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Wong CCL, Tapper EB, Malhi H, Gores GJ. Manuscript best practices: Takeaways from a community conversation. Hepatology 2024:01515467-990000000-00799. [PMID: 38466823 DOI: 10.1097/hep.0000000000000849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Carmen Chak-Lui Wong
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Elliot B Tapper
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Harmeet Malhi
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | - Gregory J Gores
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
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Wu W, Wu W, Zhou Y, Yang Q, Zhuang S, Zhong C, Li W, Li A, Zhao W, Yin X, Zu X, Chak-Lui Wong C, Yin D, Hu K, Cai M. The dePARylase NUDT16 promotes radiation resistance of cancer cells by blocking SETD3 for degradation via reversing its ADP-ribosylation. J Biol Chem 2024; 300:105671. [PMID: 38272222 PMCID: PMC10926213 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2024.105671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2023] [Revised: 12/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation (PARylation) is a critical posttranslational modification that plays a vital role in maintaining genomic stability via a variety of molecular mechanisms, including activation of replication stress and the DNA damage response. The nudix hydrolase NUDT16 was recently identified as a phosphodiesterase that is responsible for removing ADP-ribose units and that plays an important role in DNA repair. However, the roles of NUDT16 in coordinating replication stress and cell cycle progression remain elusive. Here, we report that SETD3, which is a member of the SET-domain containing protein (SETD) family, is a novel substrate for NUDT16, that its protein levels fluctuate during cell cycle progression, and that its stability is strictly regulated by NUDT16-mediated dePARylation. Moreover, our data indicated that the E3 ligase CHFR is responsible for the recognition and degradation of endogenous SETD3 in a PARP1-mediated PARylation-dependent manner. Mechanistically, we revealed that SETD3 associates with BRCA2 and promotes its recruitment to stalled replication fork and DNA damage sites upon replication stress or DNA double-strand breaks, respectively. Importantly, depletion of SETD3 in NUDT16-deficient cells did not further exacerbate DNA breaks or enhance the sensitivity of cancer cells to IR exposure, suggesting that the NUDT16-SETD3 pathway may play critical roles in the induction of tolerance to radiotherapy. Collectively, these data showed that NUDT16 functions as a key upstream regulator of SETD3 protein stability by reversing the ADP-ribosylation of SETD3, and NUDT16 participates in the resolution of replication stress and facilitates HR repair.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weijun Wu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA Medicine, Medical Research Center, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China; Department of Oncology Radiotherapy, The First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China
| | - Wenjing Wu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA Medicine, Medical Research Center, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China; Department of Breast Oncology, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yingshi Zhou
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA Medicine, Medical Research Center, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China; Department of Ultrasound, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qiao Yang
- Department of Oncology Radiotherapy, The First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China
| | - Shuting Zhuang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA Medicine, Medical Research Center, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Caixia Zhong
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA Medicine, Medical Research Center, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wenjia Li
- Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Aixin Li
- Department of Oncology Radiotherapy, The First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China
| | - Wanzhen Zhao
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA Medicine, Medical Research Center, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China; Department of Oncology Radiotherapy, The First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China
| | - Xiaomin Yin
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA Medicine, Medical Research Center, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China; Department of Oncology Radiotherapy, The First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China
| | - Xuyu Zu
- Cancer Research Institute, The First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China
| | - Carmen Chak-Lui Wong
- Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Guangdong, China
| | - Dong Yin
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA Medicine, Medical Research Center, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Kaishun Hu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA Medicine, Medical Research Center, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Manbo Cai
- Department of Oncology Radiotherapy, The First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China.
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Fuchs E, Sahai E, Weeraratna AT, Deneen B, Chak-Lui Wong C, Simon A. Understanding the microenvironment and how this controls cell fate. Dev Cell 2023; 58:2819-2821. [PMID: 38113847 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2023.11.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2023] [Revised: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
The microenvironment influences cell fate. In this collection of voices, researchers from the fields of cancer and regeneration highlight approaches to establish the importance of the microenvironment and discuss future directions to understand the complex interaction between cells and their surrounding environment and how this impacts on disease and regeneration.
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Man CH, Lam W, Dang CC, Zeng XY, Zheng LC, Chan NNM, Ng KL, Chan KC, Kwok TH, Ng TCC, Leung WY, Huen MSY, Wong CCL, So CWE, Dou Z, Goyama S, Bray MR, Mak TW, Leung AYH. Inhibition of PLK4 remodels histone methylation and activates the immune response via the cGAS-STING pathway in TP53-mutated AML. Blood 2023; 142:2002-2015. [PMID: 37738460 DOI: 10.1182/blood.2023019782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2023] [Revised: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 09/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with TP53 mutation is one of the most lethal cancers and portends an extremely poor prognosis. Based on in silico analyses of druggable genes and differential gene expression in TP53-mutated AML, we identified pololike kinase 4 (PLK4) as a novel therapeutic target and examined its expression, regulation, pathogenetic mechanisms, and therapeutic potential in TP53-mutated AML. PLK4 expression was suppressed by activated p53 signaling in TP53 wild-type AML and was increased in TP53-mutated AML cell lines and primary samples. Short-term PLK4 inhibition induced DNA damage and apoptosis in TP53 wild-type AML. Prolonged PLK4 inhibition suppressed the growth of TP53-mutated AML and was associated with DNA damage, apoptosis, senescence, polyploidy, and defective cytokinesis. A hitherto undescribed PLK4/PRMT5/EZH2/H3K27me3 axis was demonstrated in both TP53 wild-type and mutated AML, resulting in histone modification through PLK4-induced PRMT5 phosphorylation. In TP53-mutated AML, combined effects of histone modification and polyploidy activated the cGAS-STING pathway, leading to secretion of cytokines and chemokines and activation of macrophages and T cells upon coculture with AML cells. In vivo, PLK4 inhibition also induced cytokine and chemokine expression in mouse recipients, and its combination with anti-CD47 antibody, which inhibited the "don't-eat-me" signal in macrophages, synergistically reduced leukemic burden and prolonged animal survival. The study shed important light on the pathogenetic role of PLK4 and might lead to novel therapeutic strategies in TP53-mutated AML.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheuk-Him Man
- Department of Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Wing Lam
- Department of Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Chee-Chean Dang
- Department of Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Xiao-Yuan Zeng
- Department of Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Li-Chuan Zheng
- Department of Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Natalie Nok-Man Chan
- Department of Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Ka-Lam Ng
- Department of Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Koon-Chuen Chan
- Department of Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Tsz-Ho Kwok
- Department of Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Timothy Chi-Chun Ng
- Department of Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Wing-Yan Leung
- Department of Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Michael Shing-Yan Huen
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Carmen Chak-Lui Wong
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Centre for Oncology and Immunology, Hong Kong Science Park, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Chi Wai Eric So
- Department of Haematological Medicine, Leukemia and Stem Cell Biology Team, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Zhixun Dou
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
| | - Susumu Goyama
- Division of Molecular Oncology, Department of Computational Biology and Medical Sciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Mark Robert Bray
- The Campbell Family Institute for Breast Cancer Research, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto, Canada
| | - Tak Wah Mak
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Centre for Oncology and Immunology, Hong Kong Science Park, Hong Kong SAR, China
- The Campbell Family Institute for Breast Cancer Research, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto, Canada
| | - Anskar Yu-Hung Leung
- Department of Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Centre for Oncology and Immunology, Hong Kong Science Park, Hong Kong SAR, China
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Chan FF, Yuen VWH, Shen J, Chin DWC, Law CT, Wong BPY, Chan CYK, Cheu JWS, Ng IOL, Wong CCL, Wong CM. Inhibition of CAF-1 histone chaperone complex triggers cytosolic DNA and dsRNA sensing pathways and induces intrinsic immunity of hepatocellular carcinoma. Hepatology 2023:01515467-990000000-00670. [PMID: 38051950 DOI: 10.1097/hep.0000000000000709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Chromatin assembly factor 1 (CAF-1) is a replication-dependent epigenetic regulator that controls cell cycle progression and chromatin dynamics. In this study, we aim to investigate the immunomodulatory role and therapeutic potential of the CAF-1 complex in HCC. APPROACH AND RESULTS CAF-1 complex knockout cell lines were established using the CRISPR/Cas9 system. The effects of CAF-1 in HCC were studied in HCC cell lines, nude mice, and immunocompetent mice. RNA-sequencing, ChIP-Seq, and assay for transposase accessible chromatin with high-throughput sequencing (ATAC-Seq) were used to explore the changes in the epigenome and transcriptome. CAF-1 complex was significantly upregulated in human and mouse HCCs and was associated with poor prognosis in patients with HCC. Knockout of CAF-1 remarkably suppressed HCC growth in both in vitro and in vivo models. Mechanistically, depletion of CAF-1 induced replicative stress and chromatin instability, which eventually led to cytoplasmic DNA leakage as micronuclei. Also, chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing analyses revealed a massive H3.3 histone variant replacement upon CAF-1 knockout. Enrichment of euchromatic H3.3 increased chromatin accessibility and activated the expression of endogenous retrovirus elements, a phenomenon known as viral mimicry. However, cytosolic micronuclei and endogenous retroviruses are recognized as ectopic elements by the stimulator of interferon genes and dsRNA viral sensing pathways, respectively. As a result, the knockout of CAF-1 activated inflammatory response and antitumor immune surveillance and thereby significantly enhanced the anticancer effect of immune checkpoint inhibitors in HCC. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that CAF-1 is essential for HCC development; targeting CAF-1 may awaken the anticancer immune response and may work cooperatively with immune checkpoint inhibitor treatment in cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- For-Fan Chan
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Vincent Wai-Hin Yuen
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Centre for Oncology and Immunology, Hong Kong Science Park, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Jialing Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Don Wai-Ching Chin
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Cheuk-Ting Law
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Bowie Po-Yee Wong
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Centre for Oncology and Immunology, Hong Kong Science Park, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Cerise Yuen-Ki Chan
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Centre for Oncology and Immunology, Hong Kong Science Park, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Jacinth Wing-Sum Cheu
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Centre for Oncology and Immunology, Hong Kong Science Park, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Irene Oi-Lin Ng
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Carmen Chak-Lui Wong
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Centre for Oncology and Immunology, Hong Kong Science Park, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Chun-Ming Wong
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
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Malhi H, Brown RS, Lim JK, Reau N, Tapper EB, Wong CCL, Gores GJ. Precipitous changes in nomenclature and definitions-NAFLD becomes SLD: Implications for and expectations of AASLD journals. Liver Transpl 2023; 29:1262-1263. [PMID: 37941408 DOI: 10.1097/lvt.0000000000000279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Harmeet Malhi
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | - Robert S Brown
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA
| | - Joseph K Lim
- Yale Viral Hepatitis Program, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Nancy Reau
- Section of Hepatology, Division of Digestive Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Elliot B Tapper
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Minnesota, USA
| | - Carmen Chak-Lui Wong
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Gregory J Gores
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
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Malhi H, Brown RS, Lim JK, Reau N, Tapper EB, Wong CCL, Gores GJ. Precipitous changes in nomenclature and definitions-NAFLD becomes SLD: Implications for and expectations of AASLD journals. Hepatology 2023; 78:1680-1681. [PMID: 37941421 DOI: 10.1097/hep.0000000000000619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Harmeet Malhi
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | - Robert S Brown
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA
| | - Joseph K Lim
- Yale Viral Hepatitis Program, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Nancy Reau
- Section of Hepatology, Division of Digestive Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Elliot B Tapper
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Minnesota, USA
| | - Carmen Chak-Lui Wong
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Gregory J Gores
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
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Malhi H, Brown RS, Lim JK, Reau N, Tapper EB, Wong CCL, Gores GJ. Precipitous changes in nomenclature and definitions-NAFLD becomes SLD: Implications for and expectations of AASLD journals. Clin Liver Dis (Hoboken) 2023; 22:193-194. [PMID: 38143807 PMCID: PMC10745227 DOI: 10.1097/cld.0000000000000094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/26/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Harmeet Malhi
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | - Robert S Brown
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA
| | - Joseph K Lim
- Yale Viral Hepatitis Program, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Nancy Reau
- Section of Hepatology, Division of Digestive Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Elliot B Tapper
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Minnesota, USA
| | - Carmen Chak-Lui Wong
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Gregory J Gores
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
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Malhi H, Brown RS, Lim JK, Reau N, Tapper EB, Wong CCL, Gores GJ. Precipitous changes in nomenclature and definitions-NAFLD becomes SLD: Implications for and expectations of AASLD journals. Hepatol Commun 2023; 7:e0318. [PMID: 37941420 PMCID: PMC10635597 DOI: 10.1097/hc9.0000000000000318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Harmeet Malhi
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | - Robert S. Brown
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA
| | - Joseph K. Lim
- Yale Viral Hepatitis Program, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Nancy Reau
- Section of Hepatology, Division of Digestive Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Elliot B. Tapper
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Minnesota, USA
| | - Carmen Chak-Lui Wong
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Gregory J. Gores
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
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Zhang H, Wong CCL, Wei H, Gilkes DM, Korangath P, Chaturvedi P, Schito L, Chen J, Krishnamachary B, Winnard PT, Raman V, Zhen L, Mitzner WA, Sukumar S, Semenza GL. Retraction Note: HIF-1-dependent expression of angiopoietin-like 4 and L1CAM mediates vascular metastasis of hypoxic breast cancer cells to the lungs. Oncogene 2023:10.1038/s41388-023-02720-8. [PMID: 37221224 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-023-02720-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- H Zhang
- Vascular Program, Institute for Cell Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Oncology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- School of Life Science, The University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - C C L Wong
- Vascular Program, Institute for Cell Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- McKusick-Nathans Institute of Genetic Medicine, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - H Wei
- Vascular Program, Institute for Cell Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- McKusick-Nathans Institute of Genetic Medicine, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - D M Gilkes
- Vascular Program, Institute for Cell Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- McKusick-Nathans Institute of Genetic Medicine, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - P Korangath
- Department of Oncology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - P Chaturvedi
- Vascular Program, Institute for Cell Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- McKusick-Nathans Institute of Genetic Medicine, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - L Schito
- Vascular Program, Institute for Cell Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- University of Rome 'La Sapienza', Rome, Italy
| | - J Chen
- Vascular Program, Institute for Cell Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- McKusick-Nathans Institute of Genetic Medicine, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - B Krishnamachary
- Department of Radiology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - P T Winnard
- Department of Radiology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - V Raman
