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Zhang N, Wang F, Yang X, Wang Q, Chang R, Zhu L, Feitelson MA, Chen Z. TMEM43 promotes the development of hepatocellular carcinoma by activating VDAC1 through USP7 deubiquitination. Transl Gastroenterol Hepatol 2024; 9:9. [PMID: 38317750 PMCID: PMC10838614 DOI: 10.21037/tgh-23-108] [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] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 02/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Transmembrane protein 43 (TMEM43), a member of the TMEM subfamily, is encoded by a highly conserved gene and widely expressed in most species from bacteria to humans. In previous studies, TMEM43 has been found to play an important role in a variety of tumors. However, the role of TMEM43 in cancer remains unclear. Methods We utilized the RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TGCA) databases to explore and identify genes that may play an important role in the occurrence and development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), such as TMEM43. The role of TMEM43 in HCC was explored through Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) cloning, flow cytometry, and Transwell experiments. The regulatory relationship between TMEM43 and voltage-dependent anion channel 1 (VDAC1) was investigated through coimmunoprecipitation (co-IP) and western blot (WB) experiments. WB was used to study the deubiquitination effect of ubiquitin-specific protease 7 (USP7) on TMEM43. Results In this study, we utilized the RNA-seq and TGCA databases to mine data and found that TMEM43 is highly expressed in HCC. The absence of TMEM43 in cancer cells was shown to inhibit tumor development. Further research detected an important regulatory relationship between TMEM43 and VDAC1. In addition, we found that USP7 affected the progression of HCC by regulating the ubiquitination level of TMEM43 through deubiquitination. Conclusions Our study demonstrated that USP7 participates in the growth of HCC tumors through TMEM43/VDAC1.Our results suggest that USP7/TMEM43/VDAC1 may have predictive value and represent a new treatment strategy for HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nannan Zhang
- Department of General Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Medical College of Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Feiran Wang
- Department of General Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Medical College of Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Xiaobing Yang
- Department of General Surgery, Huai’an Hospital of Huai’an City, Huai’an, China
| | - Quhui Wang
- Department of General Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Medical College of Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Renan Chang
- Department of General Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Medical College of Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Lirong Zhu
- Department of General Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Medical College of Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Mark A. Feitelson
- Department of Biology, College of Science and Technology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Zhong Chen
- Department of General Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Medical College of Nantong University, Nantong, China
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Canfora EE, Feitelson MA, Arzumanyan A. Editorial: Microbiome metabolites in health and disease. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1270001. [PMID: 37771705 PMCID: PMC10523377 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1270001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/30/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Emanuel E. Canfora
- Human Biology, School for Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism, Maastricht University Medical Center+, Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - Mark A. Feitelson
- Department of Biology, College of Science and Technology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Alla Arzumanyan
- Department of Biology, College of Science and Technology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
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Feitelson MA, Arzumanyan A, Medhat A, Spector I. Short-chain fatty acids in cancer pathogenesis. Cancer Metastasis Rev 2023; 42:677-698. [PMID: 37432606 PMCID: PMC10584782 DOI: 10.1007/s10555-023-10117-y] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/12/2023]
Abstract
Cancer is a multi-step process that can be viewed as a cellular and immunological shift away from homeostasis in response to selected infectious agents, mutations, diet, and environmental carcinogens. Homeostasis, which contributes importantly to the definition of "health," is maintained, in part by the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), which are metabolites of specific gut bacteria. Alteration in the composition of gut bacteria, or dysbiosis, is often a major risk factor for some two dozen tumor types. Dysbiosis is often characterized by diminished levels of SCFAs in the stool, and the presence of a "leaky gut," permitting the penetration of microbes and microbial derived molecules (e.g., lipopolysaccharides) through the gut wall, thereby triggering chronic inflammation. SCFAs attenuate inflammation by inhibiting the activation of nuclear factor kappa B, by decreasing the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor alpha, by stimulating the expression of anti-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-10 and transforming growth factor beta, and by promoting the differentiation of naïve T cells into T regulatory cells, which down-regulate immune responses by immunomodulation. SCFA function epigenetically by inhibiting selected histone acetyltransferases that alter the expression of multiple genes and the activity of many signaling pathways (e.g., Wnt, Hedgehog, Hippo, and Notch) that contribute to the pathogenesis of cancer. SCFAs block cancer stem cell proliferation, thereby potentially delaying or inhibiting cancer development or relapse by targeting genes and pathways that are mutated in tumors (e.g., epidermal growth factor receptor, hepatocyte growth factor, and MET) and by promoting the expression of tumor suppressors (e.g., by up-regulating PTEN and p53). When administered properly, SCFAs have many advantages compared to probiotic bacteria and fecal transplants. In carcinogenesis, SCFAs are toxic against tumor cells but not to surrounding tissue due to differences in their metabolic fate. Multiple hallmarks of cancer are also targets of SCFAs. These data suggest that SCFAs may re-establish homeostasis without overt toxicity and either delay or prevent the development of various tumor types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark A Feitelson
- Department of Biology, College of Science and Technology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, 19122, USA.
| | - Alla Arzumanyan
- Department of Biology, College of Science and Technology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, 19122, USA
| | - Arvin Medhat
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Islamic Azad University Tehran North Branch, Tehran, 1975933411, Iran
| | - Ira Spector
- SFA Therapeutics, Jenkintown, PA, 19046, USA
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Feitelson MA, Arzumanyan A, Spector I, Medhat A. Hepatitis B x (HBx) as a Component of a Functional Cure for Chronic Hepatitis B. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10092210. [PMID: 36140311 PMCID: PMC9496119 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10092210] [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] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2022] [Revised: 08/22/2022] [Accepted: 09/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Patients who are carriers of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) are at high risk of chronic liver disease (CLD) which proceeds from hepatitis, to fibrosis, cirrhosis and to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The hepatitis B-encoded X antigen, HBx, promotes virus gene expression and replication, protects infected hepatocytes from immunological destruction, and promotes the development of CLD and HCC. For virus replication, HBx regulates covalently closed circular (ccc) HBV DNA transcription, while for CLD, HBx triggers cellular oxidative stress, in part, by triggering mitochondrial damage that stimulates innate immunity. Constitutive activation of NF-κB by HBx transcriptionally activates pro-inflammatory genes, resulting in hepatocellular destruction, regeneration, and increased integration of the HBx gene into the host genome. NF-κB is also hepatoprotective, which sustains the survival of infected cells. Multiple therapeutic approaches include direct-acting anti-viral compounds and immune-stimulating drugs, but functional cures were not achieved, in part, because none were yet devised to target HBx. In addition, many patients with cirrhosis or HCC have little or no virus replication, but continue to express HBx from integrated templates, suggesting that HBx contributes to the pathogenesis of CLD. Blocking HBx activity will, therefore, impact multiple aspects of the host–virus relationship that are relevant to achieving a functional cure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark A. Feitelson
- Room 409 Biolife Building, Department of Biology, College of Science and Technology, Temple University, 1900 N. 12th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-215-204-8434
| | - Alla Arzumanyan
- Room 409 Biolife Building, Department of Biology, College of Science and Technology, Temple University, 1900 N. 12th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA
| | | | - Arvin Medhat
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Islamic Azad University Tehran North Branch, Tehran 1975933411, Iran
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Medhat A, Arzumanyan A, Feitelson MA. Hepatitis B x antigen (HBx) is an important therapeutic target in the pathogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma. Oncotarget 2021; 12:2421-2433. [PMID: 34853663 PMCID: PMC8629409 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.28077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [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: 05/31/2021] [Accepted: 09/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a human pathogen that has infected an estimated two billion people worldwide. Despite the availability of highly efficacious vaccines, universal screening of the blood supply for virus, and potent direct acting anti-viral drugs, there are more than 250 million carriers of HBV who are at risk for the sequential development of hepatitis, fibrosis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). More than 800,000 deaths per year are attributed to chronic hepatitis B. Many different therapeutic approaches have been developed to block virus replication, and although effective, none are curative. These treatments have little or no impact upon the portions of integrated HBV DNA, which often encode the virus regulatory protein, HBx. Although given little attention, HBx is an important therapeutic target because it contributes importantly to (a) HBV replication, (b) in protecting infected cells from immune mediated destruction during chronic infection, and (c) in the development of HCC. Thus, the development of therapies targeting HBx, combined with other established therapies, will provide a functional cure that will target virus replication and further reduce or eliminate both the morbidity and mortality associated with chronic liver disease and HCC. Simultaneous targeting of all these characteristics underscores the importance of developing therapies against HBx.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arvin Medhat
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Azad University, North Unit, Tehran, Iran
| | - Alla Arzumanyan
- Department of Biology, College of Science and Technology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Mark A Feitelson
- Department of Biology, College of Science and Technology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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Block KI, Gyllenhaal C, Lowe L, Amedei A, Amin ARMR, Amin A, Aquilano K, Arbiser J, Arreola A, Arzumanyan A, Ashraf SS, Azmi AS, Benencia F, Bhakta D, Bilsland A, Bishayee A, Blain SW, Block PB, Boosani CS, Carey TE, Carnero A, Carotenuto M, Casey SC, Chakrabarti M, Chaturvedi R, Chen GZ, Chen H, Chen S, Chen YC, Choi BK, Ciriolo MR, Coley HM, Collins AR, Connell M, Crawford S, Curran CS, Dabrosin C, Damia G, Dasgupta S, DeBerardinis RJ, Decker WK, Dhawan P, Diehl AME, Dong JT, Dou QP, Drew JE, Elkord E, El-Rayes B, Feitelson MA, Felsher DW, Ferguson LR, Fimognari C, Firestone GL, Frezza C, Fujii H, Fuster MM, Generali D, Georgakilas AG, Gieseler F, Gilbertson M, Green MF, Grue B, Guha G, Halicka D, Helferich WG, Heneberg P, Hentosh P, Hirschey MD, Hofseth LJ, Holcombe RF, Honoki K, Hsu HY, Huang GS, Jensen LD, Jiang WG, Jones LW, Karpowicz PA, Keith WN, Kerkar SP, Khan GN, Khatami M, Ko YH, Kucuk O, Kulathinal RJ, Kumar NB, Kwon BS, Le A, Lea MA, Lee HY, Lichtor T, Lin LT, Locasale JW, Lokeshwar BL, Longo VD, Lyssiotis CA, MacKenzie KL, Malhotra M, Marino M, Martinez-Chantar ML, Matheu A, Maxwell C, McDonnell E, Meeker AK, Mehrmohamadi M, Mehta K, Michelotti GA, Mohammad RM, Mohammed SI, Morre DJ, Muralidhar V, Muqbil I, Murphy MP, Nagaraju GP, Nahta R, Niccolai E, Nowsheen S, Panis C, Pantano F, Parslow VR, Pawelec G, Pedersen PL, Poore B, Poudyal D, Prakash S, Prince M, Raffaghello L, Rathmell JC, Rathmell WK, Ray SK, Reichrath J, Rezazadeh S, Ribatti D, Ricciardiello L, Robey RB, Rodier F, Rupasinghe HPV, Russo GL, Ryan EP, Samadi AK, Sanchez-Garcia I, Sanders AJ, Santini D, Sarkar M, Sasada T, Saxena NK, Shackelford RE, Shantha Kumara HMC, Sharma D, Shin DM, Sidransky D, Siegelin MD, Signori E, Singh N, Sivanand S, Sliva D, Smythe C, Spagnuolo C, Stafforini DM, Stagg J, Subbarayan PR, Sundin T, Talib WH, Thompson SK, Tran PT, Ungefroren H, Vander Heiden MG, Venkateswaran V, Vinay DS, Vlachostergios PJ, Wang Z, Wellen KE, Whelan RL, Yang ES, Yang H, Yang X, Yaswen P, Yedjou C, Yin X, Zhu J, Zollo M. Designing a broad-spectrum integrative approach for cancer prevention and treatment. Semin Cancer Biol 2016; 35 Suppl:S276-S304. [PMID: 26590477 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2015.09.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 190] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2014] [Revised: 08/12/2015] [Accepted: 09/14/2015] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Targeted therapies and the consequent adoption of "personalized" oncology have achieved notable successes in some cancers; however, significant problems remain with this approach. Many targeted therapies are highly toxic, costs are extremely high, and most patients experience relapse after a few disease-free months. Relapses arise from genetic heterogeneity in tumors, which harbor therapy-resistant immortalized cells that have adopted alternate and compensatory pathways (i.e., pathways that are not reliant upon the same mechanisms as those which have been targeted). To address these limitations, an international task force of 180 scientists was assembled to explore the concept of a low-toxicity "broad-spectrum" therapeutic approach that could simultaneously target many key pathways and mechanisms. Using cancer hallmark phenotypes and the tumor microenvironment to account for the various aspects of relevant cancer biology, interdisciplinary teams reviewed each hallmark area and nominated a wide range of high-priority targets (74 in total) that could be modified to improve patient outcomes. For these targets, corresponding low-toxicity therapeutic approaches were then suggested, many of which were phytochemicals. Proposed actions on each target and all of the approaches were further reviewed for known effects on other hallmark areas and the tumor microenvironment. Potential contrary or procarcinogenic effects were found for 3.9% of the relationships between targets and hallmarks, and mixed evidence of complementary and contrary relationships was found for 7.1%. Approximately 67% of the relationships revealed potentially complementary effects, and the remainder had no known relationship. Among the approaches, 1.1% had contrary, 2.8% had mixed and 62.1% had complementary relationships. These results suggest that a broad-spectrum approach should be feasible from a safety standpoint. This novel approach has potential to be relatively inexpensive, it should help us address stages and types of cancer that lack conventional treatment, and it may reduce relapse risks. A proposed agenda for future research is offered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keith I Block
- Block Center for Integrative Cancer Treatment, Skokie, IL, United States.
