Cyclin D1 G870A polymorphism and the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma in a Chinese population

Study on the mechanisms of compound Kushen injection for the treatment of gastric cancer based on network pharmacology

Background

As an effective prescription for gastric cancer (GC), Compound Kushen Injection (CKI) has been widely used even though few molecular mechanism analyses have been carried out.

Methods

In this study, we identified 16 active ingredients and 60 GC target proteins. Then, we established a compound-predicted target network and a GC target protein-protein interaction (PPI) network by Cytoscape 3.5.1 and systematically analyzed the potential targets of CKI for the treatment of GC. Finally, molecular docking was applied to verify the key targets. In addition, we analyzed the mechanism of action of the predicted targets by Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and Gene Ontology (GO) analyses.

Results

The results showed that the potential targets, including CCND1, PIK3CA, AKT1, MAPK1, ERBB2, and MMP2, are the therapeutic targets of CKI for the treatment of GC. Functional enrichment analysis indicated that CKI has a therapeutic effect on GC by synergistically regulating some biological pathways, such as the cell cycle, pathways in cancer, the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway, the mTOR signaling pathway, and the FoxO signaling pathway. Moreover, molecular docking simulation indicated that the compounds had good binding activity to PIK3CA, AKT1, MAPK1, ERBB2, and MMP2 in vivo.

Conclusion

This research partially highlighted the molecular mechanism of CKI for the treatment of GC, which has great potential in the identification of the effective compounds in CKI and biomarkers to treat GC.

A comprehensive evaluation of single nucleotide polymorphisms associated with hepatocellular carcinoma risk in Asian populations: A systematic review and network meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have been inconsistently associated with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) risk. This meta-analysis aimed to synthesize relevant data on SNPs associated with HCC in the Asian population.

METHODS

Databases were searched to identify association studies of SNPs and HCC in Asians published through January 2019. Summary odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated based on 41 studies (13,167 patients with HCC and 15,886 noncancer controls). Network meta-analysis and Thakkinstian's algorithm were used to select the most appropriate genetic model, along with false positive report probability (FPRP) for noteworthy associations.

RESULTS

Eleven SNPs meeting the inclusion criteria were tested for association with HCC, including CCND1 rs9344, PTGS2 rs689466, IL18 rs187238 and rs1946518, KIF1B rs17401966, MDM2 rs2279744, MIR146A rs2910164, MIR149 rs2292832, MIR196A2 rs11614913, MIR499A rs3746444, and TGFB1 rs1800469. A significant increase for HCC risk was observed for MDM2 rs2279744, and the dominant (pooled OR = 1.59, 95% CI: 1.26-2.00) and codominant (pooled OR = 1.37, 95% CI: 1.18-1.60) models were determined to be the most appropriate models. MIR499A rs3746444 also showed a significant association with HCC risk under the allele contrast model (pooled OR = 1.36, 95% CI: 1.05-1.77). Only the significance of MDM2 rs2279744 was noteworthy (FPRP < 0.2).

CONCLUSIONS

MDM2 rs2279744 is associated with HCC susceptibility in Asians, and the dominant and codominant models are likely the most appropriate models to estimate HCC risk.

Screening and identification of key biomarkers in hepatocellular carcinoma: Evidence from bioinformatic analysis

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common cancers worldwide. Intense efforts have been made to elucidate the pathogeny, but the molecular mechanisms of HCC are still not well understood. To identify the candidate genes in the carcinogenesis and progression of HCC, microarray datasets GSE19665, GSE33006 and GSE41804 were downloaded from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified, and function enrichment analyses were performed. The protein-protein interaction network (PPI) was constructed and the module analysis was performed using STRING and Cytoscape. A total of 273 DEGs were identified, consisting of 189 downregulated genes and 84 upregulated genes. The enriched functions and pathways of the DEGs include protein activation cascade, complement activation, carbohydrate binding, complement and coagulation cascades, mitotic cell cycle and oocyte meiosis. Sixteen hub genes were identified and biological process analysis revealed that these genes were mainly enriched in cell division, cell cycle and nuclear division. Survival analysis showed that BUB1, CDC20, KIF20A, RACGAP1 and CEP55 may be involved in the carcinogenesis, invasion or recurrence of HCC. In conclusion, DEGs and hub genes identified in the present study help us understand the molecular mechanisms underlying the carcinogenesis and progression of HCC, and provide candidate targets for diagnosis and treatment of HCC.

Association between cyclin D1 G870A polymorphism and hepatocellular carcinoma risk: a meta-analysis

Background

Cyclin D1 (CCND1) G870A polymorphism may be associated with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) risk, but the results of previous studies were inconsistent. Available evidence was meta-analyzed to assess their potential association.

Methods

Databases PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Chinese Biomedical Literature database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Google Scholar were systematically searched. Meta-analyses were performed to investigate the association of G870A polymorphism with HCC risk by calculating odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) from the data of relevant case–control studies.

Results

Results of this meta-analysis of six case–control studies involving 1,030 cases and 1,683 controls indicate that G870A polymorphism was not associated with HCC risk in any of the five genetic models tested (recessive model: AA vs GG + AG: OR =1.38, 95% CI =0.95–2.00, P=0.09; dominant model: AG + AA vs GG: OR =1.38, 95% CI =0.87–2.20, P=0.17; homozygous model: AA vs GG: OR =1.60, 95% CI =0.87–2.94, P=0.13; heterozygous model: AG vs GG: OR =1.24, 95% CI =0.86–1.79, P=0.25; allelic model: A vs G: OR =1.30, 95% CI =0.95–1.80, P=0.10). Subgroup analyses according to ethnicity showing marginally significant association between this single nucleotide polymorphism and HCC risk indicate that G870A may be significantly associated with HCC risk in Caucasian populations (recessive model: AA vs GG + AG: OR =2.34, 95% CI =1.60–3.42, P<0.0001; dominant model: AG + AA vs GG: OR =2.44, 95% CI =1.19–4.97, P=0.01; homozygous model: AA vs GG: OR =3.42, 95% CI =1.80–6.50, P=0.0002; allelic model: A vs G: OR =2.06, 95% CI =1.31–3.24, P=0.002), but not in Asian populations.