- Department of Radiology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - L Zhen
- Division of Physiology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - W A Mitzner
- Division of Physiology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - S Sukumar
- Department of Oncology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - G L Semenza
- Vascular Program, Institute for Cell Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
- Department of Oncology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
- McKusick-Nathans Institute of Genetic Medicine, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
- Departments of Pediatrics, Medicine, Radiation Oncology, and Biological Chemistry, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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Cheu JWS, Chiu DKC, Kwan KKL, Yang C, Yuen VWH, Goh CC, Chui NNQ, Shen W, Law CT, Li Q, Zhang MS, Bao MHR, Wong BPY, Chan CYK, Liu CX, Sit GFW, Ooi ZY, Deng H, Tse APW, Ng IOL, Wong CCL. Hypoxia-inducible factor orchestrates adenosine metabolism to promote liver cancer development. Sci Adv 2023; 9:eade5111. [PMID: 37146141 PMCID: PMC10162666 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.ade5111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Hypoxia-induced adenosine creates an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) and dampens the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). We found that hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) orchestrates adenosine efflux through two steps in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). First, HIF-1 activates transcriptional repressor MXI1, which inhibits adenosine kinase (ADK), resulting in the failure of adenosine phosphorylation to adenosine monophosphate. This leads to adenosine accumulation in hypoxic cancer cells. Second, HIF-1 transcriptionally activates equilibrative nucleoside transporter 4, pumping adenosine into the interstitial space of HCC, elevating extracellular adenosine levels. Multiple in vitro assays demonstrated the immunosuppressive role of adenosine on T cells and myeloid cells. Knockout of ADK in vivo skewed intratumoral immune cells to protumorigenic and promoted tumor progression. Therapeutically, combination treatment of adenosine receptor antagonists and anti-PD-1 prolonged survival of HCC-bearing mice. We illustrated the dual role of hypoxia in establishing an adenosine-mediated immunosuppressive TME and offered a potential therapeutic approach that synergizes with ICIs in HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacinth Wing-Sum Cheu
- Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
- Centre for Oncology and Immunology, Hong Kong Science Park, Hong Kong
| | - David Kung-Chun Chiu
- Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Kenneth Kin-Leung Kwan
- Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
- Centre for Oncology and Immunology, Hong Kong Science Park, Hong Kong
| | - Chunxue Yang
- Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Vincent Wai-Hin Yuen
- Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
- Centre for Oncology and Immunology, Hong Kong Science Park, Hong Kong
| | - Chi Ching Goh
- Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Noreen Nog-Qin Chui
- Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Wei Shen
- Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
- Centre for Oncology and Immunology, Hong Kong Science Park, Hong Kong
| | - Cheuk-Ting Law
- Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Qidong Li
- Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Misty Shuo Zhang
- Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
- Centre for Oncology and Immunology, Hong Kong Science Park, Hong Kong
| | - Macus Hao-Ran Bao
- Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
- Centre for Oncology and Immunology, Hong Kong Science Park, Hong Kong
| | - Bowie Po-Yee Wong
- Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Cerise Yuen-Ki Chan
- Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
- Centre for Oncology and Immunology, Hong Kong Science Park, Hong Kong
| | - Cindy Xinqi Liu
- Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Grace Fu-Wan Sit
- Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Zher Yee Ooi
- Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Haijing Deng
- Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Aki Pui-Wah Tse
- Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
- Centre for Oncology and Immunology, Hong Kong Science Park, Hong Kong
| | - Irene Oi-Lin Ng
- Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Carmen Chak-Lui Wong
- Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
- Centre for Oncology and Immunology, Hong Kong Science Park, Hong Kong
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
- Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China 510120
- Shenzhen Hospital, The University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, China
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12
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Tapper EB, Wong CCL. The future of Hepatology Communications. Hepatol Commun 2023; 7:02009842-202304010-00001. [PMID: 36930870 PMCID: PMC10027037 DOI: 10.1097/hc9.0000000000000085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 03/19/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Elliot B Tapper
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Carmen Chak-Lui Wong
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
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13
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Chan CYK, Yuen VWH, Chiu DKC, Goh CC, Thu KL, Cescon DW, Soria-Bretones I, Law CT, Cheu JWS, Lee D, Tse APW, Tan KV, Zhang MS, Wong BPY, Wong CM, Khong PL, Ng IOL, Bray MR, Mak TW, Yau TCC, Wong CCL. Polo-like kinase 4 inhibitor CFI-400945 suppresses liver cancer through cell cycle perturbation and eliciting antitumor immunity. Hepatology 2023; 77:729-744. [PMID: 35302667 DOI: 10.1002/hep.32461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2021] [Revised: 02/25/2022] [Accepted: 02/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Prognosis of HCC remains poor due to lack of effective therapies. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have delayed response and are only effective in a subset of patients. Treatments that could effectively shrink the tumors within a short period of time are idealistic to be employed together with ICIs for durable tumor suppressive effects. HCC acquires increased tolerance to aneuploidy. The rapid division of HCC cells relies on centrosome duplication. In this study, we found that polo-like kinase 4 (PLK4), a centrosome duplication regulator, represents a therapeutic vulnerability in HCC. APPROACH AND RESULTS An orally available PLK4 inhibitor, CFI-400945, potently suppressed proliferating HCC cells by perturbing centrosome duplication. CFI-400945 induced endoreplication without stopping DNA replication, causing severe aneuploidy, DNA damage, micronuclei formation, cytosolic DNA accumulation, and senescence. The cytosolic DNA accumulation elicited the DEAD box helicase 41-stimulator of interferon genes-interferon regulatory factor 3/7-NF-κβ cytosolic DNA sensing pathway, thereby driving the transcription of senescence-associated secretory phenotypes, which recruit immune cells. CFI-400945 was evaluated in liver-specific p53/phosphatase and tensin homolog knockout mouse HCC models established by hydrodynamic tail vein injection. Tumor-infiltrated immune cells were analyzed. CFI-400945 significantly impeded HCC growth and increased infiltration of cluster of differentiation 4-positive (CD4 + ), CD8 + T cells, macrophages, and natural killer cells. Combination therapy of CFI-400945 with anti-programmed death-1 showed a tendency to improve HCC survival. CONCLUSIONS We show that by targeting a centrosome regulator, PLK4, to activate the cytosolic DNA sensing-mediated immune response, CFI-400945 effectively restrained tumor progression through cell cycle inhibition and inducing antitumor immunity to achieve a durable suppressive effect even in late-stage mouse HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cerise Yuen-Ki Chan
- Department of Pathology , The University of Hong Kong , Hong Kong SAR , China.,Centre for Oncology and Immunology , Hong Kong Science Park , Hong Kong SAR , China
| | - Vincent Wai-Hin Yuen
- Department of Pathology , The University of Hong Kong , Hong Kong SAR , China.,Centre for Oncology and Immunology , Hong Kong Science Park , Hong Kong SAR , China
| | | | - Chi-Ching Goh
- Department of Pathology , The University of Hong Kong , Hong Kong SAR , China
| | - Kelsie L Thu
- The Campbell Family Institute for Breast Cancer Research , Princess Margaret Cancer Centre , Toronto , Ontario , Canada
| | - David W Cescon
- The Campbell Family Institute for Breast Cancer Research , Princess Margaret Cancer Centre , Toronto , Ontario , Canada
| | - Isabel Soria-Bretones
- The Campbell Family Institute for Breast Cancer Research , Princess Margaret Cancer Centre , Toronto , Ontario , Canada
| | - Cheuk-Ting Law
- Department of Pathology , The University of Hong Kong , Hong Kong SAR , China
| | - Jacinth Wing-Sum Cheu
- Department of Pathology , The University of Hong Kong , Hong Kong SAR , China.,Centre for Oncology and Immunology , Hong Kong Science Park , Hong Kong SAR , China
| | - Derek Lee
- Department of Pathology , The University of Hong Kong , Hong Kong SAR , China.,Centre for Oncology and Immunology , Hong Kong Science Park , Hong Kong SAR , China
| | - Aki Pui-Wah Tse
- Department of Pathology , The University of Hong Kong , Hong Kong SAR , China.,Centre for Oncology and Immunology , Hong Kong Science Park , Hong Kong SAR , China
| | - Kel Vin Tan
- Department of Diagnostic Radiology , The University of Hong Kong , Hong Kong SAR , China
| | - Misty Shuo Zhang
- Department of Pathology , The University of Hong Kong , Hong Kong SAR , China.,Centre for Oncology and Immunology , Hong Kong Science Park , Hong Kong SAR , China
| | - Bowie Po-Yee Wong
- Department of Pathology , The University of Hong Kong , Hong Kong SAR , China
| | - Chun-Ming Wong
- Department of Pathology , The University of Hong Kong , Hong Kong SAR , China.,State Key Laboratory of Liver Research , The University of Hong Kong , Hong Kong SAR , China
| | - Pek-Lan Khong
- Department of Diagnostic Radiology , The University of Hong Kong , Hong Kong SAR , China
| | - Irene Oi-Lin Ng
- Department of Pathology , The University of Hong Kong , Hong Kong SAR , China.,State Key Laboratory of Liver Research , The University of Hong Kong , Hong Kong SAR , China
| | - Mark R Bray
- The Campbell Family Institute for Breast Cancer Research , Princess Margaret Cancer Centre , Toronto , Ontario , Canada
| | - Tak Wah Mak
- Centre for Oncology and Immunology , Hong Kong Science Park , Hong Kong SAR , China.,The Campbell Family Institute for Breast Cancer Research , Princess Margaret Cancer Centre , Toronto , Ontario , Canada
| | - Thomas Chung-Cheung Yau
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research , The University of Hong Kong , Hong Kong SAR , China.,Department of Medicine , The University of Hong Kong , Hong Kong SAR , China
| | - Carmen Chak-Lui Wong
- Department of Pathology , The University of Hong Kong , Hong Kong SAR , China.,Centre for Oncology and Immunology , Hong Kong Science Park , Hong Kong SAR , China.,State Key Laboratory of Liver Research , The University of Hong Kong , Hong Kong SAR , China.,Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA Medicine , Sun Yat-Sen University , Guangzhou , China
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14
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Kam CS, Ho DWH, Ming VSI, Tian L, Sze KMF, Zhang VX, Tsui YM, Husain A, Lee JMF, Wong CCL, Chan ACY, Cheung TT, Chan LK, Ng IOL. PFKFB4 Drives the Oncogenicity in TP53-Mutated Hepatocellular Carcinoma in a Phosphatase-Dependent Manner. Cell Mol Gastroenterol Hepatol 2023; 15:1325-1350. [PMID: 36806581 PMCID: PMC10140800 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcmgh.2023.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2022] [Revised: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 02/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Metabolic reprogramming is recognized as a cancer hallmark intimately linked to tumor hypoxia, which supports rapid tumor growth and mitigates the consequential oxidative stress. Phosphofructokinase-fructose bisphosphatase (PFKFB) is a family of bidirectional glycolytic enzymes possessing both kinase and phosphatase functions and has emerged as important oncogenes in multiple types of cancer. However, its clinical relevance, functional significance, and underlying mechanistic insights in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the primary malignancy that develops in the most important metabolic organ, has never been addressed. METHODS PFKFB4 expression was examined by RNA sequencing in The Cancer Genome Atlas and our in-house HCC cohort. The up-regulation of PFKFB4 expression was confirmed further by quantitative polymerase chain reaction in an expanded hepatitis B virus-associated HCC cohort followed by clinicopathologic correlation analysis. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated PFKFB4 knockout cells were generated for functional characterization in vivo, targeted metabolomic profiling, as well as RNA sequencing analysis to comprehensively examine the impact of PFKFB4 loss in HCC. RESULTS PFKFB4 expression was up-regulated significantly in HCC and correlated positively with TP53 and TSC2 loss-of-function mutations. In silico transcriptome-based analysis further revealed PFKFB4 functions as a critical hypoxia-inducible gene. Clinically, PFKFB4 up-regulation was associated with more aggressive tumor behavior. Functionally, CRISPR/Cas9-mediated PFKFB4 knockout significantly impaired in vivo HCC development. Targeted metabolomic profiling revealed that PFKFB4 functions as a phosphatase in HCC and its ablation caused an accumulation of metabolites in downstream glycolysis and the pentose phosphate pathway. In addition, PFKFB4 loss induced hypoxia-responsive genes in glycolysis and reactive oxygen species detoxification. Conversely, ectopic PFKFB4 expression conferred sorafenib resistance. CONCLUSIONS PFKFB4 up-regulation supports HCC development and posed therapeutic implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles Shing Kam
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Daniel Wai-Hung Ho
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Vanessa Sheung-In Ming
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Lu Tian
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Karen Man-Fong Sze
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Vanilla Xin Zhang
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Yu-Man Tsui
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Abdullah Husain
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Joyce Man-Fong Lee
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Carmen Chak-Lui Wong
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Albert Chi-Yan Chan
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Tan-To Cheung
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Lo-Kong Chan
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
| | - Irene Oi-Lin Ng
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
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15
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Yuen VWH, Chiu DKC, Law CT, Cheu JWS, Chan CYK, Wong BPY, Goh CC, Zhang MS, Xue HDG, Tse APW, Zhang Y, Lau HYH, Lee D, Au-Yeung RKH, Wong CM, Wong CCL. Using mouse liver cancer models based on somatic genome editing to predict immune checkpoint inhibitor responses. J Hepatol 2023; 78:376-389. [PMID: 36455783 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2022.10.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2021] [Revised: 10/10/2022] [Accepted: 10/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are the only two classes of FDA-approved drugs for individuals with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). While TKIs confer only modest survival benefits, ICIs have been associated with remarkable outcomes but only in the minority of patients who respond. Understanding the mechanisms that determine the efficacy of ICIs in HCC will help to stratify patients likely to respond to ICIs. This study aims to elucidate how genetic composition and specific oncogenic pathways regulate the immune composition of HCC, which directly affects response to ICIs. METHODS A collection of mouse HCCs with genotypes that closely simulate the genetic composition found in human HCCs were established using genome-editing approaches involving the delivery of transposon and CRISPR-Cas9 systems by hydrodynamic tail vein injection. Mouse HCC tumors were analyzed by RNA-sequencing while tumor-infiltrating T cells were analyzed by flow cytometry and single-cell RNA-sequencing. RESULTS Based on the CD8+ T cell-infiltration level, we characterized tumors with different genotypes into cold and hot tumors. Anti-PD-1 treatment had no effect in cold tumors but was greatly effective in hot tumors. As proof-of-concept, a cold tumor (Trp53KO/MYCOE) and a hot tumor (Keap1KO/MYCOE) were further characterized. Tumor-infiltrating CD8+ T cells from Keap1KO/MYCOE HCCs expressed higher levels of proinflammatory chemokines and exhibited enrichment of a progenitor exhausted CD8+ T-cell phenotype compared to those in Trp53KO/MYCOE HCCs. The TKI sorafenib sensitized Trp53KO/MYCOE HCCs to anti-PD-1 treatment. CONCLUSION Single anti-PD-1 treatment appears to be effective in HCCs with genetic mutations driving hot tumors, while combined anti-PD-1 and sorafenib treatment may be more appropriate in HCCs with genetic mutations driving cold tumors. IMPACT AND IMPLICATIONS Genetic alterations of different driver genes in mouse liver cancers are associated with tumor-infiltrating CD8+ T cells and anti-PD-1 response. Mouse HCCs with different genetic compositions can be grouped into hot and cold tumors based on the level of tumor-infiltrating CD8+ T cells. This study provides proof-of-concept evidence to show that hot tumors are responsive to anti-PD-1 treatment while cold tumors are more suitable for combined treatment with anti-PD-1 and sorafenib. Our study might help to guide the design of patient stratification systems for single or combined treatments involving anti-PD-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincent Wai-Hin Yuen
- Department of Pathology; Centre for Oncology and Immunology, Hong Kong Science Park, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | | | | | - Jacinth Wing-Sum Cheu
- Department of Pathology; Centre for Oncology and Immunology, Hong Kong Science Park, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Cerise Yuen-Ki Chan
- Department of Pathology; Centre for Oncology and Immunology, Hong Kong Science Park, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Bowie Po-Yee Wong
- Department of Pathology; Centre for Oncology and Immunology, Hong Kong Science Park, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | | | - Misty Shuo Zhang
- Department of Pathology; Centre for Oncology and Immunology, Hong Kong Science Park, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Helen Do-Gai Xue
- Department of Pathology; Centre for Oncology and Immunology, Hong Kong Science Park, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Aki Pui-Wah Tse
- Department of Pathology; Centre for Oncology and Immunology, Hong Kong Science Park, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Yan Zhang
- Department of Pathology; Centre for Oncology and Immunology, Hong Kong Science Park, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | | | - Derek Lee
- Department of Pathology; Centre for Oncology and Immunology, Hong Kong Science Park, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Rex K H Au-Yeung
- Department of Pathology; Centre for Oncology and Immunology, Hong Kong Science Park, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Chun-Ming Wong
- Department of Pathology; State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Carmen Chak-Lui Wong
- Department of Pathology; State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; Centre for Oncology and Immunology, Hong Kong Science Park, Hong Kong SAR, China.