| | | | - Leroy Lowe
- Getting to Know Cancer, Truro, Nova Scotia, Canada; Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Bailrigg, Lancaster, United Kingdom.
| | - Amedeo Amedei
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - A R M Ruhul Amin
- Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Amr Amin
- Department of Biology, College of Science, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Katia Aquilano
- Department of Biology, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy
| | - Jack Arbiser
- Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States; Atlanta Veterans Administration Medical Center, Atlanta, GA, United States; Department of Dermatology, Emory University School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Alexandra Arreola
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Alla Arzumanyan
- Department of Biology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - S Salman Ashraf
- Department of Chemistry, College of Science, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Asfar S Azmi
- Department of Oncology, Karmanos Cancer Institute, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, United States
| | - Fabian Benencia
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ohio University, Athens, OH, United States
| | - Dipita Bhakta
- School of Chemical and Bio Technology, SASTRA University, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, India
| | | | - Anupam Bishayee
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Larkin Health Sciences Institute, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Stacy W Blain
- Department of Pediatrics, State University of New York, Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY, United States
| | - Penny B Block
- Block Center for Integrative Cancer Treatment, Skokie, IL, United States
| | - Chandra S Boosani
- Department of BioMedical Sciences, School of Medicine, Creighton University, Omaha, NE, United States
| | - Thomas E Carey
- Head and Neck Cancer Biology Laboratory, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Amancio Carnero
- Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas, Seville, Spain
| | - Marianeve Carotenuto
- Centro di Ingegneria Genetica e Biotecnologia Avanzate, Naples, Italy; Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, Federico II, Via Pansini 5, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Stephanie C Casey
- Stanford University, Division of Oncology, Department of Medicine and Pathology, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Mrinmay Chakrabarti
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, University of South Carolina, School of Medicine, Columbia, SC, United States
| | - Rupesh Chaturvedi
- School of Biotechnology, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
| | - Georgia Zhuo Chen
- Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Helen Chen
- Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, Michael Cuccione Childhood Cancer Research Program, Child and Family Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Sophie Chen
- Ovarian and Prostate Cancer Research Laboratory, Guildford, Surrey, United Kingdom
| | - Yi Charlie Chen
- Department of Biology, Alderson Broaddus University, Philippi, WV, United States
| | - Beom K Choi
- Cancer Immunology Branch, Division of Cancer Biology, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Gyeonggi, Republic of Korea
| | | | - Helen M Coley
- Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew R Collins
- Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Marisa Connell
- Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, Michael Cuccione Childhood Cancer Research Program, Child and Family Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Sarah Crawford
- Cancer Biology Research Laboratory, Southern Connecticut State University, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Colleen S Curran
- School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Charlotta Dabrosin
- Department of Oncology and Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Giovanna Damia
- Department of Oncology, Istituto Di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico - Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, Milan, Italy
| | - Santanu Dasgupta
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, the University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, Tyler, TX, United States
| | - Ralph J DeBerardinis
- Children's Medical Center Research Institute, University of Texas - Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States
| | - William K Decker
- Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Punita Dhawan
- Department of Surgery and Cancer Biology, Division of Surgical Oncology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Anna Mae E Diehl
- Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Jin-Tang Dong
- Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Q Ping Dou
- Department of Oncology, Karmanos Cancer Institute, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, United States
| | - Janice E Drew
- Rowett Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Eyad Elkord
- College of Medicine & Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Bassel El-Rayes
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Mark A Feitelson
- Department of Biology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Dean W Felsher
- Stanford University, Division of Oncology, Department of Medicine and Pathology, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Lynnette R Ferguson
- Discipline of Nutrition and Auckland Cancer Society Research Centre, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Carmela Fimognari
- Dipartimento di Scienze per la Qualità della Vita Alma Mater Studiorum-Università di Bologna, Rimini, Italy
| | - Gary L Firestone
- Department of Molecular & Cell Biology, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States
| | - Christian Frezza
- Medical Research Council Cancer Unit, University of Cambridge, Hutchison/MRC Research Centre, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Hiromasa Fujii
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Nara Medical University, Kashihara, Nara, Japan
| | - Mark M Fuster
- Medicine and Research Services, Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System & University of California, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Daniele Generali
- Department of Medical, Surgery and Health Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy; Molecular Therapy and Pharmacogenomics Unit, Azienda Ospedaliera Istituti Ospitalieri di Cremona, Cremona, Italy
| | - Alexandros G Georgakilas
- Physics Department, School of Applied Mathematics and Physical Sciences, National Technical University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Frank Gieseler
- First Department of Medicine, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | | | - Michelle F Green
- Duke Molecular Physiology Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Brendan Grue
- Departments of Environmental Science, Microbiology and Immunology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Gunjan Guha
- School of Chemical and Bio Technology, SASTRA University, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Dorota Halicka
- Department of Pathology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY, United States
| | | | - Petr Heneberg
- Charles University in Prague, Third Faculty of Medicine, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Patricia Hentosh
- School of Medical Laboratory and Radiation Sciences, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, United States
| | - Matthew D Hirschey
- Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States; Duke Molecular Physiology Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Lorne J Hofseth
- College of Pharmacy, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, United States
| | - Randall F Holcombe
- Tisch Cancer Institute, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Kanya Honoki
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Nara Medical University, Kashihara, Nara, Japan
| | - Hsue-Yin Hsu
- Department of Life Sciences, Tzu-Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan
| | - Gloria S Huang
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, United States
| | - Lasse D Jensen
- Department of Medical and Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden; Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Wen G Jiang
- Cardiff University School of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Lee W Jones
- Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, United States
| | | | | | - Sid P Kerkar
- Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States
| | | | - Mahin Khatami
- Inflammation and Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute (Retired), National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Young H Ko
- University of Maryland BioPark, Innovation Center, KoDiscovery, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Omer Kucuk
- Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Rob J Kulathinal
- Department of Biology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Nagi B Kumar
- Moffitt Cancer Center, University of South Florida College of Medicine, Tampa, FL, United States
| | - Byoung S Kwon
- Cancer Immunology Branch, Division of Cancer Biology, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Gyeonggi, Republic of Korea; Department of Medicine, Tulane University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Anne Le
- The Sol Goldman Pancreatic Cancer Research Center, Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Michael A Lea
- New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ, United States
| | - Ho-Young Lee
- College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, South Korea
| | - Terry Lichtor
- Department of Neurosurgery, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Liang-Tzung Lin
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Jason W Locasale
- Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States
| | - Bal L Lokeshwar
- Department of Medicine, Georgia Regents University Cancer Center, Augusta, GA, United States
| | - Valter D Longo
- Andrus Gerontology Center, Division of Biogerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Costas A Lyssiotis
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology and Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Karen L MacKenzie
- Children's Cancer Institute Australia, Kensington, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Meenakshi Malhotra
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, McGill University, Montréal, Canada
| | - Maria Marino
- Department of Science, University Roma Tre, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria L Martinez-Chantar
- Metabolomic Unit, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas, Technology Park of Bizkaia, Bizkaia, Spain
| | | | - Christopher Maxwell
- Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, Michael Cuccione Childhood Cancer Research Program, Child and Family Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Eoin McDonnell
- Duke Molecular Physiology Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Alan K Meeker
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Mahya Mehrmohamadi
- Field of Genetics, Genomics, and Development, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States
| | - Kapil Mehta
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Gregory A Michelotti
- Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Ramzi M Mohammad
- Department of Oncology, Karmanos Cancer Institute, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, United States
| | - Sulma I Mohammed
- Department of Comparative Pathobiology, Purdue University Center for Cancer Research, West Lafayette, IN, United States
| | - D James Morre
- Mor-NuCo, Inc, Purdue Research Park, West Lafayette, IN, United States
| | - Vinayak Muralidhar
- Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States; Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Irfana Muqbil
- Department of Oncology, Karmanos Cancer Institute, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, United States
| | - Michael P Murphy
- MRC Mitochondrial Biology Unit, Wellcome Trust-MRC Building, Hills Road, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | | | - Rita Nahta
- Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | | | - Somaira Nowsheen
- Medical Scientist Training Program, Mayo Graduate School, Mayo Medical School, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States
| | - Carolina Panis
- Laboratory of Inflammatory Mediators, State University of West Paraná, UNIOESTE, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Francesco Pantano
- Medical Oncology Department, University Campus Bio-Medico, Rome, Italy
| | - Virginia R Parslow
- Discipline of Nutrition and Auckland Cancer Society Research Centre, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Graham Pawelec
- Center for Medical Research, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Peter L Pedersen
- Departments of Biological Chemistry and Oncology, Member at Large, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Brad Poore
- The Sol Goldman Pancreatic Cancer Research Center, Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Deepak Poudyal
- College of Pharmacy, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, United States
| | - Satya Prakash
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, McGill University, Montréal, Canada
| | - Mark Prince
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck, Medical School, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | | | - Jeffrey C Rathmell
- Duke Molecular Physiology Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States
| | - W Kimryn Rathmell
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Swapan K Ray
