%) (p<0.05). In the severity-based subgroups, rs880633 appeared in 57.1% of non-severe and 61.9% of severe preeclamptics. Contrarily, the heterozygous form of rs7515776 polymorphism showed a significantly higher prevalence in the preeclamptic cohort (p<0.05), without distinctions in severity subgroups.

CONCLUSION

The study suggests that the rs880633 polymorphism may serve a protective role against the development of preeclampsia, whereas the rs7515776 polymorphism may be associated with an elevated risk. Further research is warranted to elucidate the clinical implications of these findings.

Significance of chitinase-3-like protein 1 in the pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases and cancer

Chitinase-3-like protein 1 (CHI3L1) is a secreted glycoprotein that mediates inflammation, macrophage polarization, apoptosis, and carcinogenesis. The expression of CHI3L1 is strongly upregulated by various inflammatory and immunological diseases, including several cancers, Alzheimer's disease, and atherosclerosis. Several studies have shown that CHI3L1 can be considered as a marker of disease diagnosis, prognosis, disease activity, and severity. In addition, the proinflammatory action of CHI3L1 may be mediated via responses to various proinflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, and interferon-γ. Therefore, CHI3L1 may contribute to a vast array of inflammatory diseases. However, its pathophysiological and pharmacological roles in the development of inflammatory diseases remain unclear. In this article, we review recent findings regarding the roles of CHI3L1 in the development of inflammatory diseases and suggest therapeutic approaches that target CHI3L1.

Inflammatory Biomarker Score Identifies Patients with Six-Fold Increased Risk of One-Year Mortality after Pancreatic Cancer

Simple Summary

For 20 years, the CA 19-9 blood test has been the only broadly used biomarker of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). We lack easily available biomarkers to help differentiate patients between good, intermediate and poor survivors at the time of PDAC diagnosis. Using one of the largest studies of patients with PDAC, we found that a simple combination of blood tests, namely CRP, CA 19-9 and IL-6, into a single biomarker score was a better marker of one-year survival than the currently recommended CA 19-9 alone or any other combination of the four inflammatory biomarkers examined (CRP, CA 19-9, IL-6 and YKL-40). However, since this is the first study examining this inflammatory biomarker score, future validation studies are needed. Moreover, CRP outperformed CA 19-9 in the majority of patients, thus questioning the routine use of CA 19-9 in patients with PDAC.

Abstract

We examined whether elevated plasma C-reactive protein (CRP), carbohydrate antigen (CA) 19-9, interleukin-6 (IL-6) and YKL-40, individually or combined, can identify poor survivors among patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). We measured CRP, CA 19-9, IL-6 and YKL-40 in 993 patients at the time of PDAC diagnosis. The biomarker score was the sum of biomarker categories, coded 0, 1 and 2 for low, intermediate and high plasma concentrations, respectively. High vs. low levels of CRP, CA 19-9 and IL-6 were each independently associated with a two-fold increased risk of one-year mortality. CRP performed best in patients with advanced and CA 19-9 in patients with low cancer stages. YKL-40 was not associated with mortality and, therefore, was not included in the biomarker score. Compared to the biomarker score = 0, the multifactorially adjusted hazard ratios for one-year mortality were 1.56 (95% confidence interval: 0.99–2.44) for score = 1, 2.22 (1.41–3.49) for score = 2, 3.44 (2.20–5.38) for score = 3, 5.13 (3.21–8.17) for score = 4 and 6.32 (3.84–10.41) for score = 5–6 (p-value for trend = 3 × 10⁻³¹). This score performed better than any single biomarker or combination of biomarkers when examined in similarly sized or other categories. In conclusion, a combination score of elevated CRP, CA 19-9 and IL-6 identified patients with six-fold higher one-year mortality.

Platycodin D reverses histone deacetylase inhibitor resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma cells by repressing ERK1/2-mediated cofilin-1 phosphorylation

BACKGROUND

Chemoresistance remains the main obstacle in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) therapy. Despite significant advances in HCC therapy, HCC still has a poor prognosis. Thus, there is an urgent need to identify a treatment target to reverse HCC chemotherapy resistance. Platycodon grandiflorus (PG) is a perennial herb that has been used as food and traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years in Northeast Asia. Platycodin D (PD), a main active triterpenoid saponin found in the root of PG, has been reported to possess anticancer properties in several cancer cell lines, including HCC; however, the reversal effect of this molecule on HCC chemoresistance remains largely unknown.

PURPOSE

This study aimed to investigate the role and the mechanism of PD-mediated reversal of the histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACi) resistance in HCC cells.