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16
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Abstract
Significance: Immune cell therapy involves the administration of immune cells into patients, and it has emerged as one of the most common type of immunotherapy for cancer treatment. Knowledge on the biology and metabolism of the adoptively transferred immune cells and the metabolic requirements of different cell types in the tumor is fundamental for the development of immune cell therapy with higher efficacy. Recent Advances: Adoptive T cell therapy has been shown to be effective in limited types of cancer. Different types and generations of adoptive T cell therapies have evolved in the recent decade. This review covers the basic principles and development of these therapies in cancer treatment. Critical Issues: Our review provides an overview on the basic concepts on T cell metabolism and highlights the metabolic requirements of T and adoptively transferred T cells. Future Directions: Integrating the knowledge just cited will facilitate the development of strategies to maximize the expansion of adoptively transferred T cells ex vivo and in vivo and to promote their durability and antitumor effects. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 37, 1303-1324.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ge Hui Tan
- Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.,Department of Comprehensive Cancer Centre, School of Cancer and Pharmaceutical Sciences, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Carmen Chak-Lui Wong
- Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.,Center for Oncology and Immunology, Hong Kong Science Park, Hong Kong, SAR, China
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17
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Husain A, Chiu YT, Sze KMF, Ho DWH, Tsui YM, Suarez EMS, Zhang VX, Chan LK, Lee E, Lee JMF, Cheung TT, Wong CCL, Chung CYS, Ng IOL. Ephrin-A3/EphA2 axis regulates cellular metabolic plasticity to enhance cancer stemness in hypoxic hepatocellular carcinoma. J Hepatol 2022; 77:383-396. [PMID: 35227773 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2022.02.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2021] [Revised: 01/19/2022] [Accepted: 02/13/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS The highly proliferative nature of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) frequently results in a hypoxic intratumoural microenvironment, which creates a therapeutic challenge owing to a lack of mechanistic understanding of the phenomenon. We aimed to identify critical drivers of HCC development and progression in the hypoxic microenvironment. METHODS We performed integrative analysis of multiple transcriptomic and genomic profiles specific for HCC and hypoxia and identified the Ephrin-A3/Eph receptor A2 (EphA2) axis as a clinically relevant and hypoxia-inducible signalling axis in HCC. The functional significance and mechanistic consequences of the Ephrin-A3/EphA2 axis were examined in EFNA3- and EPHA2- knockdown/overexpressing HCC cells. The potential downstream pathways were investigated by transcriptome sequencing, quantitative reverse-transcription PCR, western blotting analysis and metabolomics. RESULTS EFNA3 was frequently upregulated in HCC and its overexpression was associated with more aggressive tumour behaviours. HIF-1α directly and positively regulated EFNA3 expression under hypoxia. EFNA3 functionally contributed to self-renewal, proliferation and migration in HCC cells. EphA2 was identified as a key functional downstream mediator of EFNA3. Functional characterisation of the Ephrin-A3/EphA2 forward-signalling axis demonstrated a promotion of self-renewal ability and tumour initiation. Mechanistically, the Ephrin-A3/EphA2 axis promoted the maturation of SREBP1 and expression of its transcriptional target, ACLY, was significantly associated with the expression of EFNA3 and hypoxia markers in clinical cohorts. The metabolic signature of EPHA2 and ACLY stable knockdown HCC cells demonstrated significant overlap in fatty acid, cholesterol and tricarboxylic acid cycle metabolite profiles. ACLY was confirmed to mediate the self-renewal function of the Ephrin-A3/EphA2 axis. CONCLUSIONS Our findings revealed the novel role of the Ephrin-A3/EphA2 axis as a hypoxia-sensitive modulator of HCC cell metabolism and a key contributor to HCC initiation and progression. LAY SUMMARY Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a fast-growing tumour; hence, areas of the tumour often have insufficient vasculature and become hypoxic. The presence of hypoxia within tumours has been shown to negatively impact on the survival of patients with tumours, including HCC. Herein, we identified the Ephrin-A3/EphA2 axis as a key functional driver of tumour initiation and progression in response to hypoxia. Additionally, we showed that SREBP1-ACLY-mediated metabolic rewiring was an important downstream effector that induced cancer stemness in response to Ephrin-A3/EphA2 forward-signalling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdullah Husain
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Yung-Tuen Chiu
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Karen Man-Fong Sze
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Daniel Wai-Hung Ho
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Yu-Man Tsui
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Eliana Mary Senires Suarez
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Vanilla Xin Zhang
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Lo-Kong Chan
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Eva Lee
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Joyce Man-Fong Lee
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Tan-To Cheung
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Carmen Chak-Lui Wong
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Clive Yik-Sham Chung
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; School of Biomedical Science, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Irene Oi-Lin Ng
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
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18
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Shen J, Yang C, Zhang MS, Chin DWC, Chan FF, Law CT, Wang G, Cheng CLH, Chen M, Wan RTC, Wu M, Kuang Z, Sharma R, Lee TKW, Ng IOL, Wong CCL, Wong CM. Histone chaperone FACT complex coordinates with HIF to mediate an expeditious transcription program to adapt to poorly oxygenated cancers. Cell Rep 2022; 38:110304. [PMID: 35108543 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.110304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2020] [Revised: 11/16/2021] [Accepted: 01/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer cells adapt to hypoxia through HIFs (hypoxia-inducible factors), which initiate the transcription of numerous genes for cancer cell survival in the hypoxia microenvironment. In this study, we find that the FACT (facilitates chromatin transcription) complex works cooperatively with HIFs to facilitate the expeditious expression of HIF targets for hypoxia adaptation. Knockout (KO) of the FACT complex abolishes HIF-mediated transcription by impeding transcription elongation in hypoxic cancer cells. Interestingly, the FACT complex is post-translationally regulated by PHD/VHL-mediated hydroxylation and proteasomal degradation, in similar fashion to HIF-1/2α. Metabolic tracing confirms that FACT KO suppresses glycolytic flux and impairs lactate extrusion, leading to intracellular acidification and apoptosis in cancer cells. Therapeutically, hepatic artery ligation and anti-angiogenic inhibitors adversely induce intratumoral hypoxia, while co-treatment with FACT inhibitor curaxin remarkably hinders the growth of hypoxic tumors. In summary, our findings suggest that the FACT complex is a critical component of hypoxia adaptation and a therapeutic target for hypoxic tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jialing Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research and Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
| | - Chunxue Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research and Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
| | - Misty Shuo Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research and Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
| | - Don Wai-Ching Chin
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research and Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
| | - For-Fan Chan
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research and Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
| | - Cheuk-Ting Law
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research and Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
| | - Gengchao Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research and Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
| | - Carol Lai-Hung Cheng
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research and Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
| | - Mengnuo Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research and Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
| | - Rebecca Ting-Chi Wan
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research and Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
| | - Mengjie Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research and Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
| | - Zhijian Kuang
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research and Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
| | - Rakesh Sharma
- Proteomic and Metabolic Core Facility, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
| | - Terence Kin Wah Lee
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong
| | - Irene Oi-Lin Ng
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research and Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
| | - Carmen Chak-Lui Wong
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research and Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong.
| | - Chun-Ming Wong
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research and Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong.
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19
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Zhang VX, Sze KMF, Chan LK, Ho DWH, Tsui YM, Chiu YT, Lee E, Husain A, Huang H, Tian L, Wong CCL, Ng IOL. Antioxidant supplements promote tumor formation and growth and confer drug resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma by reducing intracellular ROS and induction of TMBIM1. Cell Biosci 2021; 11:217. [PMID: 34924003 PMCID: PMC8684635 DOI: 10.1186/s13578-021-00731-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2021] [Accepted: 12/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Controversy over the benefits of antioxidants supplements in cancers persists for long. Using hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) as a model, we investigated the effects of exogenous antioxidants N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and glutathione (GSH) on tumor formation and growth. Methods Multiple mouse models, including diethylnitrosamine (DEN)-induced and Trp53KO/C-MycOE-induced HCC models, mouse hepatoma cell and human HCC cell xenograft models with subcutaneous or orthotopic injection were used. In vitro assays including ROS assay, colony formation, sphere formation, proliferation, migration and invasion, apoptosis, cell cycle assays were conducted. Western blot was performed for protein expression and RNA-sequencing to identify potential gene targets. Results In these multiple different mouse and cell line models, we observed that NAC and GSH promoted HCC tumor formation and growth, accompanied with significant reduction of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. Moreover, NAC and GSH promoted cancer stemness, and abrogated the tumor-suppressive effects of Sorafenib both in vitro and in vivo. Exogenous supplementation of NAC or GSH reduced the expression of NRF2 and GCLC, suggesting the NRF2/GCLC-related antioxidant production pathway might be desensitized. Using transcriptomic analysis to identify potential gene targets, we found that TMBIM1 was significantly upregulated upon NAC and GSH treatment. Both TCGA and in-house RNA-sequence databases showed that TMBIM1 was overexpressed in HCC tumors. Stable knockdown of TMBIM1 increased the intracellular ROS; it also abolished the promoting effects of the antioxidants in HCC cells. On the other hand, BSO and SSA, inhibitors targeting NAC and GSH metabolism respectively, partially abrogated the pro-oncogenic effects induced by NAC and GSH in vitro and in vivo. Conclusions Our data implicate that exogenous antioxidants NAC and GSH, by reducing the intracellular ROS levels and inducing TMBIM expression, promoted HCC formation and tumor growth, and counteracted the therapeutic effect of Sorafenib. Our study provides scientific insight regarding the use of exogenous antioxidant supplements in cancers. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13578-021-00731-0.
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20
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Cable J, Pei D, Reid LM, Wang XW, Bhatia S, Karras P, Melenhorst JJ, Grompe M, Lathia JD, Song E, Kuo CJ, Zhang N, White RM, Ma SK, Ma L, Chin YR, Shen MM, Ng IOL, Kaestner KH, Zhou L, Sikandar S, Schmitt CA, Guo W, Wong CCL, Ji J, Tang DG, Dubrovska A, Yang C, Wiedemeyer WR, Weissman IL. Cancer stem cells: advances in biology and clinical translation-a Keystone Symposia report. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2021; 1506:142-163. [PMID: 34850398 DOI: 10.1111/nyas.14719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The test for the cancer stem cell (CSC) hypothesis is to find a target expressed on all, and only CSCs in a patient tumor, then eliminate all cells with that target that eliminates the cancer. That test has not yet been achieved, but CSC diagnostics and targets found on CSCs and some other cells have resulted in a few clinically relevant therapies. However, it has become apparent that eliminating the subset of tumor cells characterized by self-renewal properties is essential for long-term tumor control. CSCs are able to regenerate and initiate tumor growth, recapitulating the heterogeneity present in the tumor before treatment. As great progress has been made in identifying and elucidating the biology of CSCs as well as their interactions with the tumor microenvironment, the time seems ripe for novel therapeutic strategies that target CSCs to find clinical applicability. On May 19-21, 2021, researchers in cancer stem cells met virtually for the Keystone eSymposium "Cancer Stem Cells: Advances in Biology and Clinical Translation" to discuss recent advances in the understanding of CSCs as well as clinical efforts to target these populations.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Duanqing Pei
- CAS Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou, China.,Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China.,Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory (GRMH-GDL), Guangzhou, China
| | - Lola M Reid
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Xin Wei Wang
- Laboratory of Human Carcinogenesis, and Liver Cancer Program, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Sonam Bhatia
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, New York
| | - Panagiotis Karras
- Laboratory for Molecular Cancer Biology, Center for Cancer Biology and Laboratory for Molecular Cancer Biology, Department of Oncology, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jan Joseph Melenhorst
- Glioblastoma Translational Center of Excellence, The Abramson Cancer Center and Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine and Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Markus Grompe
- Department of Molecular and Medical Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, and Oregon Stem Cell Center, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon
| | - Justin D Lathia
- Department of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences, Lerner Research Institute and Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Erwei Song
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Medical Research Center and Breast Tumor Center, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China.,Bioland Laboratory; Program of Molecular Medicine, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University; and Fountain-Valley Institute for Life Sciences, Guangzhou Institute of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Calvin J Kuo
- Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California
| | - Ning Zhang
- Translational Cancer Research Center, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Richard M White
- Cancer Biology and Genetics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Stephanie Ky Ma
- School of Biomedical Sciences and State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Lichun Ma
- Laboratory of Human Carcinogenesis, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Y Rebecca Chin
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Michael M Shen
- Departments of Medicine, Genetics and Development, Urology, and Systems Biology, Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York
| | - Irene Oi Lin Ng
- Department of Pathology and State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Klaus H Kaestner
- Department of Genetics and Institute for Diabetes, Obesity, and Metabolism, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Lei Zhou
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, Hong Kong
| | - Shaheen Sikandar
- Institute for the Biology of Stem Cells, University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California
| | - Clemens A Schmitt
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Hematology/Oncology, and Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, Berlin, Germany, and Johannes Kepler University, Kepler Universitätsklinikum, Hematology/Oncology, Linz, Austria
| | - Wei Guo
- Department of Biology, School of Arts & Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Carmen Chak-Lui Wong
- Department of Pathology and State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Junfang Ji
- MOE Key Laboratory of Biosystems Homeostasis & Protection, and Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Cancer Molecular Cell Biology, Life Sciences Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Dean G Tang
- Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, and Experimental Therapeutics (ET) Graduate Program, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York
| | - Anna Dubrovska
- OncoRay National Center for Radiation Research in Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden and Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Dresden, Germany.,Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institute of Radiooncology-OncoRay, Dresden, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Dresden, and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.,National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Partner Site Dresden, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Chunzhang Yang
- Neuro-Oncology Branch, National Cancer Institute, Center for Cancer Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | | | - Irving L Weissman
- Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Ludwig Center for Cancer Stem Cell Research, Stanford University, Stanford, California
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21
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Cheu JWS, Wong CCL. Mechanistic Rationales Guiding Combination Hepatocellular Carcinoma Therapies Involving Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors. Hepatology 2021; 74:2264-2276. [PMID: 33811765 DOI: 10.1002/hep.31840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2021] [Revised: 03/08/2021] [Accepted: 03/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the deadliest cancers because of late symptom manifestation leading to delayed diagnosis, which limits patients with HCC in terms of receiving curative surgical treatment. There are only a few therapeutic options for patients with advanced HCC. The emergence of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) brings HCC treatment to a stage at which nivolumab, an anti-programmed cell death protein 1 monoclonal antibody, achieves a 20% response rate. However, the large proportion of unresponsive patients drives the exploration of therapeutic strategies to improve ICIs' efficacy. Recent preclinical and clinical studies have suggested that ICIs, when used in combinations or when used with other cancer therapies, might elicit synergistic antitumor effects. However, the mechanistic rationales guiding different drug combinations to maximize this synergy remain largely ambiguous. In this review, we discuss different drug combinations used in HCC and the underlying mechanistic rationales, aiming to enhance the understanding of how these treatments can achieve synergy. This knowledge sets the foundation for the development of more effective and promising combination therapies for HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Carmen Chak-Lui Wong