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, University of South Carolina, School of Medicine, Columbia, SC, United States
| | - Jörg Reichrath
- Center for Clinical and Experimental Photodermatology, Clinic for Dermatology, Venerology and Allergology, The Saarland University Hospital, Homburg, Germany
| | - Sarallah Rezazadeh
- Department of Biology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, United States
| | - Domenico Ribatti
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neurosciences and Sensory Organs, University of Bari Medical School, Bari, Italy & National Cancer Institute Giovanni Paolo II, Bari, Italy
| | - Luigi Ricciardiello
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - R Brooks Robey
- White River Junction Veterans Affairs Medical Center, White River Junction, VT, United States; Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH, United States
| | - Francis Rodier
- Centre de Rechercher du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal and Institut du Cancer de Montréal, Montréal, Quebec, Canada; Université de Montréal, Département de Radiologie, Radio-Oncologie et Médicine Nucléaire, Montréal, Quebec, Canada
| | - H P Vasantha Rupasinghe
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture and Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Gian Luigi Russo
- Institute of Food Sciences National Research Council, Avellino, Italy
| | - Elizabeth P Ryan
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
| | | | - Isidro Sanchez-Garcia
- Experimental Therapeutics and Translational Oncology Program, Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer, CSIC-Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Andrew J Sanders
- Cardiff University School of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Daniele Santini
- Medical Oncology Department, University Campus Bio-Medico, Rome, Italy
| | - Malancha Sarkar
- Department of Biology, University of Miami, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Tetsuro Sasada
- Department of Immunology, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Neeraj K Saxena
- Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Rodney E Shackelford
- Department of Pathology, Louisiana State University, Health Shreveport, Shreveport, LA, United States
| | - H M C Shantha Kumara
- Department of Surgery, St. Luke's Roosevelt Hospital, New York, NY, United States
| | - Dipali Sharma
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Dong M Shin
- Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - David Sidransky
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Markus David Siegelin
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - Emanuela Signori
- National Research Council, Institute of Translational Pharmacology, Rome, Italy
| | - Neetu Singh
- Advanced Molecular Science Research Centre (Centre for Advanced Research), King George's Medical University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Sharanya Sivanand
- Department of Cancer Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Daniel Sliva
- DSTest Laboratories, Purdue Research Park, Indianapolis, IN, United States
| | - Carl Smythe
- Department of Biomedical Science, Sheffield Cancer Research Centre, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - Carmela Spagnuolo
- Institute of Food Sciences National Research Council, Avellino, Italy
| | - Diana M Stafforini
- Huntsman Cancer Institute and Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - John Stagg
- Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal, Faculté de Pharmacie et Institut du Cancer de Montréal, Montréal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Pochi R Subbarayan
- Department of Medicine, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Tabetha Sundin
- Department of Molecular Diagnostics, Sentara Healthcare, Norfolk, VA, United States
| | - Wamidh H Talib
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics, Applied Science University, Amman, Jordan
| | - Sarah K Thompson
- Department of Surgery, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Phuoc T Tran
- Departments of Radiation Oncology & Molecular Radiation Sciences, Oncology and Urology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Hendrik Ungefroren
- First Department of Medicine, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Matthew G Vander Heiden
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Vasundara Venkateswaran
- Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Division of Urology, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Dass S Vinay
- Section of Clinical Immunology, Allergy, and Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Tulane University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Panagiotis J Vlachostergios
- Department of Internal Medicine, New York University Lutheran Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York, NY, United States
| | - Zongwei Wang
- Department of Urology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Kathryn E Wellen
- Department of Cancer Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Richard L Whelan
- Department of Surgery, St. Luke's Roosevelt Hospital, New York, NY, United States
| | - Eddy S Yang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | - Huanjie Yang
- The School of Life Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Xujuan Yang
- University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, Champaign, IL, United States
| | - Paul Yaswen
- Life Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, Berkeley, CA, United States
| | - Clement Yedjou
- Department of Biology, Jackson State University, Jackson, MS, United States
| | - Xin Yin
- Medicine and Research Services, Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System & University of California, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Jiyue Zhu
- Washington State University College of Pharmacy, Spokane, WA, United States
| | - Massimo Zollo
- Centro di Ingegneria Genetica e Biotecnologia Avanzate, Naples, Italy; Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, Federico II, Via Pansini 5, 80131 Naples, Italy
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8
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Feitelson MA, Arzumanyan A, Kulathinal RJ, Blain SW, Holcombe RF, Mahajna J, Marino M, Martinez-Chantar ML, Nawroth R, Sanchez-Garcia I, Sharma D, Saxena NK, Singh N, Vlachostergios PJ, Guo S, Honoki K, Fujii H, Georgakilas AG, Bilsland A, Amedei A, Niccolai E, Amin A, Ashraf SS, Boosani CS, Guha G, Ciriolo MR, Aquilano K, Chen S, Mohammed SI, Azmi AS, Bhakta D, Halicka D, Keith WN, Nowsheen S. Sustained proliferation in cancer: Mechanisms and novel therapeutic targets. Semin Cancer Biol 2015; 35 Suppl:S25-S54. [PMID: 25892662 PMCID: PMC4898971 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2015.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 391] [Impact Index Per Article: 43.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2014] [Revised: 02/20/2015] [Accepted: 02/23/2015] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Proliferation is an important part of cancer development and progression. This is manifest by altered expression and/or activity of cell cycle related proteins. Constitutive activation of many signal transduction pathways also stimulates cell growth. Early steps in tumor development are associated with a fibrogenic response and the development of a hypoxic environment which favors the survival and proliferation of cancer stem cells. Part of the survival strategy of cancer stem cells may manifested by alterations in cell metabolism. Once tumors appear, growth and metastasis may be supported by overproduction of appropriate hormones (in hormonally dependent cancers), by promoting angiogenesis, by undergoing epithelial to mesenchymal transition, by triggering autophagy, and by taking cues from surrounding stromal cells. A number of natural compounds (e.g., curcumin, resveratrol, indole-3-carbinol, brassinin, sulforaphane, epigallocatechin-3-gallate, genistein, ellagitannins, lycopene and quercetin) have been found to inhibit one or more pathways that contribute to proliferation (e.g., hypoxia inducible factor 1, nuclear factor kappa B, phosphoinositide 3 kinase/Akt, insulin-like growth factor receptor 1, Wnt, cell cycle associated proteins, as well as androgen and estrogen receptor signaling). These data, in combination with bioinformatics analyses, will be very important for identifying signaling pathways and molecular targets that may provide early diagnostic markers and/or critical targets for the development of new drugs or drug combinations that block tumor formation and progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark A Feitelson
- Department of Biology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States.
| | - Alla Arzumanyan
- Department of Biology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Rob J Kulathinal
- Department of Biology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Stacy W Blain
- Department of Pediatrics, State University of New York, Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY, United States
| | - Randall F Holcombe
- Tisch Cancer Institute, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Jamal Mahajna
- MIGAL-Galilee Technology Center, Cancer Drug Discovery Program, Kiryat Shmona, Israel
| | - Maria Marino
- Department of Science, University Roma Tre, V.le G. Marconi, 446, 00146 Rome, Italy
| | - Maria L Martinez-Chantar
- Metabolomic Unit, CIC bioGUNE, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas, Technology Park of Bizkaia, Bizkaia, Spain
| | - Roman Nawroth
- Department of Urology, Klinikum rechts der Isar der Technischen Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Isidro Sanchez-Garcia
- Experimental Therapeutics and Translational Oncology Program, Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer, CSIC/Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Dipali Sharma
- Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Neeraj K Saxena
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Neetu Singh
- Tissue and Cell Culture Unit, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Council of Scientific & Industrial Research, Lucknow, India
| | | | - Shanchun Guo
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry & Immunology, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Kanya Honoki
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Nara Medical University, Kashihara 634-8521, Japan
| | - Hiromasa Fujii
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Nara Medical University, Kashihara 634-8521, Japan
| | - Alexandros G Georgakilas
- Physics Department, School of Applied Mathematical and Physical Sciences, National Technical University of Athens, Zografou 15780, Athens, Greece
| | - Alan Bilsland
- Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, UK
| | - Amedeo Amedei
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Elena Niccolai
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Amr Amin
- Department of Biology, College of Science, UAE University, Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - S Salman Ashraf
- Department of Chemistry, College of Science, UAE University, Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Chandra S Boosani
- Department of BioMedical Sciences, Creighton University, Omaha, NE, United States
| | - Gunjan Guha
- School of Chemical and Bio Technology, SASTRA University, Thanjavur, India
| | - Maria Rosa Ciriolo
- Department of Biology, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Katia Aquilano
- Department of Biology, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Sophie Chen
- Department of Research and Development, Ovarian and Prostate Cancer Research Trust Laboratory, Guildford, Surrey GU2 7YG, United Kingdom
| | - Sulma I Mohammed
- Department of Comparative Pathobiology, Purdue University Center for Cancer Research, West Lafayette, IN, United States
| | - Asfar S Azmi
- Department of Pathology, Karmonas Cancer Institute, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, United States
| | - Dipita Bhakta
- School of Chemical and Bio Technology, SASTRA University, Thanjavur, India
| | - Dorota Halicka
- Brander Cancer Research Institute, Department of Pathology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY, United States
| | - W Nicol Keith
- Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, UK
| | - Somaira Nowsheen
- Mayo Graduate School, Mayo Medical School, Mayo Clinic Medical Scientist Training Program, Rochester, MN, United States
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Abstract
Approximately 12% of all human cancers are caused by oncoviruses. Human viral oncogenesis is complex, and only a small percentage of the infected individuals develop cancer, often many years to decades after the initial infection. This reflects the multistep nature of viral oncogenesis, host genetic variability, and the fact that viruses contribute to only a portion of the oncogenic events. In this review, the Hallmarks of Cancer framework of Hanahan and Weinberg (2000 and 2011) is used to dissect the viral, host, and environmental cofactors that contribute to the biology of multistep oncogenesis mediated by established human oncoviruses. The viruses discussed include Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), high-risk human papillomaviruses (HPVs), hepatitis B and C viruses (HBV and HCV, respectively), human T cell lymphotropic virus-1 (HTLV-1), and Kaposi's sarcoma herpesvirus (KSHV).
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Affiliation(s)
- Enrique A Mesri
- Viral Oncology Program, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA; AIDS Malignancies Scientific Working Group, Miami Center for AIDS Research, Department and Graduate Program in Microbiology and Immunology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA.
| | - Mark A Feitelson
- Department of Biology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA.