METHODS

Human HCC cells (HA22T) and HDACi-resistant (HDACi-R) cells were used. Cell viability was measured using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. Combination index was used to calculate the synergism potential. Expression of ERK1/2 (total/phospho), cofilin-1 (total/phospho) and apoptosis-related protein was determined using western blotting. Mitochondrial membrane potential was assessed using the JC-1 (5,5',6,6'-tetrachloro-1,1',3,3'-tetraethylbenzimidazolocarbocyanine iodide) probe. Apoptosis was detected using the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling assay. Mitochondrial reactive oxygen species generation was measured using the MitoSOX Red fluorescent probe.

RESULTS

We found that PD treatment inhibited cell viability both in HA22T HCC and HDACi-R cells. Inhibition of ERK1/2 by PD98059 could reverse drug resistance in HDACi-R cells treated with PD98059 and PD. Nevertheless, pre-treatment with U46619, an ERK1/2 activator, rescued PD-induced apoptosis by decreasing levels of apoptosis-related proteins in HCC cells. The combined treatment of PD with apicidin a powerful HDACi, dramatically enhanced the apoptotic effect in HDACi-R cells.

CONCLUSION

For the first time, we showed that PD reversed HDACi resistance in HCC by repressing ERK1/2-mediated cofilin-1 phosphorylation. Thus, PD can potentially be a treatment target to reverse HCC chemotherapy resistance in future therapeutic trials.

Chitinase 3-like-1, Tolloid-like protein 1, and intergenic gene polymorphisms are predictors for hepatocellular carcinoma development after hepatitis C virus eradication by direct-acting antivirals

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major cause of cancer death in Egypt. There is still a risk for HCC development even after eradicating hepatitis C virus (HCV) by direct-acting antivirals (DAAs). Chitinase-3-like-protein-1 (CHI3L1), a biomarker for predicting many diseases, plays an essential role in inflammation, angiogenesis, and antiapoptosis. Tolloid-like protein 1 (TLL1) may be involved in hepatic fibrogenesis and carcinogenesis. This study aimed to determine the role and combined effect of CHI3L1 (rs880633), TLL1 (rs1503298), and an intergenic (rs597533) polymorphisms on the risk of developing HCC in Egyptian patients after achieving sustained virological response (SVR) by DAAs. Blood samples were collected from 68 HCC patients, 77 non-HCC subjects, and 80 healthy controls. The DNA was extracted and analyzed for rs880633, rs1503298, and rs597533 using Genotyping TaqMan™ assay. The result of the present study showed a significant difference in genotypes and alleles frequencies in both (rs880633) and (rs597533) in HCC group as compared to healthy control and also as compared to the non-HCC group. However, regarding to (rs1503298) genotypes and alleles between the HCC and non-HCC groups, there were no significant differences. Combined polymorphism in more than one gene simultaneously showed a higher risk to HCC after SVR than an individual locus. Both allelic and genotypic variations of the CHI3L1 gene (rs880633) and an intergenic (rs597533) seemed to be significant predictors confirming a great risk for HCC susceptibility in Egyptian patients achieved SVR. Patients with a polymorphism in more than one gene showed an increased risk to HCC after SVR rather than individual locus.

Chitinase 3 like 1 suppresses the stability and activity of p53 to promote lung tumorigenesis

Background

Chitinase 3 like 1 protein (Chi3L1) is expressed in several cancers, and a few evidences suggest that the secreted Chi3L1 contributes to tumor development. However, the molecular mechanisms of intracellular Chi3L1 are unknown in the lung tumor development. Methods: In the present study, we generated Chi3L1 knockout mice (Chi3L1^KO(−/−)) using CRISPR/Cas9 system to investigate the role of Chi3L1 on lung tumorigenesis.

Results

We established lung metastasis induced by i.v. injections of B16F10 in Chi3L1^KO(−/−). The lung tumor nodules were significantly reduced in Chi3L1^KO(−/−) and protein levels of p53, p21, BAX, and cleaved-caspase 3 were significantly increased in Chi3L1^KO(−/−), while protein levels of cyclin E1, CDK2, and phsphorylation of STAT3 were decreased in Chi3L1^KO(−/−). Allograft mice inoculated with B16F10 also suppressed tumor growth and increased p53 and its target proteins including p21 and BAX. In addition, knockdown of Chi3L1 in lung cancer cells inhibited lung cancer cell growth and upregulated p53 expression with p21 and BAX, and a decrease in phosphorylation of STAT3. Furthermore, we found that intracellular Chi3L1 physically interacted and colocalized with p53 to inhibit its protein stability and transcriptional activity for target genes related with cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. In lung tumor patient, we clinically found that Chi3L1 expression was upregulated with a decrease in p53 expression, as well as we validated that intracellular Chi3L1 was colocalized, reversely expressed, and physically interacted with p53, which results in suppression of the expression and function of p53 in lung tumor patient.