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
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22
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Lee D, Zhang MS, Tsang FHC, Bao MHR, Xu IMJ, Lai RKH, Chiu DKC, Tse APW, Law CT, Chan CYK, Yuen VWH, Chui NNQ, Ng IOL, Wong CM, Wong CCL. Adaptive and Constitutive Activations of Malic Enzymes Confer Liver Cancer Multilayered Protection Against Reactive Oxygen Species. Hepatology 2021; 74:776-796. [PMID: 33619771 DOI: 10.1002/hep.31761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2020] [Revised: 12/18/2020] [Accepted: 01/03/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS HCC undergoes active metabolic reprogramming. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are excessively generated in cancer cells and are neutralized by NADPH. Malic enzymes (MEs) are the less studied NADPH producers in cancer. APPROACH AND RESULTS We found that ME1, but not ME3, was regulated by the typical oxidative stress response pathway mediated by kelch-like ECH associated protein 1/nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor (NRF2). Surprisingly, ME3 was constitutively induced by superenhancers. Disruption of any ME regulatory pathways decelerated HCC progression and sensitized HCC to sorafenib. Therapeutically, simultaneous blockade of NRF2 and a superenhancer complex completely impeded HCC growth. We show that superenhancers allow cancer cells to counteract the intrinsically high level of ROS through constitutively activating ME3 expression. When HCC cells encounter further episodes of ROS insult, NRF2 allows cancer cells to adapt by transcriptionally activating ME1. CONCLUSIONS Our study reveals the complementary regulatory mechanisms which control MEs and provide cancer cells multiple layers of defense against oxidative stress. Targeting both regulatory mechanisms represents a potential therapeutic approach for HCC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Derek Lee
- Department of PathologyLi Ka Shing Faculty of MedicineThe University of Hong KongHong KongHong Kong
| | - Misty Shuo Zhang
- Department of PathologyLi Ka Shing Faculty of MedicineThe University of Hong KongHong KongHong Kong
| | - Felice Ho-Ching Tsang
- Department of PathologyLi Ka Shing Faculty of MedicineThe University of Hong KongHong KongHong Kong
| | - Macus Hao-Ran Bao
- Department of PathologyLi Ka Shing Faculty of MedicineThe University of Hong KongHong KongHong Kong
| | - Iris Ming-Jing Xu
- Department of PathologyLi Ka Shing Faculty of MedicineThe University of Hong KongHong KongHong Kong
| | - Robin Kit-Ho Lai
- Department of PathologyLi Ka Shing Faculty of MedicineThe University of Hong KongHong KongHong Kong
| | - David Kung-Chun Chiu
- Department of PathologyLi Ka Shing Faculty of MedicineThe University of Hong KongHong KongHong Kong
| | - Aki Pui-Wah Tse
- Department of PathologyLi Ka Shing Faculty of MedicineThe University of Hong KongHong KongHong Kong
| | - Cheuk-Ting Law
- Department of PathologyLi Ka Shing Faculty of MedicineThe University of Hong KongHong KongHong Kong
| | - Cerise Yuen-Ki Chan
- Department of PathologyLi Ka Shing Faculty of MedicineThe University of Hong KongHong KongHong Kong
| | - Vincent Wai-Hin Yuen
- Department of PathologyLi Ka Shing Faculty of MedicineThe University of Hong KongHong KongHong Kong
| | - Noreen Nog-Qin Chui
- Department of PathologyLi Ka Shing Faculty of MedicineThe University of Hong KongHong KongHong Kong
| | - Irene Oi-Lin Ng
- Department of PathologyLi Ka Shing Faculty of MedicineThe University of Hong KongHong KongHong Kong.,State Key Laboratory of Liver ResearchThe University of Hong KongHong KongHong Kong
| | - Chun-Ming Wong
- Department of PathologyLi Ka Shing Faculty of MedicineThe University of Hong KongHong KongHong Kong.,State Key Laboratory of Liver ResearchThe University of Hong KongHong KongHong Kong
| | - Carmen Chak-Lui Wong
- Department of PathologyLi Ka Shing Faculty of MedicineThe University of Hong KongHong KongHong Kong.,State Key Laboratory of Liver ResearchThe University of Hong KongHong KongHong Kong
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23
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Cheng CLH, Tsang FHC, Wei L, Chen M, Chin DWC, Shen J, Law CT, Lee D, Wong CCL, Ng IOL, Wong CM. Bromodomain-containing protein BRPF1 is a therapeutic target for liver cancer. Commun Biol 2021; 4:888. [PMID: 34285329 PMCID: PMC8292510 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-021-02405-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2020] [Accepted: 06/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Epigenetic deregulation plays an essential role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression. Bromodomains are epigenetic "readers" of histone acetylation. Recently, bromodomain inhibitors have exhibited promising therapeutic potential for cancer treatment. Using transcriptome sequencing, we identified BRPF1 (bromodomain and PHD finger containing 1) as the most significantly upregulated gene among the 43 bromodomain-containing genes in human HCC. BRPF1 upregulation was significantly associated with poor patient survival. Gene ablation or pharmacological inactivation of BRPF1 significantly attenuated HCC cell growth in vitro and in vivo. BRPF1 was involved in cell cycle progression, senescence and cancer stemness. Transcriptome sequencing revealed that BRPF1 is a master regulator controlling the expression of multiple key oncogenes, including E2F2 and EZH2. We demonstrated that BRPF1 activated E2F2 and EZH2 expression by facilitating promoter H3K14 acetylation through MOZ/MORF complex. In conclusion, BRPF1 is frequently upregulated in human HCCs. Targeting BRPF1 may be an approach for HCC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carol Lai-Hung Cheng
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong.,Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
| | - Felice Hoi-Ching Tsang
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong.,Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
| | - Lai Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong.,Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
| | - Mengnuo Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong.,Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
| | - Don Wai-Ching Chin
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong.,Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
| | - Jialing Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong.,Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
| | - Cheuk-Ting Law
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong.,Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
| | - Derek Lee
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong.,Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
| | - Carmen Chak-Lui Wong
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong.,Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
| | - Irene Oi-Lin Ng
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong.,Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
| | - Chun-Ming Wong
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong. .,Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong.
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24
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Ting V, Wong CCL, Kwong YL, Yau TCC. Abstract 487: Genomic difference of CD4 CD8 double-positive T cells versus conventional CD4 T cells and CD8 T cells in responders undergoing immunotherapy in advanced HCC. Cancer Res 2021. [DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2021-487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Intro: The number of undergoing clinical trials using more than one immune checkpoint inhibitor is rising rapidly. Previously, we have observed CD4 CD8 double-positive T cells (Figure 1) from checkpoint inhibitor responder in advanced HCC patient. To further investigate the genomic difference between CD4 CD8 double-positive T (DP T) cell and conventional CD4, CD8 T cells, we have applied GO, KEGG, and Reactone database to compare.
Material and method: Two responders showed a partial response to PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor treatment with advanced HCC were included. DP T cells were measured with Carl Zeiss Laser Scanning Microscopy (LSM) 780 (Zeiss) at Faculty Core Facility. Blood samples from responders were stained with an antibody cocktail containing CD3, CD4 and CD8 T cells. To visualise the labelling cells, CD3, CD4 and CD8 surface fluorescence was shown in yellow, violet and green dots respectively. Conventional CD4, CD8 T cells and DP T cells were further sorted using the same staining protocol before extraction. RNA extraction were immediately applied after cell sorting, where CD4 CD8 double-negative T (DN T) cells were also included. All patients were seen at the Department of Medical Oncology, Queen Mary Hospitals. Blood samples were collected after the treatment along with clinical routine blood test.
Results: A total number of 3723 and 4653 genes respectively were differentially expressed in DP T cell versus CD8 T cell and DP T cell versus CD4 T cell in responder 1, whereas a total 11117 differential expressed genes were measured in DP T cell and DN T cell. In responder 2, a total number of 6439 genes were differentially expressed in DP T versus CD8 T cell, while a total number of 316 and 488 differential expressed genes were measured in DP T cell versus CD4 T cell and DP T cell versus DN T cell. GO, KEGG and Reactone database analysis indicated cytokine receptor, cell cytotoxicity and cell activation enrichment in DP T cell compared to conventional CD4 or CD8 T cell.
Citation Format: Vox Ting, Carmen Chak-Lui Wong, Yok Lam Kwong, Thomas Chung Cheung Yau. Genomic difference of CD4 CD8 double-positive T cells versus conventional CD4 T cells and CD8 T cells in responders undergoing immunotherapy in advanced HCC [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2021; 2021 Apr 10-15 and May 17-21. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2021;81(13_Suppl):Abstract nr 487.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vox Ting
- The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
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25
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Ho DWH, Tsui YM, Chan LK, Sze KMF, Zhang X, Cheu JWS, Chiu YT, Lee JMF, Chan ACY, Cheung ETY, Yau DTW, Chia NH, Lo ILO, Sham PC, Cheung TT, Wong CCL, Ng IOL. Single-cell RNA sequencing shows the immunosuppressive landscape and tumor heterogeneity of HBV-associated hepatocellular carcinoma. Nat Commun 2021; 12:3684. [PMID: 34140495 PMCID: PMC8211687 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-24010-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 119] [Impact Index Per Article: 39.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2020] [Accepted: 05/28/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Interaction between tumor cells and immune cells in the tumor microenvironment is important in cancer development. Immune cells interact with the tumor cells to shape this process. Here, we use single-cell RNA sequencing analysis to delineate the immune landscape and tumor heterogeneity in a cohort of patients with HBV-associated human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We found that tumor-associated macrophages suppress tumor T cell infiltration and TIGIT-NECTIN2 interaction regulates the immunosuppressive environment. The cell state transition of immune cells towards a more immunosuppressive and exhaustive status exemplifies the overall cancer-promoting immunocellular landscape. Furthermore, the heterogeneity of global molecular profiles reveals co-existence of intra-tumoral and inter-tumoral heterogeneity, but is more apparent in the latter. This analysis of the immunosuppressive landscape and intercellular interactions provides mechanistic information for the design of efficacious immune-oncology treatments in hepatocellular carcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Wai-Hung Ho
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
| | - Yu-Man Tsui
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Lo-Kong Chan
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Karen Man-Fong Sze
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Xin Zhang
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | | | - Yung-Tuen Chiu
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Joyce Man-Fong Lee
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Albert Chi-Yan Chan
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | | | | | - Nam-Hung Chia
- Department of Surgery, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Hong Kong, China
| | - Irene Lai-Oi Lo
- Department of Surgery, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Hong Kong, China
| | - Pak-Chung Sham
- Department of Psychiatry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Tan-To Cheung
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Carmen Chak-Lui Wong
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Irene Oi-Lin Ng
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
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Abstract
The liver has strong innate immunity to counteract pathogens from the gastrointestinal tract. During the development of liver cancer, which is typically driven by chronic inflammation, the composition and biological roles of the innate immune cells are extensively altered. Hypoxia is a common finding in all stages of liver cancer development. Hypoxia drives the stabilization of hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs), which act as central regulators to dampen the innate immunity of liver cancer. HIF signaling in innate immune cells and liver cancer cells together favors the recruitment and maintenance of pro-tumorigenic immune cells and the inhibition of anti-tumorigenic immune cells, promoting immune evasion. HIFs represent attractive therapeutic targets to inhibit the formation of an immunosuppressive microenvironment and growth of liver cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Carmen Chak-Lui Wong
- Department of Pathology and.,State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
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27
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Chan LK, Ho DWH, Kam CS, Chiu EYT, Lo ILO, Yau DTW, Cheung ETY, Tang CN, Tang VWL, Lee TKW, Wong CCL, Chok KSH, Chan ACY, Cheung TT, Wong CM, Ng IOL. RSK2-inactivating mutations potentiate MAPK signaling and support cholesterol metabolism in hepatocellular carcinoma. J Hepatol 2021; 74:360-371. [PMID: 32918955 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2020.08.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2020] [Revised: 08/05/2020] [Accepted: 08/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Mutational profiling of patient tumors has suggested that hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development is mainly driven by loss-of-function mutations in tumor suppressor genes. p90 ribosomal S6 kinase 2 (RSK2) functions as a direct downstream kinase of ERK1/2 and elevated RSK2 expression has been reported to support oncogenic functions in some cancers. We investigated if RSK2 was also dysregulated by inactivating mutations in cancers including HCC. METHODS We performed exome sequencing and targeted DNA sequencing on HBV-associated HCCs to examine recurrent RSK2 mutations. The functional significance and mechanistic consequences of RSK2 mutations were examined in natural RSK2-null HCC cells, and RSK2-knockout HCC cells. The potential downstream pathways underlying RSK2 mutations were investigated by RNA sequencing, qRT-PCR and mass spectrometry. RESULTS We detected recurrent somatic RSK2 mutations at a rate of 6.3% in our HCC cohorts and revealed that, among many cancer types, HCC was the cancer most commonly harboring RSK2 mutations. The RSK2 mutations were inactivating and associated with a more aggressive tumor phenotype. We found that, functionally, restoring RSK2 expression in natural RSK2-null HBV-positive Hep3B cells suppressed proliferation and migration in vitro and tumorigenicity in vivo. Mechanistically, RSK2-inactivating mutations attenuated a SOS1/2-dependent negative feedback loop, leading to the activation of MAPK signaling. Of note, this RSK2 mutation-mediated MAPK upregulation rendered HCC cells more sensitive to sorafenib, a first-line multi-kinase inhibitor for advanced HCC. Furthermore, such activation of MAPK signaling enhanced cholesterol biosynthesis-related gene expression in HCC cells. CONCLUSIONS Our findings reveal the mechanistic and functional significance of RSK2-inactivating mutations in HCC. These inactivating mutations may serve as an alternative route to activate MAPK signaling and cholesterol metabolism in HCC. LAY SUMMARY In this study, we identified and functionally characterized RSK2-inactivating mutations in human hepatocellular carcinoma and demonstrated their association with aggressive tumor behavior. Mutations in RSK2 drive signaling pathways with known oncogenic potential, leading to enhanced cholesterol biosynthesis and potentially sensitizing tumors to sorafenib treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lo-Kong Chan
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
| | - Daniel Wai-Hung Ho
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Charles Shing Kam
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Elley Yung-Tuen Chiu
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | | | | | | | - Chung-Ngai Tang
- Department of Surgery, Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital, Hong Kong
| | - Victor Wai-Lun Tang
- Department of Pathology, Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital, Hong Kong
| | - Terence Kin-Wah Lee
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong
| | - Carmen Chak-Lui Wong
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Kenneth Siu-Ho Chok
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Albert Chi-Yan Chan
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Tan-To Cheung
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Chun-Ming Wong
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Irene Oi-Lin Ng
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
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28
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Zhang H, Wong CCL, Wei H, Gilkes DM, Korangath P, Chaturvedi P, Schito L, Chen J, Krishnamachary B, Winnard PT, Raman V, Zhen L, Mitzner WA, Sukumar S, Semenza GL. Correction: HIF-1-dependent expression of angiopoietin-like 4 and L1CAM mediates vascular metastasis of hypoxic breast cancer cells to the lungs. Oncogene 2021; 40:1552-1553. [PMID: 33452464 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-020-01618-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- H Zhang
- Vascular Program, Institute for Cell Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Department of Oncology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.,School of Life Science, The University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - C C L Wong
- Vascular Program, Institute for Cell Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.,McKusick-Nathans Institute of Genetic Medicine, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - H Wei
- Vascular Program, Institute for Cell Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.,McKusick-Nathans Institute of Genetic Medicine, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - D M Gilkes
- Vascular Program, Institute for Cell Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.,McKusick-Nathans Institute of Genetic Medicine, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - P Korangath
- Department of Oncology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - P Chaturvedi
- Vascular Program, Institute for Cell Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.,McKusick-Nathans Institute of Genetic Medicine, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - L Schito
- Vascular Program, Institute for Cell Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.,University of Rome 'La Sapienza', Rome, Italy
| | - J Chen
- Vascular Program, Institute for Cell Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.,McKusick-Nathans Institute of Genetic Medicine, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - B Krishnamachary
- Department of Radiology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - P T Winnard
- Department of Radiology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - V Raman
- Department of Radiology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - L Zhen
- Division of Physiology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - W A Mitzner
- Division of Physiology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - S Sukumar
- Department of Oncology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - G L Semenza