| | - Karl Munger
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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Wu G, Xu L, Lin N, Liu B, Feitelson MA. Erratum To: UCN-01 induces S and G2/M cell cycle arrest through the p53/p21waf1 or CHK2/CDC25C pathways and can suppress invasion in human hepatoma cell lines. BMC Cancer 2014. [PMCID: PMC3976153 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2407-14-216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
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11
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Feitelson MA, Bonamassa B, Arzumanyan A. The roles of hepatitis B virus-encoded X protein in virus replication and the pathogenesis of chronic liver disease. Expert Opin Ther Targets 2014; 18:293-306. [PMID: 24387282 DOI: 10.1517/14728222.2014.867947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a major cause of chronic liver disease (CLD) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) worldwide. More than 350 million people are at risk for HCC, and with few treatment options available, therapeutic approaches to targets other than the virus polymerase will be needed. This review suggests that the HBV-encoded X protein, HBx, would be an outstanding target because it contributes to the biology and pathogenesis of HBV in three fundamental ways. AREAS COVERED First, HBx is a trans-activating protein that stimulates virus gene expression and replication, thereby promoting the development and persistence of the carrier state. Second, HBx partially blocks the development of immune responses that would otherwise clear the virus, and protects infected hepatocytes from immune-mediated destruction. Thus, HBx contributes to the development of CLD without virus clearance. Third, HBx alters patterns of host gene expression that make possible the emergence of HCC. The selected literature cited is from the National Library of Medicine (Pubmed and Medline). EXPERT OPINION Understanding the mechanisms, whereby HBx supports virus replication and promotes pathogenesis, suggests that HBx will be an important therapeutic target against both virus replication and CLD aimed at the chemoprevention of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark A Feitelson
- Temple University, College of Science and Technology, Department of Biology , Room 409 BioLife Science Building, 1900 N. 12th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19122 , USA +1 215 204 8434 ; +1 215 204 8359 ;
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12
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Wu G, Lin N, Xu L, Liu B, Feitelson MA. UCN-01 induces S and G2/M cell cycle arrest through the p53/p21(waf1) or CHK2/CDC25C pathways and can suppress invasion in human hepatoma cell lines. BMC Cancer 2013; 13:167. [PMID: 23537372 PMCID: PMC3618254 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2407-13-167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2012] [Accepted: 03/11/2013] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND UCN-01 (7-hydroxystaurosporine), a protein kinase inhibitor, has attracted a great deal of attention as a potent antitumour agent. Several clinical trials of UCN-01 alone or in combination with other agents for different tumour types are currently underway, and some of these trials have had positive results. Hepatocellular carcinoma has high incidence rates and is associated with poor prognosis and high mortality rates. METHODS Three different hepatoma cell lines (Huh7, HepG2, and Hep3B) were treated with different concentrations of UCN-01, and the anti-tumour effects of UCN-01 were evaluated. Following UCN-01 treatment, cell growth was measured using an MTT assay, cell cycle arrest was assayed using flow cytometry, and the mechanisms of cell cycle arrest and invasion inhibition were investigated through western blotting and a Matrigel invasion assay. RESULTS After a 72-h UCN-01 treatment, the growth of different hepatoma cell lines was significantly inhibited in a dose-dependent manner, with IC50 values ranging from 69.76 to 222.74 nM. Flow cytometry results suggested that UCN-01 inhibits proliferation in the hepatoma cells by inducing S and G2/M phase arrest, but not G1/S arrest, which differs from previous reports that used other tumour cell lines. Western blot results illustrated that UCN-01 induces a G2/M phase arrest, regardless of the status of the p53/P21(waf1) pathway, whereas the CHK2/CDC25C pathway and the p53/p21(waf1)pathway were involved in the UCN-01-induced S phase arrest. UCN-01 remarkably inhibited Huh7 cell invasion in a time-dependent manner. Suppression of Huh7 cell invasion may be due to the down-regulation of phosphorylated β-catenin by UCN-01. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that UCN-01 induces hepatoma cell growth inhibition by regulating the p53/p21(waf1) and CHK2/CDC25 pathways. Suppression of Huh7 cell invasion by UCN-01 may be due to the down-regulation of phosphorylated β-catenin. These data lend support for further studies on UCN-01 as a promising anti-HCC candidate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guoyi Wu
- Department of General Surgery, the Lingnan Hospital, the Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, GuangZhou 510630, PR China
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13
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Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a highly lethal cancer, with increasing worldwide incidence, that is mainly associated with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) and/or hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections. There are few effective treatments partly because the cell- and molecular-based mechanisms that contribute to the pathogenesis of this tumour type are poorly understood. This Review outlines pathogenic mechanisms that seem to be common to both viruses and which suggest innovative approaches to the prevention and treatment of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alla Arzumanyan
- Department of Biology and Sbarro Health Research Organization, College of Science and Technology, Temple University, 1900 N. 12th Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19122, USA
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14
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Brown ZZ, Akula K, Arzumanyan A, Alleva J, Jackson M, Bichenkov E, Sheffield JB, Feitelson MA, Schafmeister CE. A spiroligomer α-helix mimic that binds HDM2, penetrates human cells and stabilizes HDM2 in cell culture. PLoS One 2012; 7:e45948. [PMID: 23094022 PMCID: PMC3475717 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0045948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2012] [Accepted: 08/23/2012] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
We demonstrate functionalized spiroligomers that mimic the HDM2-bound conformation of the p53 activation domain. Spiroligomers are stereochemically defined, functionalized, spirocyclic monomers coupled through pairs of amide bonds to create spiro-ladder oligomers [1]. Two series of spiroligomers were synthesized, one of structural analogs and one of stereochemical analogs, from which we identified compound 1, that binds HDM2 with a Kd value of 400 nM. The spiroligomer 1 penetrates human liver cancer cells through passive diffusion and in a dose-dependent and time-dependent manner increases the levels of HDM2 more than 30-fold in Huh7 cells in which the p53/HDM2 negative feed-back loop is inoperative. This is a biological effect that is not seen with the HDM2 ligand nutlin-3a. We propose that compound 1 modulates the levels of HDM2 by stabilizing it to proteolysis, allowing it to accumulate in the absence of a p53/HDM2 feedback loop.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zachary Z. Brown
- Department of Chemistry, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, United States of America
| | - Kavitha Akula
- Chemistry Department, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Alla Arzumanyan
- Department of Biology, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Jennifer Alleva
- Department of Chemistry, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, United States of America
| | - Marcus Jackson
- Chemistry Department, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Eugeney Bichenkov
- Department of Biology, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Joel B. Sheffield
- Department of Biology, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Mark A. Feitelson
- Department of Biology, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Christian E. Schafmeister
- Chemistry Department, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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15
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Arzumanyan A, Sambandam V, Clayton MM, Choi SS, Xie G, Diehl AM, Yu DY, Feitelson MA. Hedgehog signaling blockade delays hepatocarcinogenesis induced by hepatitis B virus X protein. Cancer Res 2012; 72:5912-20. [PMID: 22986746 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-12-2329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
The hepatitis B virus (HBV) encoded X protein (HBx) contributes centrally to the pathogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Aberrant activation of the Hedgehog (Hh) pathway has been linked to many tumor types including HCC. Thus, experiments were designed to test the hypothesis that HBx promotes HCC via activation of Hh signaling. HBx expression correlated with an upregulation of Hh markers in human liver cancer cell lines, in liver samples from HBV infected patients with HCC, and in the livers of HBx transgenic mice (HBxTg) that develop hepatitis, steatosis, and dysplasia, culminating in the appearance of HCC. The findings in human samples provide clinical validation for the in vitro results and those in the HBxTg. Blockade of Hh signaling inhibited HBx stimulation of cell migration, anchorage-independent growth, tumor development in HBxTg, and xenograft growth in nude mice. Results suggest that the ability of HBx to promote cancer is at least partially dependent upon the activation of the Hh pathway. This study provides biologic evidence for the role of Hh signaling in the pathogenesis of HBV-mediated HCC and suggests cause and effect for the first time. The observation that inhibition of Hh signaling partially blocked the ability of HBx to promote growth and migration in vitro and tumorigenesis in two animal models implies that Hh signaling may represent an "oncogene addiction" pathway for HBV-associated HCC. This work could be central to designing specific treatments that target early development and progression of HBx-mediated HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alla Arzumanyan
- Department of Biology, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19122, USA.
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16
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Wang W, Zhao LJ, Wang Y, Tao QY, Feitelson MA, Zhao P, Ren H, Qi ZT. Application of HBx-induced anti-URGs as early warning biomarker of cirrhosis and HCC. Cancer Biomark 2012; 11:29-39. [DOI: 10.3233/cbm-2012-0261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Wen Wang
- Department of Microbiology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Biodefense, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Lan-Juan Zhao
- Department of Microbiology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Biodefense, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yan Wang
- Department of Microbiology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Biodefense, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Qing-Yuan Tao
- Department of Microbiology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Biodefense, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Mark A. Feitelson
- Department of Microbiology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Biodefense, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
- Department of Biology, College of Science and Technology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Ping Zhao
- Department of Microbiology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Biodefense, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Hao Ren
- Department of Microbiology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Biodefense, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhong-Tian Qi
- Department of Microbiology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Biodefense, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
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Yuan K, Lian Z, Sun B, Clayton MM, Ng IOL, Feitelson MA. Role of miR-148a in hepatitis B associated hepatocellular carcinoma. PLoS One 2012; 7:e35331. [PMID: 22496917 PMCID: PMC3322146 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0035331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2011] [Accepted: 03/13/2012] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus encoded X antigen (HBx) is a trans-regulatory protein that alters the activity of selected transcription factors and cytoplasmic signal transduction pathways. HBx transcriptionally up-regulates the expression of a unique gene, URG11, which in turn transcriptionally up-regulates β-catenin, thereby contributing importantly to hepatocarcinogenesis. HBx and URG11 also alter the expression of multiple microRNAs, and by miRNA array analysis, both were shown to promote the expression of miR-148a. Elevated miR-148a was also seen in HBx positive liver samples from infected patients. To study the function of miR-148a, anti-148a was introduced into HepG2 and Hep3B cells stably expressing HBx or stably over-expressing URG11. Anti-miR-148a suppressed cell proliferation, cell cycle progression, cell migration, anchorage independent growth in soft agar and subcutaneous tumor formation in SCID mice. Introduction of anti-miR-148a increased PTEN protein and mRNA expression, suggesting that PTEN was targeted by miR-148a. Anti-miR-148a failed to suppress PTEN expression when co-transfected with reporter gene mutants in the 3′UTR of PTEN mRNA. Introduction of anti-miR-148a also resulted in depressed Akt signaling by HBx and URG11, resulting in decreased expression of β-catenin. Thus, miR-148a may play a central role in HBx/URG11 mediated HCC, and may be an early diagnostic marker and/or therapeutic target associated with this tumor type.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ke Yuan
- Department of Biology, College of Science and Technology, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Zhaorui Lian
- Department of Biology, College of Science and Technology, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Bill Sun
- Department of Biology, College of Science and Technology, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Marcia M. Clayton
- Department of Biology, College of Science and Technology, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Irene O. L. Ng
- Department of Pathology, University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
| | - Mark A. Feitelson
- Department of Biology, College of Science and Technology, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Center for Biotechnology, Sbarro Health Research Organization, College of Science and Technology, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Yuan K, Lian Z, Sun B, Clayton MM, Ng IOL, Feitelson MA. Abstract C16: miR-148a regulates the expression of PTEN in hepatitis B associated hepatocellular carcinoma. Cancer Res 2011. [DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.fbcr11-c16] [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
Previous work has shown that hepatitis B virus encoded X antigen (HBx) is a trans-regulatory protein that alters the activity of selected transcription factors and cytoplasmic signal transduction pathways. The resulting changes in host gene expression are thought to contribute importantly to the development and progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In this context, HBx up-regulates the expression of a unique gene, URG11, which in turn up-regulates β-catenin, thereby contributing importantly to hepatocarcinogenesis. Changes in the expression levels of microRNAs (miRNAs) are also characteristic of many tumors, including HCC. To determine whether altered miRNA expression contributes to the mechanism whereby HBx and URG11 contribute to HCC, recombinant retroviruses encoding HBx, URG11, or the bacterial chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) gene (the latter used as a negative control) were used to infect separate cultures of HepG2 and Hep3B cells. When these cells were compared by miRNA array analysis, both HBx and URG11 were shown to promote the expression of miR-148a. This was confirmed by quantitative (q)RT/PCR analysis. Elevated levels of miR-148a strongly correlated with HBx positive staining in liver samples from infected patients by qRT/PCR (P< 0.001). To study the function of miR-148a, anti-miR-148a was introduced into HepG2 and Hep3B cells stably expressing HBx or stably over-expressing URG11. Anti-miR-148a suppressed cell proliferation (P < 0.01), cell cycle progression (P < 0.01), cell migration (P < 0.01), anchorage independent growth in soft agar (P < 0.01) and subcutaneous tumor formation in SCID mice (P < 0.05). Introduction of anti-miR-148a also increased PTEN mRNA and protein expression, suggesting that PTEN was targeted by miR-148a. This was verified in experiments where anti-miR-148a failed to suppress PTEN expression when co-transfected with reporter gene mutants of the 3′UTR of PTEN mRNA. When HBx positive HepG2 and Hep3B cells were transiently transfected with URG11 specific siRNA, both URG11 and miR-148a levels were suppressed, suggesting that up-regulated expression of miR-148a in HBx positive cells was URG11 dependent. Finally, anti-miR-148a blocked the stimulation of Akt signaling by HBx and URG11, resulting in decreased expression of β-catenin (P < 0.05). Thus, miR-148a appears to contribute a central role to HBx/URG11 mediated HCC, and may be an early diagnostic marker and/or therapeutic target associated with this tumor type.
Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Second AACR International Conference on Frontiers in Basic Cancer Research; 2011 Sep 14-18; San Francisco, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(18 Suppl):Abstract nr C16.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ke Yuan
- 1Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
| | | | - Bill Sun
- 1Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
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Arzumanyan A, Friedman T, Ng IOL, Clayton MM, Lian Z, Feitelson MA. Does the hepatitis B antigen HBx promote the appearance of liver cancer stem cells? Cancer Res 2011; 71:3701-8. [PMID: 21464043 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-10-3951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a major etiologic agent of chronic liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). HBV-encoded X antigen, HBx, and pathways implicated in the self-renewal of stem cells contribute to HCC, but it is not clear whether HBx expression promotes "stemness." Thus, experiments were designed to test the hypothesis that HBx triggers malignant transformation by promoting properties that are characteristic of cancer stem cells (CSC). To test this hypothesis, HepG2 cells were stably transduced with HBx and then assayed for phenotypic and molecular characteristics of "stemness." The relationship between HBx and "stemness"-associated markers was also evaluated by immunohistochemical staining of liver and tumor tissue sections from HBV-infected patients. The results showed that Oct-4, Nanog, Klf-4, β-catenin, and epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) were activated by HBx in vitro and in vivo. EpCAM was detected in the nuclei of human HCC cells from infected patients. HBx promotes "stemness" by activating β-catenin and epigenetic upregulation of miR-181, both of which target EpCAM. HBx expression was also associated with depressed levels of E-cadherin. Moreover, HBx stimulated cell migration, growth in soft agar, and spheroid formation. This work is the first to propose that HBV promotes "stemness" in the pathogenesis of HCC. HBx-associated upregulated expression of multiple "stemness" markers supports the hypothesis that HBx contributes to hepatocarcinogenesis, at least in part, by promoting changes in gene expression that are characteristics of CSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alla Arzumanyan
- Department of Biology, Sbarro Health Research Organization, College of Science and Technology, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19122, USA.
