Circulating prostaglandin E2: a novel potential prognostic biomarker in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

Bioactive signalling lipids as drivers of chronic liver diseases

Lipids are important in multiple cellular functions, with most having structural or energy storage roles. However, a small fraction of lipids exert bioactive roles through binding to G protein-coupled receptors and induce a plethora of processes including cell proliferation, differentiation, growth, migration, apoptosis, senescence and survival. Bioactive signalling lipids are potent modulators of metabolism and energy homeostasis, inflammation, tissue repair and malignant transformation. All these events are involved in the initiation and progression of chronic liver diseases. In this review, we focus specifically on the roles of bioactive lipids derived from phospholipids (lyso-phospholipids) and poly-unsaturated fatty acids (eicosanoids, pro-resolving lipid mediators and endocannabinoids) in prevalent chronic liver diseases (alcohol-associated liver disease, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, viral hepatitis and hepatocellular carcinoma). We discuss the balance between pathogenic and beneficial bioactive lipids as well as potential therapeutic targets related to the agonism or antagonism of their receptors.

Eicosanoids and other oxylipins in liver injury, inflammation and liver cancer development

Liver cancer is a malignancy developed from underlying liver disease that encompasses liver injury and metabolic disorders. The progression from these underlying liver disease to cancer is accompanied by chronic inflammatory conditions in which liver macrophages play important roles in orchestrating the inflammatory response. During this process, bioactive lipids produced by hepatocytes and macrophages mediate the inflammatory responses by acting as pro-inflammatory factors, as well as, playing roles in the resolution of inflammation conditions. Here, we review the literature discussing the roles of bioactive lipids in acute and chronic hepatic inflammation and progression to cancer.

Honey polyphenols: regulators of human microbiota and health

A comprehensive review of research over the last decade was conducted to carry out this work. The main objective of this work is to present relevant evidence of the effect of honey intake on the human intestinal microbiota and its relationship with the improvement of various chronic diseases, such as cirrhosis, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and obesity, among others. Therefore, this work focuses on the health-improving honey dietary supplementation implications associated with specific changes in the human microbiota and their biochemical mechanisms to enhance the proliferation of beneficial microorganisms and the inhibition of pathogenic microorganisms. Consumption of honey polyphenols significantly improves people's health conditions, especially in patients with chronic disease. Hence, honey intake unequivocally constitutes an alternative way to enhance health and could be used to prevent some relevant chronic diseases.

Advances in electrochemical sensors based on nanomaterials for the detection of lipid hormone

Lipid hormone is produced by highly differentiated endocrine cells and directly secretes into the blood circulation or tissue fluid to act as information transmission. It influences the physiological functions of the human body by controlling the metabolic processes of multiple tissue cells. Monitoring the levels of lipid hormone is of great importance for maintaining human health. The electrochemical sensor is considered as an ideal tool to detect lipid hormone owing to its advantages such as quick response, convenience and low economic costs. In recent 3 years, researchers have developed various electrochemical sensors for the detection of lipid hormone to improve their sensitivity or selectivity. The use of nanomaterials (such as carbon nanomaterials, precious metal and polymer) is a key research object and a breakthrough for improving the sensing performance of electrochemical sensors for detection of lipid hormone. This paper reviews and discusses the basic principle, nanomaterials, actuality and future development trend of electrochemical sensors for the detection of lipid hormone in the past 3 years.

Prostaglandin E2 and Receptors: Insight Into Tumorigenesis, Tumor Progression, and Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common primary liver cancer with ∼750,000 annual incidence rates globally. PGE2, usually known as a pro-inflammatory cytokine, is over-expressed in various human malignancies including HCC. PGE2 binds to EP receptors in HCC cells to influence tumorigenesis or enhance tumor progression through multiple pathways such as EP1-PKC-MAPK, EP2-PKA-GSK3β, and EP4-PKA-CREB. In the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma, PGE2 can promote the proliferation and migration of liver cancer cells by affecting hepatocytes directly and the tumor microenvironment (TME) through ERK/COX-2/PGE2 signal pathway in hepatic stellate cells (HSC). For the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma, there are drugs such as T7 peptide and EP1 antagonist ONO-8711 targeting Cox-2/PGE2 axis to inhibit tumor progression. In conclusion, PGE2 has been shown to be a traditional target with pleiotropic effects in tumorigenesis and progression of HCC that could be used to develop a new potential clinical impact. For the treatment study focusing on the COX-PGE2 axis, the exclusive usage of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents (NSAIDs) or COX-2-inhibitors may be replaced by a combination of selective EP antagonists and traditional anti-tumoral drugs to alleviate severe side effects and achieve better outcomes.

Comprehensive profiling of lipid metabolites in urine of canine patients with liver mass

Fatty acids are an essential component of mammalian bodies. They go through different metabolic pathways depending on physiological states and inflammatory stimuli. In this study, we conducted a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)-based comprehensive analysis of lipid metabolites in urine of canine patients with liver mass. There were significant differences in quantity of some lipid metabolites that may be closely associated with the disease and/or general inflammatory responses, including increased metabolites of prostaglandin E₂ and/or PGF_2α. We demonstrated that our approach of profiling lipid metabolites in the urine is useful in gaining insights into the disease. These findings may also have an application as a screening test or a diagnosis tool for canine liver mass.