- Vascular Program, Institute for Cell Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA. .,Department of Oncology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA. .,McKusick-Nathans Institute of Genetic Medicine, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA. .,Departments of Pediatrics, Medicine, Radiation Oncology, and Biological Chemistry, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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29
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Bao MHR, Yang C, Tse APW, Wei L, Lee D, Zhang MS, Goh CC, Chiu DKC, Yuen VWH, Law CT, Chin WC, Chui NNQ, Wong BPY, Chan CYK, Ng IOL, Chung CYS, Wong CM, Wong CCL. Genome-wide CRISPR-Cas9 knockout library screening identified PTPMT1 in cardiolipin synthesis is crucial to survival in hypoxia in liver cancer. Cell Rep 2021; 34:108676. [PMID: 33503428 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2020.108676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2020] [Revised: 11/11/2020] [Accepted: 12/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Hypoxia, low oxygen (O2), is a key feature of all solid cancers, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Genome-wide CRISPR-Cas9 knockout library screening is used to identify reliable therapeutic targets responsible for hypoxic survival in HCC. We find that protein-tyrosine phosphatase mitochondrial 1 (PTPMT1), an important enzyme for cardiolipin (CL) synthesis, is the most significant gene and ranks just after hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α and HIF-1β as crucial to hypoxic survival. CL constitutes the mitochondrial membrane and ensures the proper assembly of electron transport chain (ETC) complexes for efficient electron transfer in respiration. ETC becomes highly unstable during hypoxia. Knockout of PTPMT1 stops the maturation of CL and impairs the assembly of ETC complexes, leading to further electron leakage and ROS accumulation at ETC in hypoxia. Excitingly, HCC cells, especially under hypoxic conditions, show great sensitivity toward PTPMT1 inhibitor alexidine dihydrochloride (AD). This study unravels the protective roles of PTPMT1 in hypoxic survival and cancer development.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Chunxue Yang
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Aki Pui-Wah Tse
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Lai Wei
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Derek Lee
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | | | - Chi Ching Goh
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | | | | | - Cheuk-Ting Law
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Wai-Ching Chin
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | | | | | | | - Irene Oi-Lin Ng
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Clive Yik-Sham Chung
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Chun-Ming Wong
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
| | - Carmen Chak-Lui Wong
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
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30
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Chiu DKC, Yuen VWH, Cheu JWS, Wei LL, Ting V, Fehlings M, Sumatoh H, Nardin A, Newell EW, Ng IOL, Yau TCC, Wong CM, Wong CCL. Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells Up-regulate PVRL1, Stabilizing PVR and Inhibiting the Cytotoxic T-Cell Response via TIGIT to Mediate Tumor Resistance to PD1 Inhibitors in Mice. Gastroenterology 2020; 159:609-623. [PMID: 32275969 DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2020.03.074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 93] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2019] [Revised: 03/25/2020] [Accepted: 03/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Immune checkpoint inhibitors are effective in the treatment of some hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs), but these tumors do not always respond to inhibitors of programmed cell death 1 (PDCD1, also called PD1). We investigated mechanisms of resistance of liver tumors in mice to infiltrating T cells. METHODS Mice were given hydrodynamic tail vein injections of clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats-Cas9 (CRISPR-Cas9) and transposon vectors to disrupt Trp53 and overexpress C-Myc (Trp53KO/C-MycOE mice). Pvrl1 and Pvrl3 were knocked down in Hepa1-6 cells by using short hairpin RNAs. Hepa1-6 cells were injected into livers of C57BL/6 mice; some mice were given intraperitoneal injections of antibodies against PD1, T-cell immunoreceptor with Ig and ITIM domains (TIGIT), or CD8 before the cancer cells were injected. Liver tissues were collected from mice and analyzed by histology, immunohistochemistry, and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction; tumors were analyzed by mass cytometry using markers to detect T cells and other lymphocytes. We obtained HCC and nontumorous liver tissues and clinical data from patients who underwent surgery in Hong Kong and analyzed the tissues by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS Trp53KO/C-MycOE mice developed liver tumors in 3-5 weeks; injections of anti-PD1 did not slow tumor development. Tumors from mice given anti-PD1 had larger numbers of memory CD8+ T cells (CD44+CD62L-KLRG1int) and T cells that expressed PD1, lymphocyte activating 3 (LAG3), and TIGIT compared with mice not given the antibody. HCC tissues from patients had higher levels of PVRL1 messenger RNA and protein than nontumorous tissues. Increased PVRL1 was associated with shorter times of disease-free survival. Knockdown of Pvrl1 in Hepa1-6 cells caused them to form smaller tumors in mice, infiltrated by higher numbers of CD8+ T cells that expressed the inhibitory protein TIGIT; these effects were not observed in mice with depletion of CD8+ T cells. In Hepa1-6 cells, PVRL1 stabilized cell surface PVR, which interacted with TIGIT on CD8+ T cells; knockdown of Pvrl1 reduced cell-surface levels of PVR but not levels of Pvr messenger RNA. In Trp53KO/C-MycOE mice and mice with tumors grown from Hepa1-6 cells, injection of the combination of anti-PD1 and anti-TIGIT significantly reduced tumor growth, increased the ratio of cytotoxic to regulatory T cells in tumors, and prolonged survival. CONCLUSIONS PVRL1, which is up-regulated by HCC cells, stabilizes cell surface PVR, which interacts with TIGIT, an inhibitory molecule on CD8+ effector memory T cells. This suppresses the ant-tumor immune response. Inhibitors of PVRL1/TIGIT, along with anti-PD1 might be developed for treatment of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Larry Lai Wei
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Vox Ting
- Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | | | | | | | - Evan W Newell
- ImmunoSCAPE Pte Ltd, Singapore; Vaccine and Infections Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington
| | - Irene Oi-Lin Ng
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Thomas Chung-Cheung Yau
- Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Chun-Ming Wong
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Carmen Chak-Lui Wong
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
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31
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Leung MS, Chan KKS, Dai WJ, Wong CY, Au KY, Wong PY, Wong CCL, Lee TKW, Ng IOL, Kao WJ, Lo RCL. Anti-tumour effects of PIM kinase inhibition on progression and chemoresistance of hepatocellular carcinoma. J Pathol 2020; 252:65-76. [PMID: 32558942 DOI: 10.1002/path.5492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2020] [Revised: 06/08/2020] [Accepted: 06/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a biologically aggressive cancer. Targeted therapy is in need to tackle challenges in the treatment perspective. A growing body of evidence suggests a promising role of pharmacological inhibition of PIM (proviral integration site for Moloney murine leukaemia virus) kinase in some human haematological and solid cancers. Yet to date, the potential application of PIM inhibitors in HCC is still largely unexplored. In the present study we investigated the pre-clinical efficacy of PIM inhibition as a therapeutic approach in HCC. Effects of PIM inhibitors on cell proliferation, migration, invasion, chemosensitivity, and self-renewal were examined in vitro. The effects of PIM inhibitors on tumour growth and chemoresistance in vivo were studied using xenograft mouse models. Potential downstream molecular mechanisms were elucidated by RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) of tumour tissues harvested from animal models. Our findings demonstrate that PIM inhibitors SGI-1776 and PIM447 reduced HCC proliferation, metastatic potential, and self-renewal in vitro. Results from in vivo experiments supported the role of PIM inhibition in suppressing of tumour growth and increasing chemosensitivity of HCC toward cisplatin and doxorubicin, the two commonly used chemotherapeutic agents in trans-arterial chemoembolisation (TACE) for HCC. RNA-seq analysis revealed downregulation of the MAPK/ERK pathway upon PIM inhibition in HCC cells. In addition, LOXL2 and ICAM1 were identified as potential downstream effectors. Taken together, PIM inhibitors demonstrated remarkable anti-tumourigenic effects in HCC in vitro and in vivo. PIM kinase inhibition is a potential approach to be exploited in formulating adjuvant therapy for HCC patients of different disease stages. © 2020 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Wen-Juan Dai
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, PR China
| | - Cheuk-Yan Wong
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, PR China
| | - Kwan-Yung Au
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, PR China
| | - Pik-Ying Wong
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, PR China
| | - Carmen Chak-Lui Wong
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, PR China.,State Key Laboratory of Liver Research (The University of Hong Kong), Hong Kong SAR, PR China
| | - Terence Kin-Wah Lee
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, PR China
| | - Irene Oi-Lin Ng
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, PR China.,State Key Laboratory of Liver Research (The University of Hong Kong), Hong Kong SAR, PR China
| | - Weiyuan John Kao
- Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering, Biomedical Engineering Program of Faculty of Engineering and LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, PR China
| | - Regina Cheuk-Lam Lo
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, PR China.,State Key Laboratory of Liver Research (The University of Hong Kong), Hong Kong SAR, PR China
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32
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Shen J, Chen M, Lee D, Law CT, Wei L, Tsang FHC, Chin DWC, Cheng CLH, Lee JMF, Ng IOL, Wong CCL, Wong CM. Histone chaperone FACT complex mediates oxidative stress response to promote liver cancer progression. Gut 2020; 69:329-342. [PMID: 31439637 DOI: 10.1136/gutjnl-2019-318668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2019] [Revised: 07/19/2019] [Accepted: 08/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Facilitates Chromatin Transcription (FACT) complex is a histone chaperone participating in DNA repair-related and transcription-related chromatin dynamics. In this study, we investigated its oncogenic functions, underlying mechanisms and therapeutic implications in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). DESIGN We obtained HCC and its corresponding non-tumorous liver samples from 16 patients and identified FACT complex as the most upregulated histone chaperone by RNA-Seq. We further used CRISPR-based gene activation and knockout systems to demonstrate the functions of FACT complex in HCC growth and metastasis. Functional roles and mechanistic insights of FACT complex in oxidative stress response were investigated by ChIP assay, flow cytometry, gene expression assays and 4sU-DRB transcription elongation assay. Therapeutic effect of FACT complex inhibitor, Curaxin, was tested in both in vitro and in vivo models. RESULTS We showed that FACT complex was remarkably upregulated in HCC and contributed to HCC progression. Importantly, we unprecedentedly revealed an indispensable role of FACT complex in NRF2-driven oxidative stress response. Oxidative stress prevented NRF2 and FACT complex from KEAP1-mediated protein ubiquitination and degradation. Stabilised NRF2 and FACT complex form a positive feedback loop; NRF2 transcriptionally activates the FACT complex, while FACT complex promotes the transcription elongation of NRF2 and its downstream antioxidant genes through facilitating rapid nucleosome disassembly for the passage of RNA polymerase. Therapeutically, Curaxin effectively suppressed HCC growth and sensitised HCC cell to sorafenib. CONCLUSION In conclusion, our findings demonstrated that FACT complex is essential for the expeditious HCC oxidative stress response and is a potential therapeutic target for HCC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jialing Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong.,Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Mengnuo Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong.,Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Derek Lee
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong.,Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Cheuk-Ting Law
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong.,Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Lai Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong.,Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Felice Ho-Ching Tsang
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong.,Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Don Wai-Ching Chin
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong.,Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Carol Lai-Hung Cheng
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong.,Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Joyce Man-Fong Lee
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong.,Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Irene Oi-Lin Ng
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong.,Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Carmen Chak-Lui Wong
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong .,Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Chun-Ming Wong
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong .,Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
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33
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Wei L, Lee D, Law CT, Zhang MS, Shen J, Chin DWC, Zhang A, Tsang FHC, Wong CLS, Ng IOL, Wong CCL, Wong CM. Genome-wide CRISPR/Cas9 library screening identified PHGDH as a critical driver for Sorafenib resistance in HCC. Nat Commun 2019; 10:4681. [PMID: 31615983 PMCID: PMC6794322 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-12606-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 203] [Impact Index Per Article: 40.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2018] [Accepted: 09/17/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Sorafenib is the standard treatment for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the development of drug resistance is common. By using genome-wide CRISPR/Cas9 library screening, we identify phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase (PHGDH), the first committed enzyme in the serine synthesis pathway (SSP), as a critical driver for Sorafenib resistance. Sorafenib treatment activates SSP by inducing PHGDH expression. With RNAi knockdown and CRISPR/Cas9 knockout models, we show that inactivation of PHGDH paralyzes the SSP and reduce the production of αKG, serine, and NADPH. Concomitantly, inactivation of PHGDH elevates ROS level and induces HCC apoptosis upon Sorafenib treatment. More strikingly, treatment of PHGDH inhibitor NCT-503 works synergistically with Sorafenib to abolish HCC growth in vivo. Similar findings are also obtained in other FDA-approved tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), including Regorafenib or Lenvatinib. In summary, our results demonstrate that targeting PHGDH is an effective approach to overcome TKI drug resistance in HCC. Resistance to the tyrosine kinase inhibitor Sorafenib, which is the standard treatment for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma, is a major clinical challenge. Here, the authors show that phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase, a key enzyme in the serine synthesis pathway, drives sorafenib resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lai Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong.,Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
| | - Derek Lee
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong.,Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
| | - Cheuk-Ting Law
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong.,Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
| | - Misty Shuo Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong.,Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
| | - Jialing Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong.,Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
| | - Don Wai-Ching Chin
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong.,Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
| | - Allen Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong.,Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
| | - Felice Ho-Ching Tsang
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong.,Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
| | - Ceci Lok-Sze Wong
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong.,Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
| | - Irene Oi-Lin Ng
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong.,Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
| | - Carmen Chak-Lui Wong
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong. .,Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong.
| | - Chun-Ming Wong
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong. .,Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong.
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Lee D, Xu IMJ, Chiu DKC, Lai RKH, Wong CM, Ng IOL, Wong CCL. Abstract 882: Thioredoxin system inhibition using auranofin represents a new therapeutic approach for hepatocellular carcinoma. Cancer Res 2019. [DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2019-882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common form of primary liver cancer and third leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide due to late symptom presentation and ineffective treatments. Currently, tyrosine kinase inhibitors Sorafenib and Lenvatinib are the only FDA-approved first-line treatment for HCC patients. Cancer cells experience distinctly high amount of oxidative stress compared to normal cells. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are by-products of metabolism. However, cancer cells’ metabolic activities are hyper-activated as they have greater demands for energy, thereby also resulting in greater amounts of ROS generated. Besides, oncogenes and properties of the tumor microenvironment like ER stress and hypoxia also contribute to ROS generation in cancer cells. With higher concentrations of ROS, cancer cells also have increased antioxidant production capacity to counteract ROS. NADPH is a major metabolite and antioxidant immensely generated by cancer cells. In human HCC, our group previously found the pentose phosphate pathway and folate cycle to be major metabolic pathways of NADPH production. The thioredoxin system is a ubiquitous mammalian antioxidant system that is activated by the antioxidant system-activating electron donor NADPH. Thioredoxin reductase 1 (TXNRD1) is the sole activating-enzyme of the thioredoxin system through transmission of electron from NADPH to TXN, the ROS-scavenging member of the thioredoxin system. TXNRD1 is imperative for maintenance of intracellular redox homeostasis as confirmed when NRF2 was found to be the transcription activator of TXNRD1. Overexpression of TXNRD1 was found in human HCC with significant correlations with poor clinical prognosis and patient survival. Altogether, these findings are indicative of redox balance being vital for HCC growth. Loss-of-function studies utilizing shRNA-mediated inhibition of TXNRD1 resulted in significant induction of oxidative stress which suppressed HCC growth. The resulting oxidative stress also sensitized HCC cells towards its conventional therapeutic Sorafenib. Translationally, pharmacological TXNRD1 inhibitor auranofin (AUR) also induced oxidative stress which greatly sensitized HCC cells towards Sorafenib. Synergism between AUR and Sorafenib was observed as oxidative stress accumulations dramatically induced apoptosis in vitro and suppressed tumor formation in vivo. Our investigation demonstrated oxidative stress induction through inhibition of the thioredoxin system sensitized HCC cells towards conventional therapeutics. Combination of TXNRD1 inhibitor AUR and Sorafenib represents a novel treatment regimen, with enhanced efficacy, for HCC patients.
Citation Format: Derek Lee, Iris Ming-Jing Xu, David Kung-Chun Chiu, Robin Kit-Ho Lai, Chun-Ming Wong, Irene Oi-Lin Ng, Carmen Chak-Lui Wong. Thioredoxin system inhibition using auranofin represents a new therapeutic approach for hepatocellular carcinoma [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019; 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 882.
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Affiliation(s)
- Derek Lee
- The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
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Tsang FHC, Law CT, Tang TCC, Cheng CLH, Chin DWC, Tam WSV, Wei L, Wong CCL, Ng IOL, Wong CM. Aberrant Super-Enhancer Landscape in Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Hepatology 2019; 69:2502-2517. [PMID: 30723918 DOI: 10.1002/hep.30544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2018] [Accepted: 01/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells exploit an aberrant transcriptional program to sustain their infinite growth and progression. Emerging evidence indicates that the continuous and robust transcription of oncogenes in cancer cells is often driven by super-enhancers (SEs). In this study, we systematically compared the SE landscapes between normal liver and HCC cells and revealed that the cis-acting SE landscape was extensively reprogrammed during liver carcinogenesis. HCC cells acquired SEs at multiple prominent oncogenes to drive their vigorous expression. We identified sphingosine kinase 1 (SPHK1) as an SE-associated oncogene, and we used this gene as an example to illustrate the impact of SEs on the activation of oncogenes in HCC. Concurrently, we also showed that the critical components of the trans-acting SE complex, namely, cyclin-dependent kinase 7 (CDK7), bromodomain-containing protein 4 (BRD4), E1A binding protein P300 (EP300), and mediator complex subunit 1 (MED1), were frequently overexpressed in human HCCs and were associated with the poor prognosis of patients with HCC. Using the CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing system and specific small-molecule inhibitors, we further demonstrated that HCC cells were highly sensitive to perturbations of the SE complex. The inactivation of CDK7, BRD4, EP300, and MED1 selectively repressed the expression of SE-associated oncogenes in HCC. Finally, we demonstrated that THZ1, which is a small-molecule inhibitor of CDK7, exerted a prominent anticancer effect in both in vitro and in vivo HCC models. Conclusion: The SE landscape and machinery were significantly altered in human HCCs. HCC cells are highly susceptible to perturbations of the SE complex due to the resulting selective suppression of SE-associated oncogenes. Our results suggest that targeting SE complex is a promising therapeutic strategy for HCC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felice Ho-Ching Tsang
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research (The University of Hong Kong) and Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Cheuk-Ting Law
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research (The University of Hong Kong) and Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Tsz-Ching Chloe Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research (The University of Hong Kong) and Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Carol Lai-Hung Cheng
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research (The University of Hong Kong) and Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Don Wai-Ching Chin
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research (The University of Hong Kong) and Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Wing-Sum Vincy Tam
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research (The University of Hong Kong) and Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Lai Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research (The University of Hong Kong) and Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Carmen Chak-Lui Wong
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research (The University of Hong Kong) and Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Irene Oi-Lin Ng
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research (The University of Hong Kong) and Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Chun-Ming Wong
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research (The University of Hong Kong) and Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
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Law CT, Wei L, Tsang FHC, Chan CYK, Xu IMJ, Lai RKH, Ho DWH, Lee JMF, Wong CCL, Ng IOL, Wong CM. HELLS Regulates Chromatin Remodeling and Epigenetic Silencing of Multiple Tumor Suppressor Genes in Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Hepatology 2019; 69:2013-2030. [PMID: 30516846 DOI: 10.1002/hep.30414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2017] [Accepted: 11/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third most lethal cancer worldwide. Increasing evidence shows that epigenetic alterations play an important role in human carcinogenesis. Deregulation of DNA methylation and histone modifications have recently been characterized in HCC, but the significance of chromatin remodeling in liver carcinogenesis remains to be explored. In this study, by systematically analyzing the expression of chromatin remodeling genes in human HCCs, we found that helicase, lymphoid-specific (HELLS), an SWI2/SNF2 chromatin remodeling enzyme, was remarkably overexpressed in HCC. Overexpression of HELLS correlated with more aggressive clinicopathological features and poorer patient prognosis compared to patients with lower HELLS expression. We further showed that up-regulation of HELLS in HCC was conferred by hyperactivation of transcription factor specificity protein 1 (SP1). To investigate the functions of HELLS in HCC, we generated both gain-of-function and loss-of-function models by the CRISPR activation system, lentiviral short hairpin RNA, and the CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing system. We demonstrated that overexpression of HELLS augmented HCC cell proliferation and migration. In contrast, depletion of HELLS reduced HCC growth and metastasis both in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, inactivation of HELLS led to metabolic reprogramming and reversed the Warburg effect in HCC cells. Mechanistically, by integrating analysis of RNA sequencing and micrococcal nuclease sequencing, we revealed that overexpression of HELLS increased nucleosome occupancy, which obstructed the accessibility of enhancers and hindered formation of the nucleosome-free region (NFR) at the transcription start site. Though this mechanism, up-regulation of HELLS mediated epigenetic silencing of multiple tumor suppressor genes including E-cadherin, FBP1, IGFBP3, XAF1 and CREB3L3 in HCC. Conclusion: Our data reveal that HELLS is a key epigenetic driver of HCC; by altering the nucleosome occupancy at the NFR and enhancer, HELLS epigenetically suppresses multiple tumor suppressor genes to promote HCC progression.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Antigens, CD/metabolism
- Cadherins/metabolism
- Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/enzymology
- Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/etiology
- Cell Line, Tumor
- Chromatin Assembly and Disassembly
- DNA Helicases/genetics
- DNA Helicases/metabolism
- Epigenesis, Genetic
- Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
- Genes, Tumor Suppressor
- Humans
- Liver Neoplasms, Experimental/enzymology
- Liver Neoplasms, Experimental/etiology
- Mice, Knockout
- Mice, Nude
- Neoplasm Metastasis
- Nucleosomes/metabolism
- Sp1 Transcription Factor/metabolism
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheuk-Ting Law
- Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Lai Wei
- Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
- The University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Institute of Research and Innovation, Shenzhen, China
| | - Felice Ho-Ching Tsang
- Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
- The University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Institute of Research and Innovation, Shenzhen, China
| | - Cerise Yuen-Ki Chan
- Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Iris Ming-Jing Xu
- Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Robin Kit-Ho Lai
- Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Daniel Wai-Hung Ho
- Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Joyce Man-Fong Lee
- Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Carmen Chak-Lui Wong
- Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Irene Oi-Lin Ng
- Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Chun-Ming Wong
- Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
- The University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Institute of Research and Innovation, Shenzhen, China
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Chen F, Zhou J, Li Y, Zhao Y, Yuan J, Cao Y, Wang L, Zhang Z, Zhang B, Wang CC, Cheung TH, Wu Z, Wong CCL, Sun H, Wang H. YY1 regulates skeletal muscle regeneration through controlling metabolic reprogramming of satellite cells. EMBO J 2019; 38:embj.201899727. [PMID: 30979776 DOI: 10.15252/embj.201899727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2018] [Revised: 12/17/2018] [Accepted: 12/19/2018] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Skeletal muscle satellite cells (SCs) are adult muscle stem cells responsible for muscle regeneration after acute or chronic injuries. The lineage progression of quiescent SC toward activation, proliferation, and differentiation during the regeneration is orchestrated by cascades of transcription factors (TFs). Here, we elucidate the function of TF Yin Yang1 (YY1) in muscle regeneration. Muscle-specific deletion of YY1 in embryonic muscle progenitors leads to severe deformity of diaphragm muscle formation, thus neonatal death. Inducible deletion of YY1 in SC almost completely blocks the acute damage-induced muscle repair and exacerbates the chronic injury-induced dystrophic phenotype. Examination of SC revealed that YY1 loss results in cell-autonomous defect in activation and proliferation. Mechanistic search revealed that YY1 binds and represses mitochondrial gene expression. Simultaneously, it also stabilizes Hif1α protein and activates Hif1α-mediated glycolytic genes to facilitate a metabolic reprogramming toward glycolysis which is needed for SC proliferation. Altogether, our findings have identified YY1 as a key regulator of SC metabolic reprogramming through its dual roles in modulating both mitochondrial and glycolytic pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fengyuan Chen
- Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Jiajian Zhou
- Department of Chemical Pathology, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Yuying Li
- Department of Chemical Pathology, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Yu Zhao
- Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Jie Yuan
- Department of Chemical Pathology, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Yang Cao
- Department of Chemical Pathology, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Lijun Wang
- Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Zongkang Zhang
- School of Chinese Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Baoting Zhang
- School of Chinese Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Chi Chiu Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, The Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Tom H Cheung
- The State Key Lab in Molecular Neuroscience, Division of Life Science, Center for Stem Cell Research and Center for Systems Biology and Human Diseases, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, China
| | - Zhenguo Wu
- The State Key Lab in Molecular Neuroscience, Division of Life Science, Center for Stem Cell Research and Center for Systems Biology and Human Diseases, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, China
| | | | - Hao Sun
- Department of Chemical Pathology, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Huating Wang
- Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
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Lee D, Xu IMJ, Chiu DKC, Leibold J, Tse APW, Bao MHR, Yuen VWH, Chan CYK, Lai RKH, Chin DWC, Chan DFF, Cheung TT, Chok SH, Wong CM, Lowe SW, Ng IOL, Wong CCL. Induction of Oxidative Stress Through Inhibition of Thioredoxin Reductase 1 Is an Effective Therapeutic Approach for Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Hepatology 2019; 69:1768-1786. [PMID: 30561826 PMCID: PMC8690574 DOI: 10.1002/hep.30467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2018] [Accepted: 11/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most prevalent and lethal cancers worldwide which lacks effective treatment. Cancer cells experience high levels of oxidative stress due to increased generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Increased antioxidant-producing capacity is therefore found in cancer cells to counteract oxidative stress. The thioredoxin system is a ubiquitous mammalian antioxidant system which scavenges ROS, and we demonstrate that it is vital for HCC growth as it maintains intracellular reduction-oxidation (redox) homeostasis. Transcriptome sequencing in human HCC samples revealed significant overexpression of thioredoxin reductase 1 (TXNRD1), the cytosolic subunit and key enzyme of the thioredoxin system, with significant correlations to poorer clinicopathological features and patient survival. Driven by the transcriptional activation of nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2, the master protector against oxidative stress, TXNRD1 counteracts intracellular ROS produced in human HCC. Inhibition of TXNRD1 through genetic inhibition hindered the proliferation of HCC cells and induced apoptosis in vitro. Administration of the pharmacological TXNRD1 inhibitor auranofin (AUR) effectively suppressed the growth of HCC tumors induced using the hydrodynamic tail vein injection and orthotopic implantation models in vivo. Furthermore, AUR sensitized HCC cells toward the conventional therapeutic sorafenib. Conclusion: Our study highlights the reliance of HCC cells on antioxidants for redox homeostasis and growth advantage; targeting TXNRD1 resulted in dramatic accumulation of ROS, which was found to be an effective approach for the suppression of HCC tumor growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Derek Lee
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | | | | | - Josef Leibold
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Aki Pui-Wah Tse
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Tan-To Cheung
- Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong,State Key Laboratory for Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Siu-Ho Chok
- Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong,State Key Laboratory for Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Chun-Ming Wong
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong,State Key Laboratory for Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Scott W. Lowe
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Irene Oi-Lin Ng
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong,State Key Laboratory for Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong,Correspondence: Dr Carmen Chak-Lui Wong, T8-010, Block T, Queen Mary Hospital, 102 Pokfulam Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, Phone: (852) 2255-5077, Fax: (852) 2872-5197, , or, Professor Irene Oi-Lin Ng, T7-018, Block T, Queen Mary Hospital, 102 Pokfulam Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, Phone: (852) 2255-2658, Fax: (852) 2872-5197,
| | - Carmen Chak-Lui Wong
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong,State Key Laboratory for Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong,Correspondence: Dr Carmen Chak-Lui Wong, T8-010, Block T, Queen Mary Hospital, 102 Pokfulam Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, Phone: (852) 2255-5077, Fax: (852) 2872-5197, , or, Professor Irene Oi-Lin Ng, T7-018, Block T, Queen Mary Hospital, 102 Pokfulam Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, Phone: (852) 2255-2658, Fax: (852) 2872-5197,
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Abstract
Metastasis is considered the latest stage of cancer development; however, metastasis occurs earlier than it can be detected. Metastatic sites are actively remodeled by secretory factors including growth factors, chemokines and cytokines, extracellular matrix (ECM) enzymes, and exosomes produced by the primary cancer tissues. Many of the associated-secretory factors are abundantly induced by inflammation and hypoxia. These secretory factors modify the ECM, immune composition, and blood vessel permeability of the future metastatic sites, a process termed 'metastatic niche formation.' In general, ECM is modified to enhance the attachment of other cell types or cancer cells to establish a growth-factor rich metastatic niche. Immune-suppressive cells such as tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) and regulatory T cells (Tregs) dominate the metastatic niche to allow metastatic cancer cells to bypass immune surveillance and propagate. Endothelial cell-to-cell junctions of blood vessels are loosened to enhance the penetrance of metastatic cancer cells to the metastatic sites. Different metastatic tissues have unique ECM constituents, resident immune cells, and anatomical positions linked with the circulatory system; therefore, many cancer types have their own metastatic pattern, and they favor metastasis to specific organs. Some of the remodeling events represent the earliest step of metastasis, even preceding the detachment of cancer cells from the primary tumor site. Understanding how the metastatic niche is formed is important for the development of drugs to prevent the earliest step of metastasis and advance our understanding of organotrophic metastasis. This review summarizes the major findings in the field of metastatic niche highlighting the role of hypoxia.
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Chiu DKC, Xu IMJ, Lai RKH, Tse APW, Law DCT, Yuen VWH, Wei LL, Koh HY, Wong CM, Ng IOL, Wong CCL. Abstract 2415: HEY1 counteracts hypoxia-induced oxidative stress via transcriptionally repressing PINK1 in hepatocellular carcinoma. Cancer Res 2018. [DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2018-2415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Background and Objective: Excessive accumulation of oxidative stress/reactive oxygen species (ROS) can be harmful to cancer cells. Hypoxia or O2 deprivation, which is commonly found in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), is a crucial factor that contributes to elevated ROS level in HCC cells as hypoxia causes inefficient transfer of electrons in the mitochondria. To survive, HCC cells need to devise strategies to counteract and balance hypoxia-induced oxidative stress. While it is known that hypoxia inducible factors (HIFs) are essential to metabolic reprogramming in HCC cells under hypoxia, there are significant gaps in knowledge about underlying mechanisms and transcriptional targets of HIFs.
Experimental Procedures: Gene profiling of HCC cell lines (exposed to 20% and 1% O2) was analyzed by transcriptome sequencing to identify novel candidate responsible for counteracting hypoxia-induced oxidative stress. ShRNA-mediated gene silencing and gene activation by CRISPR-dCas9 system were used to modify transcriptional expression of HEY1 for different functional assays. Transmission electron microscopy was used to visualize the mitochondrial structure. Orthotopic and subcutaneous HCC implantation models were used to evaluate the role of HEY1 in HCC progression. Transcriptome sequencing and ChIP assay were performed to identify novel transcriptional targets of HEY1.
Results: We showed that transcriptional repressor HEY1 was induced under hypoxia and directly regulated by HIF-1α. Overexpression of HEY1 was associated with poor overall survival in HCC patients. Importantly, we identified PINK1 as a novel repression target of HEY1. PINK1 is known to protect cells against mitochondrial dysfunction. We demonstrated that HEY1 actively repressed PINK1 and downregulation of PINK1 led to loss of mitochondrial mass and impaired mitochondrial cristae formation, subsequently decreasing intracellular ROS level. Downregulation of PINK also associated with poor overall survival and decrease-free in HCC patients. Genetic ablation of HEY1 in HCC cells profoundly reduced tumor growth and lung metastasis while genetic ablation of PINK1 in HCC cells reversely promoted HCC growth. Strikingly, HEY1 and PINK1 expressions reversely correlated in human HCC tissues.
Conclusion: This study unprecedentedly identifies an upstream regulatory mechanism of PINK1, which controls the oxidative stress in HCC cells. It also reveals a novel molecular mechanism by which ablation of HEY1 leads to elevation of oxidative stress, making HCC cells more vulnerable. Targeting HEY1 represents an attractive therapeutic approach against HCC.
Citation Format: David Kung-Chun Chiu, Iris Ming-Jing Xu, Robin Kit-Ho Lai, Aki Pui-Wah Tse, Dicky Cheuk-Ting Law, Vincent Wai-Hin Yuen, Larry Lai Wei, Hui-Yu Koh, Chun-Ming Wong, Irene Oi-Lin Ng, Carmen Chak-Lui Wong. HEY1 counteracts hypoxia-induced oxidative stress via transcriptionally repressing PINK1 in hepatocellular carcinoma [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 2415.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Hui-Yu Koh
- Univ. of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
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Zhang X, Lee E, Tsui YM, Sze MF, Chiu YT, Chan LK, Ho DWH, Zhao LQ, Lam MWL, Tian L, Lee JMF, Lee D, Wong CCL, Ng IOL. Abstract 468: Antioxidant supplements may accelerate the formation and progression of hepatocellular carcinoma in vitro and in vivo. Cancer Res 2018. [DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2018-468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Antioxidants are electron donors that can neutralize and inhibit reactive oxygen species (ROS). Some evidence has shown that not only normal cells but cancer cells also require antioxidants, as cancer cells produce even more ROS as a result of their rapid growth. N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and glutathione (GSH) are popular antioxidant supplements for humans. A recent study done by Martin O' team has revealed that NAC could accelerate lung cancer via reducing the ROS-related DNA damage in mice. Tak Mak's group has reported that the GSH is essential for breast cancer initiation in mice. Liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma) is the fifth leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Whether NAC and GSH would aggravate HCC remains unknown. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of popular antioxidant supplements including NAC and GSH on HCC both in vitro and in vivo. We first screened the cell viability and colony formation effects of NAC and GSH on 5 HCC cell lines, MHCC97L cells showed the most promoting effects upon treatments. To further evaluate the effects of NAC and GSH on HCC initiation, growth and progression in vitro, we performed functional tests such as sphere formation, cell proliferation, migration and invasion assays in MHCC97L cells. Subcutaneous implantation and orthotopic liver injection mouse models were employed to further investigate the effects of NAC on tumorigenicity and tumor progression in vivo. To reveal the underlying mechanism, we also tested the expression levels of proteins involved in the ROS defence system. From the in vitro experiments, NAC-treated HCC cells promoted colony formation, suggesting that NAC might facilitate tumor cell growth. GSH increased the sphere formation, which is a test for self-renewal ability in vitro, and cell proliferation in MHCC97L cells. Significant enhancement in cell migratory and invasive abilities was observed in both NAC- and GSH-treated HCC cells. For the in vivo tumorigenicity assay, 120 mg/kg/day of NAC (based on conversion from the human equivalent dosage) was given to mice immediately after the tumor cell injection subcutaneously. Toxic side effects were observed in NAC-treated mice such as distended abdomen and weight loss despite a reduction in tumor incidence. In the orthotopic liver injection model, mice were treated with 60 mg/kg/day of NAC after tumor onset. NAC administration significantly increased the tumor masses and incidence of lung metastases when compared to the control group. Furthermore, NAC reduced the expression of p21 by western blotting while GSH showed no significant effect on protein markers involved in ROS defence pathways, such as AMT, P53 and H2AX. To conclude, our data show that antioxidants supplements could exacerbate HCC growth and progression in HCC cells in vitro and mice in vivo. The role of antioxidant supplements such as NAC and GSH in cancer therapy deserves more extensive studies.
Citation Format: Xin Zhang, Eva Lee, Yu-Man Tsui, Man-Fong Sze, Yung-Tuen Chiu, Lo-Kong Chan, Daniel Wai-Hung Ho, Lu-Qing Zhao, Macrina Wai-Ling Lam, Lu Tian, Joyce Man-Fong Lee, Derek Lee, Carmen Chak-Lui Wong, Irene Oi-Lin Ng. Antioxidant supplements may accelerate the formation and progression of hepatocellular carcinoma in vitro and in vivo [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 468.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Zhang
- The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Eva Lee
- The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Yu-Man Tsui
- The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Man-Fong Sze
- The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | | | - Lo-Kong Chan
- The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | | | - Lu-Qing Zhao
- The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | | | - Lu Tian
- The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | | | - Derek Lee
- The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
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Chen M, Wei L, Law CT, Tsang FHC, Shen J, Cheng CLH, Tsang LH, Ho DWH, Chiu DKC, Lee JMF, Wong CCL, Ng IOL, Wong CM. RNA N6-methyladenosine methyltransferase-like 3 promotes liver cancer progression through YTHDF2-dependent posttranscriptional silencing of SOCS2. Hepatology 2018; 67:2254-2270. [PMID: 29171881 DOI: 10.1002/hep.29683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 835] [Impact Index Per Article: 139.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2017] [Revised: 11/08/2017] [Accepted: 11/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Epigenetic alterations have contributed greatly to human carcinogenesis. Conventional epigenetic studies have predominantly focused on DNA methylation, histone modifications, and chromatin remodeling. Recently, diverse and reversible chemical modifications of RNAs have emerged as a new layer of epigenetic regulation. N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is the most abundant chemical modification of eukaryotic messenger RNA (mRNA) and is important for the regulation of mRNA stability, splicing, and translation. Using transcriptome sequencing, we discovered that methyltransferase-like 3 (METTL3), a major RNA N6-adenosine methyltransferase, was significantly up-regulated in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and multiple solid tumors. Clinically, overexpression of METTL3 is associated with poor prognosis of patients with HCC. Functionally, we proved that knockdown of METTL3 drastically reduced HCC cell proliferation, migration, and colony formation in vitro. Knockout of METTL3 remarkably suppressed HCC tumorigenicity and lung metastasis in vivo. On the other hand, using the CRISPR/dCas9-VP64 activation system, we demonstrated that overexpression of METTL3 significantly promoted HCC growth both in vitro and in vivo. Through transcriptome sequencing, m6A sequencing, and m6A methylated RNA immuno-precipitation quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction, we identified suppressor of cytokine signaling 2 (SOCS2) as a target of METTL3-mediated m6A modification. Knockdown of METTL3 substantially abolished SOCS2 mRNA m6A modification and augmented SOCS2 mRNA expression. We also showed that m6A-mediated SOCS2 mRNA degradation relied on the m6A reader protein YTHDF2-dependent pathway. CONCLUSION METTL3 is frequently up-regulated in human HCC and contributes to HCC progression. METTL3 represses SOCS2 expression in HCC through an m6A-YTHDF2-dependent mechanism. Our findings suggest an important mechanism of epigenetic alteration in liver carcinogenesis. (Hepatology 2018;67:2254-2270).
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengnuo Chen
- State Key Laboratory for Liver Research and Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Lai Wei
- State Key Laboratory for Liver Research and Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Cheuk-Ting Law
- State Key Laboratory for Liver Research and Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Felice Ho-Ching Tsang
- State Key Laboratory for Liver Research and Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Jialing Shen
- State Key Laboratory for Liver Research and Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Carol Lai-Hung Cheng
- State Key Laboratory for Liver Research and Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Long-Hin Tsang
- State Key Laboratory for Liver Research and Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Daniel Wai-Hung Ho
- State Key Laboratory for Liver Research and Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - David Kung-Chun Chiu
- State Key Laboratory for Liver Research and Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Joyce Man-Fong Lee
- State Key Laboratory for Liver Research and Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Carmen Chak-Lui Wong
- State Key Laboratory for Liver Research and Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Irene Oi-Lin Ng
- State Key Laboratory for Liver Research and Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Chun-Ming Wong
- State Key Laboratory for Liver Research and Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
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Tse APW, Sze KMF, Shea QTK, Chiu EYT, Tsang FHC, Chiu DKC, Zhang MS, Lee D, Xu IMJ, Chan CYK, Koh HY, Wong CM, Zheng YP, Ng IOL, Wong CCL. Hepatitis transactivator protein X promotes extracellular matrix modification through HIF/LOX pathway in liver cancer. Oncogenesis 2018; 7:44. [PMID: 29799025 PMCID: PMC5968027 DOI: 10.1038/s41389-018-0052-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2017] [Revised: 03/16/2018] [Accepted: 04/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), accounting for 90% of primary liver cancer, is a lethal malignancy that is tightly associated with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. HBV encodes a viral onco-protein, transactivator protein X (HBx), which interacts with proteins of hepatocytes to promote oncogenesis. Our current study focused on the interaction of HBx with a transcription factor, hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), which is stabilized by low O2 condition (hypoxia) and is found to be frequently overexpressed in HCC intra-tumorally due to poor blood perfusion. Here, we showed that overexpression of HBx by tetracycline-inducible systems further stabilized HIF-1α under hypoxia in HBV-negative HCC cell lines. Reversely, knockdown of HBx reduced HIF-1α protein stabilization under hypoxia in HBV-positive HCC cell lines. More intriguingly, overexpression of HBx elevated the mRNA and protein expression of a family of HIF-1α target genes, the lysyl oxidase (LOX) family in HCC. The LOX family members function to cross-link collagen in the extracellular matrix (ECM) to promote cancer progression and metastasis. By analyzing the collagens under scanning electron microscope, we found that collagen fibers were significantly smaller in size when incubated with conditioned medium from HBx knockdown HCC cells as compared to control HCC cells in vitro. Transwell invasion assay further revealed that less cells were able to invade through the matrigel which was pre-treated with conditioned medium from HBx knockdown HCC cells as compared to control HCC cells. Orthotopic and subcutaneous HCC models further showed that knockdown of HBx in HCC cells reduced collagen crosslinking and stiffness in vivo and repressed HCC growth and metastasis. Taken together, our in vitro and in vivo studies showed the HBx remodeled the ECM through HIF-1α/LOX pathway to promote HCC metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aki Pui-Wah Tse
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | | | - Queenie Tsung-Kwan Shea
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
| | | | | | | | - Misty Shuo Zhang
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Derek Lee
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Iris Ming-Jing Xu
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | | | - Hui-Yu Koh
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Chun-Ming Wong
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Yong-Ping Zheng
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Irene Oi-Lin Ng
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. .,State Key Laboratory for Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
| | - Carmen Chak-Lui Wong
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. .,State Key Laboratory for Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
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Ma W, Sze KMF, Chan LK, Lee JMF, Wei LL, Wong CM, Lee TKW, Wong CCL, Ng IOL. RhoE/ROCK2 regulates chemoresistance through NF-κB/IL-6/ STAT3 signaling in hepatocellular carcinoma. Oncotarget 2018; 7:41445-41459. [PMID: 27213590 PMCID: PMC5173071 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.9441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2015] [Accepted: 04/18/2016] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Small Rho GTPase (Rho) and its immediate effector Rho kinase (ROCK) are reported to regulate cell survival, but the detailed molecular mechanism remains largely unknown. We had previously shown that Rho/ROCK signaling was highly activated in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In this study, we further demonstrated that downregulation of RhoE, a RhoA antagonist, and upregulation of ROCK enhanced resistance to chemotherapy in HCC in both in vitro cell and in vivo murine xenograft models, whereas a ROCK inhibitor was able to profoundly sensitize HCC tumors to cisplatin treatment. Specifically, the ROCK2 isoform but not ROCK1 maintained the chemoresistance in HCC cells. Mechanistically, we demonstrated that activation of ROCK2 enhanced the phosphorylation of JAK2 and STAT3 through increased expression of IL-6 and the IL-6 receptor complex. We also identified IKKβ as the direct downstream target of Rho/ROCK, and activation of ROCK2 significantly augmented NF-κB transcription activity and induced IL-6 expression. These data indicate that Rho/ROCK signaling activates a positive feedback loop of IKKβ/NF-κB/IL-6/STAT3 which confers chemoresistance to HCC cells and is a potential molecular target for HCC therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Ma
- Department of Pathology and State Key Laboratory for Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
| | - Karen Man-Fong Sze
- Department of Pathology and State Key Laboratory for Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
| | - Lo Kong Chan
- Department of Pathology and State Key Laboratory for Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
| | - Joyce Man-Fong Lee
- Department of Pathology and State Key Laboratory for Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
| | - Larry Lai Wei
- Department of Pathology and State Key Laboratory for Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
| | - Chun-Ming Wong
- Department of Pathology and State Key Laboratory for Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
| | - Terence Kin-Wah Lee
- Department of Pathology and State Key Laboratory for Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
| | - Carmen Chak-Lui Wong
- Department of Pathology and State Key Laboratory for Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
| | - Irene Oi-Lin Ng
- Department of Pathology and State Key Laboratory for Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
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Cui CP, Wong CCL, Kai AKL, Ho DWH, Lau EYT, Tsui YM, Chan LK, Cheung TT, Chok KSH, Chan ACY, Lo RCL, Lee JMF, Lee TKW, Ng IOL. SENP1 promotes hypoxia-induced cancer stemness by HIF-1α deSUMOylation and SENP1/HIF-1α positive feedback loop. Gut 2017; 66:2149-2159. [PMID: 28258134 PMCID: PMC5749365 DOI: 10.1136/gutjnl-2016-313264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 134] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2016] [Revised: 01/25/2017] [Accepted: 02/08/2017] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE We investigated the effect and mechanism of hypoxic microenvironment and hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs) on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cancer stemness. DESIGN HCC cancer stemness was analysed by self-renewal ability, chemoresistance, expression of stemness-related genes and cancer stem cell (CSC) marker-positive cell population. Specific small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO) proteases 1 (SENP1) mRNA level was examined with quantitative PCR in human paired HCCs. Immunoprecipitation was used to examine the binding of proteins and chromatin immunoprecipitation assay to detect the binding of HIFs with hypoxia response element sequence. In vivo characterisation was performed in immunocompromised mice and stem cell frequency was analysed. RESULTS We showed that hypoxia enhanced the stemness of HCC cells and hepatocarcinogenesis through enhancing HIF-1α deSUMOylation by SENP1 and increasing stabilisation and transcriptional activity of HIF-1α. Furthermore, we demonstrated that SENP1 is a direct target of HIF-1/2α and a previously unrecognised positive feedback loop exists between SENP1 and HIF-1α. CONCLUSIONS Taken together, our findings suggest the significance of this positive feedback loop between HIF-1α and SENP1 in contributing to the increased cancer stemness in HCC and hepatocarcinogenesis under hypoxia. Drugs that specifically target SENP1 may offer a potential novel therapeutic approach for HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chun-Ping Cui
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam, Hong Kong,State Key Laboratory of Proteomics, Beijing Proteome Research Center, Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Carmen Chak-Lui Wong
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam, Hong Kong,State Key Laboratory for Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
| | - Alan Ka-Lun Kai
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
| | - Daniel Wai-Hung Ho
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam, Hong Kong,State Key Laboratory for Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
| | - Eunice Yuen-Ting Lau
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam, Hong Kong,Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Yu-Man Tsui
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam, Hong Kong,State Key Laboratory for Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
| | - Lo-Kong Chan
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam, Hong Kong,State Key Laboratory for Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
| | - Tan-To Cheung
- State Key Laboratory for Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam, Hong Kong,Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
| | - Kenneth Siu-Ho Chok
- State Key Laboratory for Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam, Hong Kong,Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
| | - Albert C Y Chan
- State Key Laboratory for Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam, Hong Kong,Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
| | - Regina Cheuk-Lam Lo
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam, Hong Kong,State Key Laboratory for Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
| | - Joyce Man-Fong Lee
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
| | - Terence Kin-Wah Lee
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam, Hong Kong,State Key Laboratory for Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam, Hong Kong,Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Irene Oi Lin Ng
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam, Hong Kong,State Key Laboratory for Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
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Chan KKS, Leung CON, Wong CCL, Ho DWH, Chok KSH, Lai CL, Ng IOL, Lo RCL. Secretory Stanniocalcin 1 promotes metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma through activation of JNK signaling pathway. Cancer Lett 2017; 403:330-338. [PMID: 28688970 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2017.06.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2017] [Revised: 06/19/2017] [Accepted: 06/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The hypoxic microenvironment is well-characterized in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Delineation of hypoxia-responsive events is an integral part to understand the pathogenesis of HCC. We studied the functional role and clinical relevance of Stanniocalcin 1 (STC1), a hypoxia-induced molecular target, in HCC. In our clinical cohort, STC1 transcript was up-regulated in HCC tumor tissues. Moreover, STC1 protein was detected in the sera of HCC patients. A higher serum STC1 level was correlated with larger tumor size and poorer 5-year disease-free survival. Functionally, recombinant STC1 protein (rhSTC1) promoted cell migration and cell invasion in vitro; and the effect was abolished by co-treatment of anti-STC1 neutralizing antibody. By in vivo mouse model, silencing of STC1 in HCC cells downregulated secretory STC1 level and suppressed lung metastasis. Furthermore, we found that rhSTC1 activated the JNK pathway, as evidenced by altered expression of the key molecular targets pJNK and p-c-Jun. The functional effects conferred by rhSTC1 were abrogated by co-treatment of JNK inhibitor. In summary, secretory STC1 enhances metastatic potential of HCC via JNK signaling. It potentially serves as a prognostic serum biomarker and a therapeutic target for HCC.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacology
- Biomarkers, Tumor/blood
- Biomarkers, Tumor/genetics
- Biomarkers, Tumor/metabolism
- Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/enzymology
- Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/genetics
- Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/metabolism
- Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/secondary
- Cell Movement/drug effects
- Disease-Free Survival
- Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
- Glycoproteins/blood
- Glycoproteins/genetics
- Glycoproteins/metabolism
- Humans
- JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases/antagonists & inhibitors
- JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases/metabolism
- Kaplan-Meier Estimate
- Liver Neoplasms/enzymology
- Liver Neoplasms/genetics
- Liver Neoplasms/metabolism
- Liver Neoplasms/pathology
- Lung Neoplasms/enzymology
- Lung Neoplasms/genetics
- Lung Neoplasms/metabolism
- Lung Neoplasms/secondary
- Mice, Inbred BALB C
- Mice, Nude
- Phosphorylation
- Protein Kinase Inhibitors/pharmacology
- RNA Interference
- Signal Transduction/drug effects
- Time Factors
- Transfection
- Tumor Burden
- Tumor Hypoxia
- Tumor Microenvironment
- Up-Regulation
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristy Kwan-Shuen Chan
- Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Carmen Oi-Ning Leung
- Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Carmen Chak-Lui Wong
- Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; State Key Laboratory for Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Daniel Wai-Hung Ho
- Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; State Key Laboratory for Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Kenneth Siu-Ho Chok
- Department of Surgery, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; State Key Laboratory for Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Ching-Lung Lai
- Department of Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; State Key Laboratory for Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Irene Oi-Lin Ng
- Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; State Key Laboratory for Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Regina Cheuk-Lam Lo
- Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; State Key Laboratory for Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
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wei L, Tsang FHC, Law DCT, Au SLK, Lee JMF, Wong CCL, Ng IOL, Wong JCM. Abstract 1374: Frequent up-regulation of histone methyltransferase G9a contributed to liver carcinogenesis by epigenetically silencing of tumor suppressor RARRES3. Cancer Res 2017. [DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2017-1374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the second leading cause of cancer death worldwide and is the most common type of cancer in sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia area where hepatitis B infections are common. The initiation and progression of HCC was attributed to alternations in genetics and disruptions of epigenetic processes which lead to altered gene functions in both oncogenes and tumor suppressors. Recent advancements in the field of cancer epigenetics increasingly emphasize the important role of every component in the epigenetic machinery. However, the alternations of epigenetic mechanisms involved in HCC are still largely unknown. Using transcriptome sequencing, we examined the expression of 591 epigenetic regulators in hepatitis B-associated human HCC and found that most of the epigenetic regulators are deregulated especially the histone modification enzymes. Among all of them, we identified G9a (Euchromatic histone-lysine N-methyltransferase 2, EHMT2), a histone H3 lysine 9 (H3K9) specific histone methyltransferases, as one of the most significantly up-regulated epigenetic regulators in human HCCs. Previous studies about epigenetic alternations primarily focused on promoter DNA hypermethylation. However, little is known about the pathological implications of histone modifications. Herein, we hypothesis the frequent up-regulation of G9a causes epigenetic aberrations which contribute liver carcinogenesis, and targeting G9a could be a potential epigenetic therapeutic method for HCC treatment. In this study, we found that G9a was frequently up-regulated in different HCC sample cohorts. Up-regulation of G9a was significantly associated with HCC disease progression, cancer aggressiveness, and more malignant tumor phenotypes. Functionally, we demonstrated that shRNA knockdown and CRISPR/Cas9 knockout of G9a suppressed HCC cell proliferation in vitro and inhibited subcutaneously xenograft HCC tumorigenicity in vivo. Depletion of G9a significantly reduced HCC cell migration ability and induced cell senescence. Pharmacological inhibition of G9a by small molecule inhibitors, UNC0638 and BIX01294, also suppressed HCC cell growth and altered cell morphology. Mechanistically, we showed that the frequent up-regulation of G9a in human HCC was attributed to gene copy number gain at chromosome 6p21 and loss of miR-1. Furthermore, up-regulation of G9 also epigenetically repressed miR-1 expression and thus formed a feedforward regulation loop between them. By utilizing RNA-Seq and GSEA analysis, we identified a potential tumor suppressor RARRES that was epigenetically silenced by G9a and promoted tumor cells proliferation in human HCC. Taken together, we showed that G9a are novel oncogenes in human HCCs and G9a could be novel therapeutic targets for HCC treatment.
Citation Format: lai wei, Felice Ho-Ching Tsang, Dicky Cheuk-Ting Law, Sandy Leung-Kuen Au, Joyce Man-Fong Lee, Carmen Chak-Lui Wong, Irene Oi-Lin Ng, Jack Chun-Ming Wong. Frequent up-regulation of histone methyltransferase G9a contributed to liver carcinogenesis by epigenetically silencing of tumor suppressor RARRES3 [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 1374. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-1374
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Affiliation(s)
- lai wei
- The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
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Chan CYK, Tse APW, Chiu EYT, Sze KMF, Koh HY, Ng IOL, Wong CCL. Abstract 4520: Hepatitis B virus X protein regulates hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha (HIF-1 alpha) and lysyl oxidase like 2 (LOXL2) pathway in hepatocellular carcinoma. Cancer Res 2017. [DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2017-4520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common form of primary liver cancer, is a fatal malignancy and is prevalent in HBV-endemic geographical areas. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a major etiologic factor of HCC. HBV is a double-stranded DNA virus and encodes for a viral onco-protein called transactivator protein X (HBx) which interacts with the host proteins to enhance proliferative potential of the host cells. Here, using Tet-ON and Tet-OFF HBx inducible systems in HBV-negative HCC cell lines, we showed that induced expression of HBx stabilizes hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) protein under hypoxia. Reversely, knockdown of HBx in HBV-positive HCC cell lines reduced HIF-1α protein stabilization under hypoxia. More intriguingly, we found that induced HBx expression up-regulated the mRNA and protein expression a known HIF-1α transcriptional target, lysyl oxidase like 2 (LOXL2) in HCC. Our previous study showed that LOXL2 cross-linked collagen in the extracellular matrix to promote HCC metastasis. Scanning electron microscopy demonstrated that knockdown of HBx in HCC cell lines markedly reduced formation of collagen fibers in vitro. Transwell invasion assay showed that knockdown of HBx reduced HCC invasive ability. Picrosirius red staining further showed that knockdown of HBx reduced collagen cross-linking in vivo and repressed HCC growth and metastasis. Taken together, our study unprecedentedly show the HBx remodels the ECM through HIF-1α/LOXL2 pathway to promote HCC metastasis.
Citation Format: Cerise Yuen-Ki Chan, Aki Pui-Wah Tse, Elley Yong-Tuen Chiu, Karen Man-Fong Sze, Hui-Yu Koh, Irene Oi-Lin Ng, Carmen Chak-Lui Wong. Hepatitis B virus X protein regulates hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha (HIF-1 alpha) and lysyl oxidase like 2 (LOXL2) pathway in hepatocellular carcinoma [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 4520. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-4520
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Hui-Yu Koh
- The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
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Lee D, Xu IMJ, Chiu DKC, Lai RKH, Wong CM, Ng IOL, Wong CCL. Abstract 436: Folate cycle represents a new metabolic vulnerability for hepatocellular carcinoma treatment. Cancer Res 2017. [DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2017-436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), primary liver cancer, ranks the third most lethal cancer worldwide due to late symptom presentation and lack of promising curative therapy. Metabolic reprogramming has been recognized as a major and new hallmark of cancer in recent years. Better understanding of its underpinning molecular mechanisms favoring cancer growth will be crucial for the development of effective HCC therapeutics. The folate cycle fuels metabolic processes and the production of metabolites essential to cell growth and tumorigenesis maintenance. Through the shuttling of a single carbon unit by a folate derivative through the tetrahydrofolate (THF) backbone in the cytoplasmic and mitochondrial compartments, metabolites like NADPH - a major cellular antioxidant for redox balance, s-adenosyl methionine (SAM) - precursor of DNA and histone methylation, and pyrimidine and purine - the building blocks of DNA are produced. We found folate to be indispensable for HCC cell growth. Furthermore, methylene-THF dehydrogenase 1-like (MTHFD1L), a key enzyme facilitating the folate cycle from the mitochondria, was found to be significantly up-regulated in HCC with association to poorer clinical features for patients. Genetic inhibition of MTHFD1L by knockdown and knockout by shRNA and CRISPR-Cas9 systems, respectively, blocked NADPH production. Rapid elevation in oxidative stress induced DNA damage and cell cycle delay; ultimately inhibiting HCC proliferation. Binding of the transcription factor NRF2, a potent protector of oxidative stress, and MTHFD1L was confirmed by ChIP assay. NRF2 over-expression using the CRISPR-activating system in HCC cells further highlighted the dependent relationship between NRF2 and MTHFD1L. Metabolomics analysis showed that MTHFD1L knockdown caused a disruption to the folate cycle and accumulation of serine. Surprisingly, MTHFD1L knockdown did not reduce the levels of SAM and nucleotides. Knockdown of MTHFD1L in HCC cells significantly inhibited primary liver tumor growth and lung metastasis in orthotopic liver implantation model. Therapeutically, the administration of methotrexate, an anti-folate agent, sensitized HCC cells towards Sorafenib treatment both in vitro and vivo. The folate cycle represents a metabolic vulnerability and attractive therapeutic target for HCC. Inhibition of MTHFD1L disrupts the folate cycle and sensitizes HCC cells towards its convention treatment agent, Sorafenib in various HCC mouse models. Our investigation unravels a metabolic vulnerability in cancer which contributes to better understanding and is beneficial for the development of precise inhibitors specifically targeting associated pathways.
Citation Format: Derek Lee, Iris Ming-Jing Xu, David Kung-Chun Chiu, Robin Kit-Ho Lai, Chun-Ming Wong, Irene Oi-Lin Ng, Carmen Chak-Lui Wong. Folate cycle represents a new metabolic vulnerability for hepatocellular carcinoma treatment [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 436. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-436
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Affiliation(s)
- Derek Lee
- The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
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Chiu DKC, Tse APW, Xu IMJ, Lai RKH, Koh HY, Tsang FHC, Wei LL, Wong CM, Ng IOL, Wong CCL. Abstract 2941: Inhibition of hypoxia-induced ectonucleoside triphosphate diphosphohydrolase 2 (ENTPD2) restrains myeloid-derived suppressor cell (MDSC) accumulation and sensitizes tumors to immune checkpoint inhibition. Cancer Res 2017. [DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2017-2941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Background and Objective: Rapidly expanding knowledge on cancer immunology has introduced promising anti-cancer therapeutic approaches which involve the activation of T cells to combat cancer cells. Accumulating studies have indicated that the efficacy of immunotherapies is critically determined by the stromal cell components in tumors. Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), are regarded as one of the major immune cell types that possess immunosuppressive activities against T cells which allow cancers to escape immune surveillance and become non-responsive to immune checkpoints blockade. To increase the efficacy of immunotherapy, novel strategies to target MDSC in tumors are warranted. Hypoxia, oxygen (O2) shortage, frequently occurs in tumors due to abnormal vasculature. Using hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) as a model, we have previously observed MDSC preferentially accumulates in hypoxic regions of human HCC tissues. Here, we aim to identify hypoxia-induced therapeutic targets that are critical for MDSC accumulation in tumors.
Experimental Procedures: Transcriptome sequencing in multiple HCC cell lines exposed to hypoxia and normoxia and HCC clinical specimens was performed to identify potential hypoxia-induced genes relevant to HCC development. MDSCs were isolated from HCC-bearing mice by magnetic bead sorting for different functional assays. LC-MS was performed to evaluate the level of extracellular metabolites. Flow cytometry was used to detect the frequencies of tumor-infiltrating MDSCs in orthotopic and subcutaneous HCC mouse models.
Results: We showed that hypoxia, through stabilization of hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1), induced ectoenzyme, ectonucleoside triphosphate diphosphohydrolase 2 (ENTPD2/ CD39L1), in cancer cells, causing its over-expression in HCC clinical specimens. Over-expression of ENTPD2 was found as a poor prognostic indicator for HCC patients. Mechanistically, we demonstrated that ENTPD2 converted extracellular ATP to 5’-AMP which prevents the differentiation of monocytic MDSCs to dendritic cells, therefore promoting the maintenance of MDSCs in vitro and in vivo. Therapeutically, we found that ENTPD2 inhibitor POM-1 restrained MDSC accumulation and tumor growth, substantially enhancing the efficiency and efficacy of immune checkpoints inhibitors.
Conclusion: Our study reveals a novel mechanism whereby hypoxia/HIF-1 in cancer cells governs tumor-infiltrating MDSCs. Our data suggest that ENTPD2 may be a good prognostic marker and therapeutic target for cancer patients especially those receiving immune therapy.
Citation Format: David Kung-Chun Chiu, Aki Pui-Wah Tse, Iris Ming-Jing Xu, Robin Kit-Ho Lai, Hui-yu Koh, Felice Ho-Ching Tsang, Larry Lai Wei, Chun-Ming Wong, Irene Oi-Lin Ng, Carmen Chak-Lui Wong. Inhibition of hypoxia-induced ectonucleoside triphosphate diphosphohydrolase 2 (ENTPD2) restrains myeloid-derived suppressor cell (MDSC) accumulation and sensitizes tumors to immune checkpoint inhibition [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 2941. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-2941
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Hui-yu Koh
- Univ. of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
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