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Tong Y, Zhu Y, Xia X, Liu Y, Feng Y, Hua X, Chen Z, Ding H, Gao L, Wang Y, Feitelson MA, Zhao P, Qi ZT. Tupaia CD81, SR-BI, claudin-1, and occludin support hepatitis C virus infection. J Virol 2011; 85:2793-802. [PMID: 21177818 PMCID: PMC3067968 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01818-10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2010] [Accepted: 12/14/2010] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related research has been hampered by the lack of appropriate small-animal models. It has been reported that tree shrews, or tupaias (Tupaia belangeri), can be infected with serum-derived HCV. However, these reports do not firmly establish the tupaia as a reliable model of HCV infection. Human CD81, scavenger receptor class B type I (SR-BI), claudin 1 (CLDN1), and occludin (OCLN) are considered essential receptors or coreceptors for HCV cell entry. In the present study, the roles of these tupaia orthologs in HCV infection were assessed. Both CD81 and SR-BI of tupaia were found to be able to bind with HCV envelope protein 2 (E2). In comparison with human CD81, tupaia CD81 exhibited stronger binding activity with E2 and increased HCV pseudoparticle (HCVpp) cell entry 2-fold. The 293T cells transfected with tupaia CLDN1 became susceptible to HCVpp infection. Moreover, simultaneous transfection of the four tupaia factors into mouse NIH 3T3 cells made the cells susceptible to HCVpp infection. HCVpp of diverse genotypes were able to infect primary tupaia hepatocytes (PTHs), and this infection could be blocked by either anti-CD81 or anti-SR-BI. PTHs could be infected by cell culture-produced HCV (HCVcc) and did produce infectious progeny virus in culture supernatant. These findings indicate that PTHs possess all of the essential factors required for HCV entry and support the complete HCV infection cycle. This highlights both the mechanisms of susceptibility of tupaia to HCV infection and the possibility of using tupaia as a promising small-animal model in HCV study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yimin Tong
- Department of Microbiology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Biodefense, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China, Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan 650224, China, Department of Infectious Diseases, Affiliated Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China, Department of Biology, College of Science and Technology, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Yongzhe Zhu
- Department of Microbiology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Biodefense, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China, Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan 650224, China, Department of Infectious Diseases, Affiliated Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China, Department of Biology, College of Science and Technology, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Xueshan Xia
- Department of Microbiology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Biodefense, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China, Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan 650224, China, Department of Infectious Diseases, Affiliated Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China, Department of Biology, College of Science and Technology, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Yuan Liu
- Department of Microbiology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Biodefense, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China, Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan 650224, China, Department of Infectious Diseases, Affiliated Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China, Department of Biology, College of Science and Technology, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Yue Feng
- Department of Microbiology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Biodefense, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China, Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan 650224, China, Department of Infectious Diseases, Affiliated Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China, Department of Biology, College of Science and Technology, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Xian Hua
- Department of Microbiology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Biodefense, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China, Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan 650224, China, Department of Infectious Diseases, Affiliated Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China, Department of Biology, College of Science and Technology, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Zhihui Chen
- Department of Microbiology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Biodefense, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China, Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan 650224, China, Department of Infectious Diseases, Affiliated Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China, Department of Biology, College of Science and Technology, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Hui Ding
- Department of Microbiology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Biodefense, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China, Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan 650224, China, Department of Infectious Diseases, Affiliated Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China, Department of Biology, College of Science and Technology, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Li Gao
- Department of Microbiology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Biodefense, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China, Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan 650224, China, Department of Infectious Diseases, Affiliated Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China, Department of Biology, College of Science and Technology, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Yongzhi Wang
- Department of Microbiology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Biodefense, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China, Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan 650224, China, Department of Infectious Diseases, Affiliated Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China, Department of Biology, College of Science and Technology, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Mark A. Feitelson
- Department of Microbiology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Biodefense, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China, Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan 650224, China, Department of Infectious Diseases, Affiliated Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China, Department of Biology, College of Science and Technology, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Ping Zhao
- Department of Microbiology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Biodefense, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China, Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan 650224, China, Department of Infectious Diseases, Affiliated Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China, Department of Biology, College of Science and Technology, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Zhong-Tian Qi
- Department of Microbiology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Biodefense, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China, Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan 650224, China, Department of Infectious Diseases, Affiliated Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China, Department of Biology, College of Science and Technology, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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21
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Ha HL, Shin HJ, Feitelson MA, Yu DY. Oxidative stress and antioxidants in hepatic pathogenesis. World J Gastroenterol 2010; 16:6035-43. [PMID: 21182217 PMCID: PMC3012582 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v16.i48.6035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 139] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2010] [Revised: 07/12/2010] [Accepted: 07/19/2010] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Long term hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a major risk factor in pathogenesis of chronic liver diseases, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The HBV encoded proteins, hepatitis B virus X protein and preS, appear to contribute importantly to the pathogenesis of HCC. Both are associated with oxidative stress, which can damage cellular molecules like lipids, proteins, and DNA during chronic infection. Chronic alcohol use is another important factor that contributes to oxidative stress in the liver. Previous studies reported that treatment with antioxidants, such as curcumin, silymarin, green tea, and vitamins C and E, can protect DNA from damage and regulate liver pathogenesis-related cascades by reducing reactive oxygen species. This review summarizes some of the relationships between oxidative stress and liver pathogenesis, focusing upon HBV and alcohol, and suggests antioxidant therapeutic approaches.
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22
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Fan R, Li X, Du W, Zou X, Du R, Zhao L, Luo G, Mo P, Xia L, Pan Y, Shi Y, Lian Z, Feitelson MA, Nie Y, Liu J, Fan D. Adenoviral-mediated RNA interference targeting URG11 inhibits growth of human hepatocellular carcinoma. Int J Cancer 2010; 128:2980-93. [PMID: 20725996 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.25624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2010] [Accepted: 07/30/2010] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the second most common malignancy in Asia, with a 5-year survival rate of less than 5% due to high recurrence after surgery and resistance to chemotherapy. A variety of therapeutic interventions to treat HCC, particularly gene therapy, have recently been investigated in tumor model systems to provide a more complete understanding of hepatocarcinogenesis and effectively design therapeutic strategies to treat this disease. In our study, we constructed an adenoviral vector expressing small interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting a newly discovered gene named upregulated gene 11 (URG11). We introduced this vector into HCC cells to investigate the role of URG11 in HCC carcinogenesis. We observed that upon URG11 knockdown, HCC cell proliferation was inhibited through downregulation of several G1-S phase related molecules including cyclin D1 and apoptosis was induced as a result of Bcl-2 downregulation. Besides decreased expression of cyclin D1, CDK4, pRb and Bcl-2, URG11 also suppressed several other proteins including CAPN9, which was identified by cDNA microarray and 2D gel electrophoresis. Moreover, Ad-URG11-siRNA significantly suppressed HCC tumor growth in nude mice. In conclusion, Ad-URG11-siRNA can significantly suppress HCC tumor growth in vitro and in vivo by silencing the URG11 gene, and the use of this vector for gene therapy may represent a novel strategy to treat human HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Fan
- State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Xijing Hospital of Digestive Diseases, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, People's Republic of China
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Satiroglu-Tufan NL, Dodurga Y, Gok D, Cetinkaya A, Feitelson MA. RNA interference-mediated URG4 gene silencing diminishes cyclin D1 mRNA expression in HepG2 cells. Genet Mol Res 2010; 9:1557-67. [PMID: 20714998 DOI: 10.4238/vol9-3gmr872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Up-regulated gene 4 (URG4), stimulated by HBxAg, is a novel gene located on chromosome 7 (7p13). The full-length URG4 clone is 3.607 kb and encodes a polypeptide of 922 amino acids, with a molecular weight of 104 kDa (GeneID: 55665). It promotes cell growth, growth factor-independent survival, and anchorage-independent growth in HepG2 cells, and it accelerates tumor formation in nude mice. Hence, URG4 may be a natural effector of HBxAg and a putative oncogene that contributes to multi-step hepatocarcinogenesis. Cyclin D1 is frequently over-expressed in hepatocellular carcinoma, exhibiting a number of malignant phenotypes. We found that down-regulation of URG4 through RNA interference-mediated silencing suppressed cell proliferation in HepG2 cells. Over-expression of URG4 up-regulated cyclin D1 mRNA expression, whereas RNA interference-mediated URG4 silencing diminished cyclin D1 mRNA expression in HepG2 cells. The data suggest that URG4 may play an important role in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma by partially regulating the expression of cyclin D1 and has potential for use as a therapeutic target for hepatocellular carcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- N L Satiroglu-Tufan
- Department of Medical Genetics, School of Medicine, Pamukkale University, Denizli, Turkey.
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24
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Liu J, Ahiekpor A, Li L, Li X, Arbuthnot P, Kew M, Feitelson MA. Increased expression of ErbB-2 in liver is associated with hepatitis B x antigen and shorter survival in patients with liver cancer. Int J Cancer 2009; 125:1894-901. [PMID: 19610068 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.24580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Hepatitis B x antigen, or HBxAg, contributes importantly to the pathogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Given that HBxAg constitutively activates beta-catenin and that upregulated ErbB-2 promotes beta-catenin signaling in other tumor types, experiments were designed to ask whether HBxAg was associated with upregulated expression of ErbB-2. When HBxAg positive and negative HepG2 cells were subjected to proteomics analysis, ErbB-2 was shown to be upregulated in HepG2X but not control cells. ErbB-2 was also strongly upregulated in HB infected liver, and weakly in some HCC nodules, where it correlated with HBxAg expression. Among tumor bearing patients, strong ErbB-2 staining in the liver was associated with dysplasia, and a shorter survival after tumor diagnosis. This implies that elevated ErbB-2 is an early marker of HCC. Treatment of HepG2X cells with ErbB-2 specific siRNA not only reduced ErbB-2 expression, but also reduced the expression of beta-catenin, suggesting that ErbB-2 contributed to the stabilization of beta-catenin. ErbB-2 specific siRNA also partially blocked the ability of HBxAg to promote DNA synthesis and growth of HepG2 cells. These results suggest that ErbB-2/beta-catenin up-regulation contributes importantly to the mechanism of HBxAg mediated hepatocellular growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Liu
- Department of Pathology, Anatomy and Cell Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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Xie H, Gao L, Chai N, Song J, Wang J, Song Z, Chen C, Pan Y, Zhao L, Sun S, Wu K, Feitelson MA, Liu J, Fan D. Potent cell growth inhibitory effects in hepatitis B virus X protein positive hepatocellular carcinoma cells by the selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor celecoxib. Mol Carcinog 2009; 48:56-65. [PMID: 18506760 DOI: 10.1002/mc.20455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) X protein (HBx) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) are all playing roles in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but the reversing effects of COX-2 inhibitors on the neoplastic features caused by HBx protein is still unclear. To further evaluate the therapeutic potential of celecoxib on HBx mediated transformation, HCC cells transfected with HBx gene were treated with COX-2 selective inhibitor, celecoxib. The amount the main metabolite of COX-2, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), was determined by using high sensitivity ELISA. Electron microscope and flow cytometry was used to analyze cell apoptosis and cell cycle distribution. RT-PCR and Western blot were used to identify the molecules involved in celecoxib induced cell apoptosis. The results showed that celecoxib inhibited cell growth more significantly and also induced more cell apoptosis in HBx over-expression cells than in control cells. Celecoxib could selectively inhibited COX-2 expression and PGE2 production. Celecoxib also inhibited p(473Ser)Akt, raf and p53 expression, and induced apoptosis by release of cytochrome c and activation of caspase 9, 3, and 6, which were more remarkably in HBx positive cells than in control cells. These results suggest that celecoxib had potent cell growth inhibitory effects on HBx positive HCC cells mainly through inducing more cell apoptosis, and these findings provide a new insight into the anticancer effects of celecoxib against HBx related HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huahong Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Department of Digestive Diseases, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, People's Republic of China
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26
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Cao W, Sun B, Feitelson MA, Wu T, Tur-Kaspa R, Fan Q. Hepatitis C virus targets over-expression of arginase I in hepatocarcinogenesis. Int J Cancer 2009; 124:2886-92. [PMID: 19253371 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.24265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is often associated with chronic liver disease, which is a major risk factor for the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). To study the HCV host-cell relationship on the molecular level, HepG2 and Huh7 cells were stably transfected with an infectious cDNA clone of HCV or with empty vector. Evidence for HCV replication was obtained in both culture systems. HCV also stimulated growth in vitro. To identify genes whose altered expression by HCV are important to the pathogenesis of infection, RNAs were isolated from HepG2-HCV and HepG2-vector cells and subjected to microarray analysis. The results showed that arginase 1 mRNA and protein were elevated about threefold in HCV positive compared with negative cells (p < 0.01). Arginase 1 expression was elevated in more than 75% of HCV infected liver samples compared with paired HCC from the same patients (>33% positive) and to uninfected liver tissues (0% positive). Arginase 1 specific siRNA inhibited the ability of HCV to stimulate hepatocellular growth in culture by >70%, suggesting that the metabolism of arginine to ornithine may contribute to HCV mediated stimulation of hepatocellular growth. Introduction of arginase specific siRNA also resulted in increased nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) (>1.2-fold), nitric oxide (NO) production (>3-fold) and increased cell death (>2.5-fold) in HCV positive compared with negative cells, suggesting that these molecules potentially contribute to hepatocellular damage. Hence, an important part of the mechanism whereby HCV regulates hepatocellular growth and survival may be through altering arginine metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjun Cao
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Shanghai Second Medical University, Affiliated RuiJin Hospital, Shanghai, China
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Feitelson MA, Arzumanyan A. Mitochondria-associated HBV x antigen: what is going on? Future Virol 2009. [DOI: 10.2217/17460794.4.2.127] [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: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Evaluation of: Clippinger AJ, Bouchard MJ: Hepatitis B virus HBx protein localizes to mitochondria in primary rat hepatocytes and modulates mitochrondrial membrane potential. J. Virol. 82(14), 6798–6811 (2008). Over 350 million people are chronically infected with HBV, and a significant number of these individuals develop primary liver cancer. HBV encodes seven viral proteins, including the nonstructural Hepatitis B x (HBx) protein. The results of studies with immortalized or transformed cells and with HBx transgenic mice demonstrated that HBx can interact with mitochondria. However, no studies with normal hepatocytes have characterized the precise mitochondrial localization of HBx or the effect of HBx on mitochondrial physiology. We have used cultured primary rat hepatocytes as a model system to characterize the mitochondrial localization of HBx and the effect of HBx expression on mitochondrial physiology. We now show that a fraction of HBx co-localizes with density gradient-purified mitochondria and associates with the outer mitochondrial membrane. We also demonstrate that HBx regulates mitochondrial membrane potential in hepatocytes, and that this function of HBx varies depending upon the status of NF-κB activity. In primary rat hepatocytes, HBx activation of NF-κB prevented mitochondrial membrane depolarization; however, when NF-κB activity was inhibited, HBx induced membrane depolarization through modulation of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore. Collectively, these results define potential pathways through which HBx may act in order to modulate mitochondrial physiology, thereby altering many cellular activities and ultimately contributing to the development of HBV-associated liver cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark A Feitelson
- Suite 409 BioLife Science Building, Department of Biology, Center for Biotechnology, Temple University, 1900 N 12th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA
| | - Alla Arzumanyan
- Suite 409 BioLife Science Building, Department of Biology, Center for Biotechnology, Temple University, 1900 N 12th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA
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Feitelson MA, Clayton MM, Reis HM, Wu G, Lu EP. Pharmacotherapy of chronic viral hepatitis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Expert Opin Pharmacother 2008; 9:2233-45. [PMID: 18710349 DOI: 10.1517/14656566.9.13.2233] [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: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a major etiologic agent of chronic liver disease (CLD) and hepatocellular carcinoma. Drugs have been developed and shown to be effective against HBV replication. These treatments are often associated with the resolution of CLD. However, they are too expensive, not well tolerated, and result in the development of resistance when given as mono or salvage therapies. In addition, most of these drugs target only the virus polymerase. OBJECTIVE To revitalize the field, drugs with other targets and combination therapies need to be developed. METHODS Major advances in HBV and liver cancer drug development over the past decade, focusing on Phase III trials and FDA-approved compounds, are presented. RESULTS/DISCUSSION A number of potent nucleoside/nucleotide analogs are now available for treatment, but for the long-term management of CLD, the development of combination therapies will probably be required. Development of compounds with new virus targets will enhance the utility of combination therapies. Development of compounds to host targets altered prior to or after the development of liver cancer, as demonstrated by sorafenib, need to be developed. The goal is to devise drug cocktails that will yield sustained virus responses and halt disease progression and tumor development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark A Feitelson
- Temple University, Department of Biology, College of Science and Technology, Suite 409, BioLife Science Building, 1900 North 12th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA.
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Feitelson MA, Reis HMGPV, Pan J, Clayton M, Sun B, Satiroglu-Tufan NL, Lian Z. HBV X protein: elucidating a role in oncogenesis. Future Virol 2008. [DOI: 10.2217/17460794.3.5.455] [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: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Chronic HBV infection is associated with the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). HBV contributes to tumorigenesis by encoding hepatitis B x antigen (HBxAg), which is a trans-regulatory protein that appears to contribute to HCC by altering patterns of host gene expression. In this review, recent data is presented that outlines some of the putative mechanisms whereby HBxAg contributes to HCC. With the development of animal models of HBxAg-mediated HCC, the relevance and temporal order of putative steps in this process can now be dissected to elucidate what is rate limiting and when. This will have a profound impact on the design of novel and specific therapeutics for HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark A Feitelson
- Department of Biology, College of Science & Technology, Temple University, PA 19122, USA. and, Center for Biotechnology, College of Science & Technology, Temple University, PA 19122, USA
| | - Helena MGPV Reis
- MIT Portugal Program, Av. Antonio Jose de Almeida, 12 1000–043 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Jingbo Pan
- Department of Pathology, Anatomy & Cell Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, PA 19107, USA
| | - Marcy Clayton
- Department of Biology, College of Science & Technology, Temple University, PA 19122, USA
| | - Bill Sun
- Department of Biology, College of Science & Technology, Temple University, PA 19122, USA
| | - N Lale Satiroglu-Tufan
- Department of Medical Biology, Pamukkale University School of Medicine, Kinikli Kampusu Morfoloji Binasi, 20020 Denizli, Turkey
| | - Zhaorui Lian
- Department of Biology, College of Science & Technology, Temple University, PA 19122, USA
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Liu X, Zhang S, Lin J, Zhang S, Feitelson MA, Gao H, Zhu M. Hepatitis B virus X protein mutants exhibit distinct biological activities in hepatoma Huh7 cells. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2008; 373:643-7. [PMID: 18602370 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2008.06.087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2008] [Accepted: 06/23/2008] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
The role of the hepatitis B virus X protein (HBx) in hepatocarcinogenesis remains controversial. To investigate the biological impact of hepatitis B virus x gene (HBx) mutation on hepatoma cells, plasmids expressing the full-length HBx or HBx deletion mutants were constructed. The biological activities in these transfectants were analyzed by a series of assays. Results showed that HBx3'-20 and HBx3'-40 amino acid deletion mutants exhibited an increase in cellular proliferation, focus formation, tumorigenicity, and invasive growth and metastasis through promotion of the cell cycle from G0/G1 to the S phase, when compared with the full-length HBx. In contrast, HBx3'-30 amino acid deletion mutant repressed cell proliferation by blocking in G1 phase. The expression of P53, p21(WAF1), p14(ARF), and MDM2 proteins was regulated by expression of HBx mutants. In conclusions, HBx variants showed different effects and functions on cell proliferation and invasion by regulation of the cell cycle progression and its associated proteins expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaohong Liu
- Department of Pathology, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, 174 Changhai Road, Shanghai 200433, PR China
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Liu X, Wang L, Zhang S, Lin J, Zhang S, Feitelson MA, Gao H, Zhu M. Mutations in the C-terminus of the X protein of hepatitis B virus regulate Wnt-5a expression in hepatoma Huh7 cells: cDNA microarray and proteomic analyses. Carcinogenesis 2008; 29:1207-14. [PMID: 18477650 PMCID: PMC2443277 DOI: 10.1093/carcin/bgn111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [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] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: The hepatitis B virus x gene (HBx) is a promiscuous transactivator implicated in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The present study was designed to investigate the molecular events regulated by HBx. Methods: Genomic and proteomic expression profiling was performed in Huh7 HCC cells transfected with HBx mutants with a C-terminal deletion. The gene and protein expression of wingless-type murine-mammary-tumour virus (MMTV) integration site family, member 5A (Wnt-5a) was validated by analyses of reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT–PCR), real-time RT–PCR, western blot and immunohistochemistry. Results: Differentially expressed genes and proteins were found in the transfected Huh7 HCC cells; most of them were involved in transcriptional regulation, although others including oncogenes or tumor suppressor genes, and molecules involved in cell junctions, signal transduction pathways, metabolism or the immune response were also observed. The expression of the Wnt-5a gene was elevated >10-fold in Huh7 cells transfected with the HBx3′-30 amino acid deletion mutant. However, the expression was downregulated by the transfection with the HBx3′-40 amino acid deletion mutant. The changes in Wnt-5a expression were also observed in human HCC tissues, compared with corresponding non-cancerous liver tissues. A negative correlation was found between the expression of Wnt-5a and HBx COOH mutations in HCC tissues. Conclusions: HBx mutants may participate in the development and progression of HCC, at least in part through the Wnt-5a pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaohong Liu
- Department of Pathology, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, 174 Changhai Road, Shanghai 200433, People's Republic of China
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Abstract
Woodchuck hepatitis virus (WHV)-infected woodchucks have been used for preclinical development of drugs against hepatitis B virus (HBV). However, there is no simple in vivo model to evaluate small amounts of compounds against HBV. To develop such a model, HepAD38 cells, in which HBV replication is regulated by tetracycline (tet), were grown as subcutaneous tumours in nude mice. Mice developing viraemia were then left untreated or given tet in the drinking water. In some of the mice given tet, it was removed and the mice were injected intraperitoneally with phosphate buffer saline (PBS), lamivudine (3TC), clevudine (CLV) or tenofovir dipivoxil fumarate (TDF). Virus DNA titres were measured by real-time PCR during and after drug treatment. In water-fed and PBS-injected mice, virus titres reached approximately 10(9) copies/ml serum within 35 days of HepAD38 injection, whereas in tet-treated mice, virus titres remained at 10(4)-10(5) copies/ml. HBV DNA levels were suppressed by 3TC, TDF and CLV, with the latter two drugs showing more sustained virus suppression compared with 3TC. Combination therapy with CLV plus TDF was much more effective than either drug alone in suppressing virus titre for at least 3 weeks after the end of treatment. There was no demonstrable toxicity to HepAD38 cells in drug-treated mice. Hence, a robust tet-controlled system for HBV replication in vivo was demonstrated, validated with monotherapies against HBV and shown to be useful in assessing combination therapy. This system will be useful for preclinical assessment of small amounts of single or multiple compounds against HBV in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark A Feitelson
- Department of Pathology, Anatomy and Cell Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
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Liu XH, Lin J, Zhang SH, Zhang SM, Feitelson MA, Gao HJ, Zhu MH. COOH-terminal deletion of HBx gene is a frequent event in HBV-associated hepatocellular carcinoma. World J Gastroenterol 2008; 14:1346-52. [PMID: 18322946 PMCID: PMC2693680 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.14.1346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
AIM: To investigate the hepatitis B virus (HBV) x gene (HBx) state in the tissues of HBV-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in Chinese patients and whether there were particular HBx mutations.
METHODS: HBx gene was amplified and direct sequencing was used in genomic DNA samples from 20 HCC and corresponding non-cancerous liver tissues from HBsAg-positive patients. HBV DNA integration and HBx deleted mutation were validated in 45 HCC patients at different stages by Southern blot analysis and polymerase chain reaction methods.
RESULTS: The frequencies of HBx point mutations were significantly lower in HCC than their corresponding non-cancerous liver tissues (11/19 vs 18/19, P = 0.019). In contrast, deletions in HBx gene were significantly higher in HCC than their non-cancerous liver tissues (16/19 vs 4/19, P < 0.001). The deletion of HBx COOH-terminal was detected in 14 HCC tissues. A specific integration of HBx at 17p13 locus was also found in 8 of 16 HCC, and all of them also exhibited full-length HBx deletions. Integrated or integrated coexistence with replicated pattern was obtained in 45.5% (20/45) - 56.8% (25/45) tumors and 40.9% (18/45) - 52.3% (23/45) non-tumor tissues.
CONCLUSION: HBx deletion, especially the COOH-terminal deletion of HBx is a frequent event in HBV-associated HCC tissues in China. HBV integration had also taken place in partial HCC tissues. This supporting the hypothesis that deletion and probably integrated forms of the HBx gene may be implicated in liver carcinogenesis.
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Pan J, Lian Z, Wallett S, Feitelson MA. The hepatitis B x antigen effector, URG7, blocks tumour necrosis factor α-mediated apoptosis by activation of phosphoinositol 3-kinase and β-catenin. J Gen Virol 2008. [DOI: 10.1099/vir.0.83681-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
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Tong GD, Zhou DQ, He JS, Xiao CL, Liu XL, Zhou XZ, Zhang X, Xing YF, Lü P, Feitelson MA. [Preneoplastic markers of hepatitis B virus-associated hepatocellular carcinoma and their significance in clinical settings]. Zhonghua Gan Zang Bing Za Zhi 2007; 15:828-832. [PMID: 18073065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To identify serologic markers that may indicate the early presence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and analyze their significance in the pathogenesis of chronic hepatitis B. METHODS Hepatitis B x antigen (HBxAg) positive and negative HepG2 cells were subjected to PCR select cDNA subtraction to identify differentially expressed genes that may precede the development of HCC. These included the up-regulated genes URG4, URG7, URG11, and VEGFR3, and the down-regulated gene, Sui1. Specific ELISAs were constructed to measure differentially expressed antigens and their corresponding antibodies to determine whether they had prognostic and/or diagnostic value. The study population consisted of 730 people. Among them, 416 were HBsAg(-) and 298 were HBV carriers with chronic liver disease and/or HCC. In addition, 16 patients had non-viral hepatitis. Among these, serial serum samples from 53 HBsAg(+) patients with cirrhosis were collected and studied. RESULTS Antibodies to multiple differentially regulated genes were detectable in serum samples from patients with HBV associated cirrhosis and HCC, but not in serum samples from uninfected individuals (P < 0.01). Antibodies were undetectable in serum samples from HBV patients without liver disease and in serum samples from patients with other tumor types, and among those with non viral hepatitis. Among patients at high risk of developing HCC, these antibodies were found to be independent of nationality and ethnicity. Statistical analysis of the 28 HBsAg(+) patients with HCC showed that anti-URG11 and anti-VEGFR3 were the most frequently detected antibodies. These antibodies were found to coexist in 16 (P < 0.05). In contrast, among the 25 HBsAg(+) patients without HCC, anti-Sui1 and anti-URG7 were the most prevalent antibodies. These antibodies coexisted in 11 (P < 0.05). In addition, HCC patients with four or more antibodies detected before the appearance of HCC had a poorer survival outcome. CONCLUSION These antibodies can be detected in serum samples several months to several years before the appearance of HCC. This suggests that they may be preneoplastic markers that may help to distinguish which HBV carriers with cirrhosis are most likely to progress and develop HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guang-Dong Tong
- Department of Liver Diseases, Affiliated Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen 518033, China
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Feitelson MA. A translational worldwide perspective for liver cancer - First International Meeting. IDrugs 2007; 10:630-2. [PMID: 17786845] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Mark A Feitelson
- Department of Biology, College of Science and Technology, Temple University, 1900 N 12 Street, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA.
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Lian Z, Liu J, Wu M, Wang HY, Arbuthnot P, Kew M, Feitelson MA. Hepatitis B x antigen up-regulates vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 3 in hepatocarcinogenesis. Hepatology 2007; 45:1390-9. [PMID: 17539024 DOI: 10.1002/hep.21610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [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] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Hepatitis B x antigen (HBxAg) is a trans-activating protein that contributes to liver cancer, in part, by altering the expression of cellular genes. However, few natural effectors of HBxAg have been identified. Hence, HBxAg positive and negative HepG2 cells were prepared and analyzed by PCR select cDNA subtraction. The results identified elevated vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-3 short form splice variant (VEGFR-3(S)) expression in HBxAg positive compared to negative cells. Normally, VEGFR-3 activates Akt signaling in lymphatic endothelial cells, resulting in lymphangiogenesis. In contrast, the results here show that the expression of VEGFR-3(S) is up-regulated in >75% of HBxAg positive hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) nodules. VEGFR-3(S) up-regulation correlates with the expression of HBxAg, is associated with decreased survival in tumor bearing patients, and when over-expressed in HepG2 cells, strongly stimulated cell growth in culture, in soft agar, and accelerated tumor formation in a ligand independent manner. VEGFR-3(S) siRNA partially blocked the ability of HBxAg to promote hepatocellular growth. In conclusion, HBxAg may short circuit VEGFR-3(S) signaling in liver cancer. Blocking VEGFR-3(S) signaling may be effective in preventing tumor development and/or prolonging survival in tumor bearing patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhaorui Lian
- Department of Pathology, Anatomy and Cell Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, 1020 Locust Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
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Feitelson MA, Lee J. Hepatitis B virus integration, fragile sites, and hepatocarcinogenesis. Cancer Lett 2006; 252:157-70. [PMID: 17188425 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2006.11.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 183] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2006] [Revised: 11/08/2006] [Accepted: 11/13/2006] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Chronic liver disease associated with long term hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection contributes importantly to the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). A salient feature of these chronic infections is the integration of subgenomic HBV DNA fragments into many different locations within the host DNA, suggesting that integration is random. Although this may promote genetic instability during liver regeneration which accompanies a bout of chronic liver disease, the actual role of integrated HBV DNA in hepatocarcinogenesis is uncertain. Importantly, most integration events retain the HBV open reading frame encoding the HBx antigen (HBxAg), which is the virus contribution to HCC. In addition, many integration events reported in the literature occur near or within fragile sites or other cancer associated regions of the human genome that are prone to instability in tumor development and progression. Genetic instability associated with integration potentially alters the expression of oncogenes, tumor suppressor genes, and microRNAs (miRNAs) that may contribute importantly to tumorigenesis. If so, then selected integration events may alter pathways that are rate limiting in hepatocarcinogenesis, thereby providing targets with diagnostic/prognostic potential and for therapeutic intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark A Feitelson
- Department of Pathology, Anatomy and Cell Biology, Kimmel Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University, 1020 Locust Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA.
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Chichester JA, Feitelson MA, Calkins CE. Transient inhibition of Th1-type cytokine production by CD4 T cells in hepatitis B core antigen immunized mice is mediated by regulatory T cells. Immunology 2006; 118:438-48. [PMID: 16762029 PMCID: PMC1782315 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2567.2006.02397.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [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] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The non-cytopathic hepatitis B virus (HBV) can induce chronic infections characterized by weak and limited T cell responses against the virus. The factors contributing to the failure to clear HBV and subsequent development of chronic HBV infections are not clearly understood, but a strong interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) response by CD4+ T cells against the nucleocapsid hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg) of the virus appears to be important for viral clearance. The present study documents depressed numbers of CD4+ T cells secreting IFN-gamma and interleukin-2 (IL-2) in enzyme-linked immunospot assay (ELISPOT) assays restimulated for 24 hr with antigen following both primary and secondary immunizations of mice with recombinant hepatitis B core antigen (rHBcAg). The kinetics of these responses showed that the depression occurred following a peak response and lasted approximately 2 weeks before returning to the previous peak levels. The depression was abrogated by depletion of CD25+ cells prior to culture in the ELISPOT assay, suggesting inhibition by regulatory T cells. This inhibition of IFN-gamma and IL-2 production was also reversed by in vitro restimulation of the test cells for 48 hr rather than 24 hr in the assay. No such transient, reversible inhibition was detected in the production of IL-5, a Th2-type cytokine. The inhibition in cytokine production did not appear to correlate with the number of antibody-secreting cells or the isotypes produced. This delay by regulatory T cells of Th1-type cytokine production could contribute to viral persistence in chronic HBV infection by interfering with the critical role IFN-gamma plays in protection against viral infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica A Chichester
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
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Liu J, Lian Z, Han S, Waye MMY, Wang H, Wu MC, Wu K, Ding J, Arbuthnot P, Kew M, Fan D, Feitelson MA. Downregulation of E-cadherin by hepatitis B virus X antigen in hepatocellullar carcinoma. Oncogene 2006. [PMID: 16247464 DOI: 10.1038/sj.onc1209138] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV)-encoded X antigen (HBxAg) contributes to the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). A frequent characteristic of HCC is reduced or absent expression of the cell adhesion protein, E-cadherin, although it is not known whether HBxAg plays a role. To address this, the levels of E-cadherin were determined in HBxAg-positive and -negative HepG2 cells in culture, and in tumor and surrounding nontumor liver from a panel of HBV carriers. The results showed an inverse relationship between HBxAg and E-cadherin expression both in tissue culture and in vivo. In HBxAg-positive cells, E-cadherin was suppressed at both the mRNA and protein levels. This was associated with hypermethylation of the E-cadherin promoter. Depressed E-cadherin correlated with HBxAg trans-activation function, as did the migration of HepG2 cells in vitro. Decreased expression of E-cadherin was also associated with the accumulation of beta-catenin in the cytoplasm and/or nuclei in tissues and cell lines, which is characteristic of activated beta-catenin. Additional work showed that HBxAg-activated beta-catenin. Together, these results suggest that the HBxAg is associated with decreased expression of E-cadherin, accumulation of beta-catenin in the cytoplasm and nucleus, and increased cell migration, which may contribute importantly to hepatocarcinogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Liu
- Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA, and State Key Laboratory for Cancer Biology, Department of Digestive Diseases, Xijing Hospital, Xi'an, Shaanxi, Peoples Republic of China
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Liu J, Lian Z, Han S, Waye MMY, Wang H, Wu MC, Wu K, Ding J, Arbuthnot P, Kew M, Fan D, Feitelson MA. Downregulation of E-cadherin by hepatitis B virus X antigen in hepatocellullar carcinoma. Oncogene 2006; 25:1008-17. [PMID: 16247464 DOI: 10.1038/sj.onc.1209138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [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] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV)-encoded X antigen (HBxAg) contributes to the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). A frequent characteristic of HCC is reduced or absent expression of the cell adhesion protein, E-cadherin, although it is not known whether HBxAg plays a role. To address this, the levels of E-cadherin were determined in HBxAg-positive and -negative HepG2 cells in culture, and in tumor and surrounding nontumor liver from a panel of HBV carriers. The results showed an inverse relationship between HBxAg and E-cadherin expression both in tissue culture and in vivo. In HBxAg-positive cells, E-cadherin was suppressed at both the mRNA and protein levels. This was associated with hypermethylation of the E-cadherin promoter. Depressed E-cadherin correlated with HBxAg trans-activation function, as did the migration of HepG2 cells in vitro. Decreased expression of E-cadherin was also associated with the accumulation of beta-catenin in the cytoplasm and/or nuclei in tissues and cell lines, which is characteristic of activated beta-catenin. Additional work showed that HBxAg-activated beta-catenin. Together, these results suggest that the HBxAg is associated with decreased expression of E-cadherin, accumulation of beta-catenin in the cytoplasm and nucleus, and increased cell migration, which may contribute importantly to hepatocarcinogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Liu
- Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA, and State Key Laboratory for Cancer Biology, Department of Digestive Diseases, Xijing Hospital, Xi'an, Shaanxi, Peoples Republic of China
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Feitelson MA. HEP DART 2005 -- frontiers in drug development for viral hepatitis. IDrugs 2006; 9:165-7. [PMID: 16523376] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Mark A Feitelson
- Thomas Jefferson University, Department of Pathology, Anatomy and Cell Biology, Room 222 Alumni Hall, 1020 Locust Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA.
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Lian Z, Liu J, Li L, Li X, Clayton M, Wu MC, Wang HY, Arbuthnot P, Kew M, Fan D, Feitelson MA. Enhanced cell survival of Hep3B cells by the hepatitis B x antigen effector, URG11, is associated with upregulation of beta-catenin. Hepatology 2006; 43:415-24. [PMID: 16496348 DOI: 10.1002/hep.21053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [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] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Intrahepatic expression of hepatitis B x antigen (HBxAg) is associated with the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), perhaps through trans-activation of selected cellular genes. When this was examined by PowerBlot analysis, upregulated levels of beta-catenin and several known beta-catenin effectors were observed in HBxAg-positive compared with HBxAg-negative HepG2 cells. When HBxAg was introduced into Hep3B cells, upregulated expression of wild-type beta-catenin was observed. This was also observed in Hep3B cells overexpressing the HBxAg upregulated gene, URG11. Upregulated expression of URG11 and beta-catenin correlated with HBxAg trans-activation function. Transient transfection assays with fragments of the beta-catenin promoter showed that it was activated by both HBxAg and URG11 and inhibited by URG11-specific small inhibitory RNA. The latter also inhibited the growth of Hep3BX cells in a serum-free medium, which correlated with depressed levels of beta-catenin. Activation of beta-catenin effector genes was observed in cells stably expressing HBxAg or overexpressing URG11 compared with control cells transfected with the pTOPFLASH reporter plasmid. Extensive costaining between HBxAg, URG11, and beta-catenin was observed in infected liver and HCC nodules, suggesting a close relationship in vivo. In conclusion, wild-type beta-catenin is activated by HBxAg, in part, through the upregulated expression of the HBxAg effector URG11. URG11 stimulates the beta-catenin promoter and hepatocellular growth and survival. These observations also suggest that URG11 may be a regulatory element in the beta-catenin signaling pathway and may be a target for chemoprevention of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhaorui Lian
- Department of Pathology, Anatomy and Cell Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
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Chichester JA, Feitelson MA, Calkins CE. Different response requirements for IFNgamma production in ELISPOT assays by CD4+ T cells from mice early and late after immunization. J Immunol Methods 2005; 309:99-107. [PMID: 16417908 DOI: 10.1016/j.jim.2005.11.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [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: 07/19/2005] [Revised: 10/03/2005] [Accepted: 11/18/2005] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Antigen specific immune responses that occur early after antigen exposure differ from those that are present late in the response. The present study focused on detecting changes in production of IFNgamma by CD4+ T cells over time during chronic antigen exposure. (C3HxCB17)F1 mice were primed with recombinant hepatitis B core antigen (rHBcAg) in incomplete Freund's adjuvant to allow persistent antigen exposure. To assay the CD4+ T cell response to HBcAg, splenocytes from immunized mice were restimulated with rHBcAg for 24 or 48 h in vitro and tested for IFNgamma and IL-5 secreting cells by ELISPOT. Results showed that early after antigen exposure (7 days for primary and 3 days for secondary exposures), the maximal number of IFNgamma secreting cells was detected in the ELISPOT after 24 h of restimulation. However, late after antigen exposure (28 days for primary and 14 days for secondary exposures), the maximum number of IFNgamma secreting cells was not detected until 48 h of restimulation in this assay. This delay in IFNgamma production was related to the availability of IL-2, since addition of IL-2 allowed the delayed cells from late responses to develop peak IFNgamma production in vitro by 24 h, equivalent to that of cells from early responses. This IL-2 dependent delay occurred in Th1-type IFNgamma responses but not in Th2-type IL-5 responses. These observations indicate that, when detecting IFNgamma secreting cells it is important to screen responses at different times of restimulation or in the presence and absence of IL-2 to ensure optimal detection. This approach should prove critical, particularly when evaluating patients with chronic infections and in determining the effectiveness of vaccines since these deal with both early and late responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica A Chichester
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Thomas Jefferson University, JAH 464, 1020 Locust St., Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
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Feitelson MA. Parallel epigenetic and genetic changes in the pathogenesis of hepatitis virus-associated hepatocellular carcinoma. Cancer Lett 2005; 239:10-20. [PMID: 16154256 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2005.07.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2005] [Accepted: 07/10/2005] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most frequent tumor types in the world, with short survival times and few treatment options. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) are major etiologic agents of HCC, although the associated mechanisms are incompletely understood. The available evidence suggests that both viruses promote tumorigenesis by up-regulating genes that promote hepatocellular growth and survival, and by down-regulating other genes that act as tumor suppressors and negative growth regulatory molecules. Significantly, a number of the pathways that are altered by these viruses are the same ones that accumulate genetic alterations during tumor progression. This suggests that the pathways that promote virus persistence and replication may also promote cell growth and survival. From the perspective of the virus, this promotes chronic infection, while from the perspective of the host, this promotes tumorigenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark A Feitelson
- Department of Pathology, Anatomy and Cell Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Room 222 Alumni Hall, 1020 Locust Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA.
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Sun BS, Pan J, Clayton MM, Liu J, Yan X, Matskevich AA, Strayer DS, Gerber M, Feitelson MA. Hepatitis C virus replication in stably transfected HepG2 cells promotes hepatocellular growth and tumorigenesis. J Cell Physiol 2004; 201:447-58. [PMID: 15389552 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.20083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [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] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
HepG2 cells stably transfected with a full-length, infectious hepatitis C virus (HCV) cDNA demonstrated consistent replication of HCV for more than 3 years. Intracellular minus strand HCV RNA was present. Minus strand synthesis was NS5B dependent, and was sensitive to interferon alpha (IFN alpha) treatment. NS5B and HCV core protein were detectable. HCV stimulated HepG2 cell growth and survival in culture, in soft agar, and accelerated tumor growth in SCID mice. These mice became HCV RNA positive in blood, where the virus was also sensitive to IFN alpha. The RNA banded at the density of HCV, and was resistant to RNase prior to extraction. Hence, HCV stably replicates in HepG2 cells, stimulates hepatocellular growth and tumorigenesis, and is susceptible to IFN alpha both in vitro and in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bill S Sun
- Department of Pathology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107-6799, USA
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Hann HWL, Lee J, Bussard A, Liu C, Jin YR, Guha K, Clayton MM, Ardlie K, Pellini MJ, Feitelson MA. Preneoplastic Markers of Hepatitis B Virus-Associated Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Cancer Res 2004; 64:7329-35. [PMID: 15492253 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-04-1095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [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] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) carriers are at high risk for the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but there are no reliable markers that will identify such high-risk carriers. The objective of this work is to identify serologic markers that may indicate the early presence of HCC. Since HBV-encoded X antigen (HBxAg) likely contributes to HCC by up- or down-regulation of host gene expression, X positive and negative HepG2 cells were made and subjected to cDNA subtraction. When specific ELISAs were constructed measuring differentially expressed antigens and corresponding antibodies, antibodies to several differentially expressed genes were detected. In cross-sectional and longitudinal studies, antibodies were predominantly present in patients with HBV-associated cirrhosis and HCC, but not in most carriers with hepatic inflammation alone or without active liver disease. Antibodies were also present in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related HCC, but rarely detected in sera from uninfected individuals, those with tumors other than HCC, or those with drug-induced hepatitis. Statistical analysis showed that HCC patients with four or more antibodies detectable before the appearance of HCC had decreased survival, suggesting that these markers may reflect stepwise hepatocarcinogenesis. Hence, these antibodies may serve as preneoplastic markers for HCC in HBV carriers with chronic liver disease, and may be identified by a simple blood test.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hie-Won L Hann
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Jefferson Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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Abstract
The development of fibrosis and cirrhosis during chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection correlates with the persistent expression of HBV x antigen (HBxAg), which acts in part, by stimulating selected signal transduction pathways, including nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappa B). To identify NF-kappa B responsive genes that are differentially expressed in HBxAg-positive cells, HepG2 cells were stably transfected with HBxAg, and then with pZeoSV2 or pZeoSV2-I kappa B alpha. When RNAs from each culture were compared by PCR-select cDNA subtraction, fibronectin (FN) mRNA was shown to be strongly down-regulated by I kappa B alpha. Up-regulated expression of FN and co-expression between FN and HBxAg were observed in liver sections from HBV carriers that were stained for HBxAg and analysed for FN mRNA by in situ hybridization (ISH). In liver cell cultures, HBxAg increased the levels of FN mRNA and protein. This was because of the HBxAg-mediated trans-activation of the FN promoter, which was NF-kappa B-dependent. HBxAg also antagonized the repression of the FN promoter by the tumour suppressor, p53. Hence, the FN gene may be a natural target for HBxAg trans-activation, perhaps through activation of NF-kappa B and inactivation of p53, thereby contributing to the accumulation of FN in the liver over the course of chronic HBV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- P A Norton
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Jefferson Center for Biomedical Research, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 18901, USA.
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Abstract
Although the overview above provides a partial molecular picture of the early stages of stepwise hepatocarcinogenesis. it should be emphasized that tumor and nontumor liver contain multiple changes, and that there is variability in their profile among different patients even within single studies. Variability in the number and types of genetic changes has also been observed geographically, and may be dependent upon the etiology of the tumor (viral, chemical or both). Interestingly, HBxAg inactivates tumor suppressors (such as p53 [by direct binding] and Rb [by stimulating its phosphorylation]) early in carcinogenesis that are mutated later during tumor progression. HBxAg also constitutively activates signal transduction pathways, such as those involving c-jun and ras, and activates oncogenes,such as c-nloc, that are otherwise activated by 3-catenin mutations. These findings suggest common molecular targets in hepatocarcinogenesis, despite different mechanisms of activation or inactivation. These observations need to be exploited in future drug discovery and in the development of new therapeutics. Heterogeneity in the mechanisms of tumor development, evidenced by the differences in the up- and down regulated genes reported in micro array analyses, as well as in the genetic loci that undergo mutation or LOH indifferent reports, has now been well documented. This suggests that there are multiple pathways to HCC, and that there is redundancy in the pathways that regulate cell growth and survival. These findings also reflect that,although hepatocarcinogenesis is multistep, the molecular changes that underpin histopathological changes in tumor development are likely to be different or only partially overlapping in individual tumors. Overall, the consequences of these changes suggest that the pathogenesis of HCC is accompanied by a progressive loss of differentiation, loss of normal cell adhesion, loss of the ECM, and constitutive activation of selected signal transduction pathways that promote cell growth and survival. Although mechanisms are important, attention also has to be paid to the target genes whose altered expression actually mediate the neoplastic phenotype. Other key avenues of work need to be explored. For example, it will be important to try to identify germline mutations in HBV-infected patients that are passed on to their children, resulting in the development of HCC in childhood. Clinical materials will also be important for the validation of new markers with diagnostic or prognostic potential. In this context, there is an urgent need to establish simple and low-cost tests based upon molecular changes that are hallmarks of HCC development. Identification of patients with early HCC will also significantly increase survival through its impact upon treatment. The discovery and validation of HCC markers may permit accurate staging of lesions, determine the proximity of such lesions to malignancy, and determine whether lesions with a particular genetic profile are still capable of remodeling through appropriate therapeutic intervention. The efficient reintroduction of the relevant tumor suppressors, or the inhibition of oncogene expression by siRNA, provide just some of the additional opportunities that will ultimately be useful in patient treatment. Together, these approaches will go far in reducing the very high morbidity and mortality associated with HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark A Feitelson
- Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, 1020 Locust Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA.
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