Conclusion

Available evidence suggests that no significant association between G870A polymorphism and HCC risk was found in either total populations or Asian populations. However, significant association was found in Caucasian populations. These results should be verified and extended in further detailed and well-designed studies involving larger, multiethnic samples.

Influence of CCND1 G870A polymorphism on the risk of HBV-related HCC and cyclin D1 splicing variant expression in Chinese population

The G870A polymorphism in the exon 4/intron 4 boundary of CCND1 gene is thought to influence the generation of two mRNAs (cyclin D1a and cyclin D1b). The "A" allele codes for a truncated variant, cyclin D1b, which may have higher transforming activity. Herein, the tumor relevance of G870A polymorphism, the association between cyclin D1 variant expression and G870A genotype, and the oncogenic potential of cyclin D1 variants in HBV-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) were examined. We found that there is no significant difference of G870A distribution among the HCC, chronic HBV (CHB) infection, cirrhotic CHB, and healthy control groups. Stratification analysis revealed that in younger patients (ages ≤ 50), cirrhotic CHB patients with AA genotype had an increased risk of developing HCC with odds ratio of 1.943 (95 % CI 1.022-3.694, p = 0.0411) as compared with AG/GG genotypes. The two variants were both transcripted from "A" and "G" alleles, and neither cyclin D1a nor D1b production was influenced by G870A genotype in HCC. The expression of both cyclins D1a and D1b decreased in HCC tissues (p = 0.003, p = 0.005), while increased in adjacent nontumor tissues as compared with normal liver tissues (p = 0.045, p = 0.034). Overexpression of cyclin D1a or D1b could promote the cell proliferation and cell-cycle progression in Huh-7 and LO2 cell lines. Collectively, our data suggest that G870A polymorphism has only very limited predictive value for HBV-related HCC. Both cyclins D1a and D1b could promote cell proliferation, which might contribute to the potential oncogenic role of cyclin D1 variants during the precancerous cirrhotic stage of hepatocarcinogenesis.

Overexpression of Numb suppresses growth, migration, and invasion of human clear cell renal cell carcinoma cells

The objective of the study was to investigate the impact of Numb on cell growth, cell migration, and invasion in human clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). Endogenous expression of Numb was evaluated in the ccRCC cell lines (786-O, Caki-1, and Caki-2) and control reference human renal proximal tubular epithelial cells. Numb expression was decreased in the ccRCC cells compared with the control cells (P < 0.01). Then, 786-O and Caki-1 cells described as suitable transfection hosts were used in transfection to carry out biological function studies. The three experimental groups were as follows: Numb-ORF (transfected with Numb-ORF plasmid), blank-vector (transfected with pCMV6-entry), and cell-alone group (no DNA). Numb expression in the Numb-ORF groups was significantly higher than that in the controls (P < 0.01). Cell growth was remarkably reduced (P < 0.01), and the number of migrating or invading cells was reduced (P < 0.01) in the Numb-ORF groups compared with controls. Furthermore, the ratio of G0/G1 phase in the Numb-ORF group of 786-O cells was increased, and the S phase fraction and proliferation index was decreased (P < 0.01). Cyclin D1 and MMP-9 expression was reduced in the Numb-ORF groups compared with controls. Here, we have provided data for attenuated Numb expression in the ccRCC cells. Overexpression of Numb could induce G0/G1 phase arrest and inhibit cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. The suppressive effects might be due to downregulation of cyclin D1 or MMP-9 expression. Taken together, our data suggest that Numb may possibly function as a tumor suppressor involved in the carcinogenesis of ccRCC.

A functional variant at miR-34a binding site in toll-like receptor 4 gene alters susceptibility to hepatocellular carcinoma in a Chinese Han population

Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) plays a key role in prompting the innate or immediate response. A growing body of evidence suggests that genetic variants of TLR4 gene were associated with the development of cancers. This study aimed to investigate the relationship of a functional variant (rs1057317) at microRNA-34a (miR-34a) binding site in toll-like receptor 4 gene and the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma. A single center-based case-control study was conducted. In this study, the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and direct sequencing were used to genotype sequence variants of TLR4 in 426 hepatocellular carcinoma cases and 438 controls. The modification of rs1057317 on the binding of hsa-miR-34a to TLR4 messenger RNA (mRNA) was measured by luciferase activity assay. Individuals carrying the AA genotypes for the rs1057317 were associated significantly with increased risk of hepatocellular carcinoma comparing with those carrying wild-type homozygous CC genotypes (adjusted odds ratio [OR] by sex and age, from 1.116 to 2.452, P = 0.013). The activity of the reporter vector was lower in the reporter vector carrying C allele than the reporter vector carrying A allele. Furthermore, the expression of TLR4 was detected in the peripheral blood mononucleated cell of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients, suggesting that mRNA and protein levels of TLR4 might be associated with SNP rs1057317. Collectively, these results suggested that the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma was associated with a functional variant at miR-34a binding site in toll-like receptor 4 gene. miR-34a/TLR4 axis may play an important role in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma.