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Huang CK, Iwagami Y, Aihara A, Chung W, de la Monte S, Thomas JM, Olsen M, Carlson R, Yu T, Dong X, Wands J. Anti-Tumor Effects of Second Generation β-Hydroxylase Inhibitors on Cholangiocarcinoma Development and Progression. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0150336. [PMID: 26954680 PMCID: PMC4783022 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0150336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2015] [Accepted: 02/11/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) has a poor prognosis due to widespread intrahepatic spread. Aspartate β-hydroxylase (ASPH) is a transmembrane protein and catalyzes the hydroxylation of aspartyl and asparaginyl residues in calcium binding epidermal growth factor (cbEGF)-like domains of various proteins, including Notch receptors and ligands. ASPH is highly overexpressed (>95%) in human CCA tumors. We explored the molecular mechanisms by which ASPH mediated the CCA malignant phenotype and evaluated the potential of ASPH as a therapeutic target for CCA. The importance of expression and enzymatic activity of ASPH for CCA growth and progression was examined using shRNA "knockdown" and a mutant construct that reduced its catalytic activity. Second generation small molecule inhibitors (SMIs) of β-hydroxylase activity were developed and used to target ASPH in vitro and in vivo. Subcutaneous and intrahepatic xenograft rodent models were employed to determine anti-tumor effects on CCA growth and development. It was found that the enzymatic activity of ASPH was critical for mediating CCA progression, as well as inhibiting apoptosis. Mechanistically, ASPH overexpression promoted Notch activation and modulated CCA progression through a Notch1-dependent cyclin D1 pathway. Targeting ASPH with shRNAs or a SMI significantly suppressed CCA growth in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiung-Kuei Huang
- Liver Research Center, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University and Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, Rhode Island, United States of America
| | - Yoshifumi Iwagami
- Liver Research Center, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University and Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, Rhode Island, United States of America
| | - Arihiro Aihara
- Liver Research Center, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University and Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, Rhode Island, United States of America
| | - Waihong Chung
- Liver Research Center, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University and Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, Rhode Island, United States of America
| | - Suzanne de la Monte
- Liver Research Center, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University and Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, Rhode Island, United States of America
| | - John-Michael Thomas
- Department of Medical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy Glendale, Midwestern University, Glendale, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Mark Olsen
- Department of Medical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy Glendale, Midwestern University, Glendale, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Rolf Carlson
- Liver Research Center, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University and Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, Rhode Island, United States of America
| | - Tunan Yu
- Liver Research Center, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University and Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, Rhode Island, United States of America
| | - Xiaoqun Dong
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Science, College of Pharmacy, The University of Rhode Island, Pharmacy Building, 7 Greenhouse Road, Kingston, Rhode Island, United States of America
| | - Jack Wands
- Liver Research Center, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University and Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, Rhode Island, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Marquardt JU, Andersen JB, Thorgeirsson SS. Functional and genetic deconstruction of the cellular origin in liver cancer. Nat Rev Cancer 2015; 15:653-67. [PMID: 26493646 DOI: 10.1038/nrc4017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 224] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
During the past decade, research on primary liver cancers has particularly highlighted the uncommon plasticity of differentiated parenchymal liver cells (that is, hepatocytes and cholangiocytes (also known as biliary epithelial cells)), the role of liver progenitor cells in malignant transformation, the importance of the tumour microenvironment and the molecular complexity of liver tumours. Whereas other reviews have focused on the landscape of genetic alterations that promote development and progression of primary liver cancers and the role of the tumour microenvironment, the crucial importance of the cellular origin of liver cancer has been much less explored. Therefore, in this Review, we emphasize the importance and complexity of the cellular origin in tumour initiation and progression, and attempt to integrate this aspect with recent discoveries in tumour genomics and the contribution of the disrupted hepatic microenvironment to liver carcinogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jens U Marquardt
- Department of Medicine I, Johannes Gutenberg University, Langenbeckstrasse 1, 55131 Mainz, Germany
| | - Jesper B Andersen
- Biotech Research and Innovation Centre (BRIC), University of Copenhagen, Ole Maaløes Vej 5, 2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark
| | - Snorri S Thorgeirsson
- Laboratory of Experimental Carcinogenesis, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA
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