Conclusions

Our studies suggest that intracellular Chi3L1 plays a critical role in the lung tumorigenesis by regulating its novel target protein, p53 in both an in vitro and in vivo system.

G721-0282 inhibits cell growth and induces apoptosis in human osteosarcoma through down-regulation of the STAT3 pathway

Osteosarcoma (OS) is considered the most common type of primary malignant bone tumor, which has an urgent need for more effective treatment. Recently, chitinase 3 like 1 (Chi3L1) expression has been found in a variety of cancer cells. However it is not known whether Chi3L1 regulates the STAT3 pathway in OS cells. Herein, we examined the effects of the G721-0282, a ligand of Chi3L1, in vitro and in vivo against OS cells. G721-0282 inhibited the proliferation of OS cells and induced apoptosis. This apoptosis was accompanied by upregulation of apoptotic proteins (PARP and procaspase-3), but downregulation of anti-apoptotic proteins (Survivin and Bcl-2). G721-0282 induced the inactivation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) with a decrease in the phosphorylation of Src and STAT3 in OS cells. Importantly, overexpression of Chi3L1 potentiated the effects of G721-0282, while knockdown of Chi3L1 attenuated the effects of G721-0282. Docking model study also showed that G721-0282 interacted with Chi3L1. In addition, G721-0282 inhibited cell migration, invasion, and colony formation. Furthermore, the anti-tumor effects of G721-0282 were observed in an xenograft in vivo model in association with the reduced expression of Chi3L1, PCNA, Cyclin D1, p-STAT3, as well as the increased expression of Chi3L1 was correlated with the p-STAT3 level in human bone tumor tissues. Taken together, a Chi3L1 ligand, G721-0282 may be an attractive therapeutic strategy for OS, especially in vitro and in vivo anti-proliferative effects against OS cells through the inhibition of the STAT3 pathway, and suggest the potentially therapeutic application of G721-0282 in the treatment of OS.

Inhibition of protein phosphatase 1 stimulates noncanonical ER stress eIF2α activation to enhance fisetin-induced chemosensitivity in HDAC inhibitor-resistant hepatocellular carcinoma cells

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common fatal type of malignant tumor that has highly metastatic and recurrent properties. Fisetin is a natural flavonoid found in various vegetables and fruits which exhibits anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties, as well as other effects. Thus, we hypothesized that fisetin can act as an adjuvant therapy in cancer or drug-resistant cancer cells, and further investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying the development of drug-resistance in HCC cells. We found that fisetin effectively inhibited the cell viability of not only parental cells but also histone deacetylase inhibitors-resistant (HDACis-R) cells and enhanced the chemosensitivity of HCC cells. Interestingly, fisetin did not induce cell apoptosis through the activation of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress sensor of protein kinase R (PKR)-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase, but rather through the non-canonical pathway of the protein phosphatase 1 (PP1)-mediated suppression of eIF2α phosphorylation. Moreover, fisetin-induced cell apoptosis was reversed by treatment with PP1 activator or eIF2α siRNA in HCC cells. Based on these observations, we suggest that PP1-eIF2α pathways are significantly involved in the effect of fisetin on HCC apoptosis. Thus, fisetin may act as a novel anticancer drug and new chemotherapy adjuvant which can improve the efficacy of chemotherapeutic agents and diminish their side-effects.

Functional variant of CHI3L1 gene is associated with neck metastasis in oral cancer

OBJECTIVES

Oral cancer is the most common head and neck malignancy, and it is associated with a high recurrence rate and lymph node metastasis potential. YKL-40, also known as chitinase-3-like protein 1 (CHI3L1), is a secreted glycoprotein that serves as a biomarker in several diseases. It also plays a crucial role in regulating many characteristics of cancer, such as cell growth, migration, anti-apoptosis, and angiogenesis. Accumulating evidence supports the link between single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and oral cancer, but no report on the association between CHI3L1 polymorphisms and oral cancer is available. Thus, the present study evaluated the contribution of CHI3L1 SNPs to oral cancer susceptibility and clinicopathology.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study recruited a total of 2362 subjects, comprising 1190 healthy male controls and 1172 male patients with oral cancer. Allelic discrimination of the CHI3L1 polymorphisms - 1371 G>A (rs6691378), - 247 G>A (rs10399805), - 131 C>G (rs4950928), and + 2950 T>C (rs880633) was assessed through real-time polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTS

We detected a significant association of rs10399805 and rs6691378 with the risk of oral cancer (AOR, 1.537; 95% CI, 1.089-2.168; p = 0.014; AOR, 1.561; 95% CI, 1.131-2.156; p = 0.007, respectively) after adjustment for three potential confounders, smoking, betel nut chewing, and alcohol consumption. Moreover, we found that oral cancer patients carrying the homozygous A/A genotype of the rs10399805 (p = 0.035) or rs6691378 polymorphism (p = 0.023) showed a significantly lower risk of lymph node metastasis. Moreover, according to the Genotype-Tissue Expression database, the rs10399805 and rs6691378 polymorphisms in the promoter region were associated with decreased levels of CHI3L1 mRNA.

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, we found that the homozygous mutant allele of rs10399805 and rs6691378 appeared to have significantly lower risk of lymph node metastasis and associated with its mRNA levels in oral cancer.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

The CHI3L1 polymorphisms rs10399805 and rs6691378 may act as biomarkers for predicting lymph node metastasis in oral cancer patients.

Association of SNP-SNP Interactions Between RANKL, OPG, CHI3L1, and VDR Genes With Breast Cancer Risk in Egyptian Women

BACKGROUND

Genetic susceptibility for breast cancer (BC) is still poorly understood. A combination of multiple low-penetrant alleles of cancer-related genes and gene-gene interactions (epistasis) contributes to BC risk. Genetic variants in receptor activator of nuclear factor κB ligand (RANKL), osteoprotegerin (OPG), chitinase-3-like protein 1 (CHI3L1), and vitamin D receptor (VDR) genes are implicated in breast carcinogenesis; however, the influence of their epistatic effects on BC susceptibility has not yet been studied. We investigated the association of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)-SNP interactions and haplotypes of 6 SNPs in these 4 genes with the genetic predisposition of BC in Egyptian women.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Data of 115 BC patients and 120 cancer-free controls were studied. Association tests were conducted using logistic regression models.

RESULTS

Individual SNPs showed weak statistical significance with BC susceptibility. The interactions between RANKL-rs9533156 and OPG-rs2073618; OPG-rs2073618 with CHI3L1-rs4950928, VDR-rs2228570 and VDR-rs1544410; OPG-rs2073617 and VDR-rs1544410; VDR-rs2228570 and VDR-rs1544410 were strongly associated with increased BC risk after adjustment for multiple comparisons. No SNPs were in strong linkage disequilibrium. The TCTCTG-rs9533156-rs2073618-rs2073617-rs4950928-rs2228570-rs1544410 haplotype was significantly associated with increased BC risk (adjusted odds ratio = 8.33; 95% confidence interval, 1.32-52.46; P = .025) compared with controls. TCCCTG haplotype stratified BC patients according to estrogen receptor/progesterone receptor status. TCTCTA was positively associated, and TCTCTG and TGTCTG haplotypes inversely correlated with bone metastasis. Bioinformatic analysis revealed 13 proteins commonly interacting with our 4 genes; the most significant was signal transducer and activator of transcription 5B.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggested that a stronger combined effect of SNPs in RANKL, OPG, CHI3L1, and VDR genes via gene-gene interaction may help predict BC risk and prognosis.

FUT2 genetic variants as predictors of tumor development with hepatocellular carcinoma

Lewis antigens related to the ABO blood group are fucosylated oligosaccharides and are synthesized by specific glycosyltransferases (FUTs). FUTs are involved in various biological processes including cell adhesion and tumor progression. The fucosyltransferase-2 gene (FUT2) encodes alpha (1,2) fucosyltransferase, which is responsible for the addition of the alpha (1,2)-linkage of fucose to glycans. Aberrant fucosylation occurs frequently during the development and progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the association of FUT2 polymorphisms with HCC development has not been studied. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the association of FUT2 polymorphisms with demographic, etiological, and clinical characteristics and with susceptibility to HCC. In this study, a total of 339 patients and 720 controls were recruited. The genotypes of FUT2 at four single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs; rs281377, rs1047781, rs601338, and rs602662) were detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction from these samples. Compared with the wild-type genotype at SNP rs1047781, which is homozygous for nucleotides AA, at least one polymorphic T allele (AT or TT) displayed significant association with clinical stage (p = 0.048) and tumor size (p = 0.022). Our study strongly implicates the polymorphic locus rs1047781 of FUT2 as being associated with HCC development.