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Albhaisi S, Sun J, Sanyal AJ. Fibrosis-4 index is associated with the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with cirrhosis and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1198871. [PMID: 37675229 PMCID: PMC10477779 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1198871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2023] [Accepted: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background and aims Identification of high-risk patients for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is essential for long term monitoring of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) cirrhosis progression. We sought to evaluate the association between Fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) index and incidence of HCC risk among patients with NASH cirrhosis. Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study of adult patients with NASH cirrhosis (n= 1,338) who were evaluated in a single medical center between 2005 and 2015. Those who developed HCC were identified through electronic medical records using International Classification of Diseases (ICD) 9 and 10 codes until the end of September 2021. Results During a median follow-up time of 3.7 years, 157 (11.7%) patients with NASH cirrhosis developed HCC. At index visit, the study population had a median age 57 years, 43% males, 78.8% White, and mean FIB-4 index 4.2. The final multivariable Cox regression model revealed that male sex, BMI 25-29.9 kg/m2, and hypertension were independent factors associated with development of HCC in patients with NASH cirrhosis. Compared to patients with FIB-4 ¾ 1.45, patients with FIB-4 between 1.45-3.25 had a similar hazard of HCC (Hazard Ratio [HR] 1.12, 95% CI: 0.67-1.86, p=0.670), whereas patients with FIB-4 >3.25 had a 1.93 (95% CI: 1.22-3.05, p=0.005) increased hazard of HCC. Conclusion FIB-4 > 3.25 was an independent factor associated with increased HCC risk among NASH cirrhosis patients. FIB-4 index is a promising tool for determining high-risk patients and may be used in routine clinical practice to monitor risk of HCC in patients with NASH cirrhosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Somaya Albhaisi
- Department of Internal Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, United States
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Jing Sun
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Arun J. Sanyal
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Department of Internal Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, United States
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2
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MicroRNAs in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: Progress and perspectives. Mol Metab 2022; 65:101581. [PMID: 36028120 PMCID: PMC9464960 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmet.2022.101581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2022] [Revised: 08/16/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a spectrum of disease ranging from simple hepatic steatosis (NAFL) to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) which may progress to cirrhosis and liver cancer. NAFLD is rapidly becoming a global health challenge, and there is a need for improved diagnostic- and prognostic tools and for effective pharmacotherapies to treat NASH. The molecular mechanisms of NAFLD development and progression remain incompletely understood, though ample evidence supports a role of microRNAs (miRNAs) - small non-coding RNAs regulating gene expression - in the progression of metabolic liver disease. SCOPE OF REVIEW In this review, we summarise the currently available liver miRNA profiling studies in people with various stages of NAFLD. We further describe the mechanistic role of three of the most extensively studied miRNA species, miR-34a, miR-122 and miR-21, and highlight selected findings on novel NAFLD-linked miRNAs. We also examine the literature on exosomal microRNAs (exomiRs) as inter-hepatocellular or -organ messengers in NAFLD. Furthermore, we address the status for utilizing circulating NAFLD-associated miRNAs as minimally invasive tools for disease diagnosis, staging and prognosis as well as their potential use as NASH pharmacotherapeutic targets. Finally, we reflect on future directions for research in the miRNA field. MAJOR CONCLUSIONS NAFLD is associated with changes in hepatic miRNA expression patterns at early, intermediate and late stages, and specific miRNA species appear to be involved in steatosis development and NAFL progression to NASH and cirrhosis. These miRNAs act either within or between hepatocytes and other liver cell types such as hepatic stellate cells and Kupffer cells or as circulating inter-organ messengers carrying signals between the liver and extra-hepatic metabolic tissues, including the adipose tissues and the cardiovascular system. Among circulating miRNAs linked to NAFLD, miR-34a, miR-122 and miR-192 are the best candidates as biomarkers for NAFLD diagnosis and staging. To date, no miRNA-targeting pharmacotherapy has been approved for the treatment of NASH, and no such therapy is currently under clinical development. Further research should be conducted to translate the contribution of miRNAs in NAFLD into innovative therapeutic strategies.
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Siler SQ. Applications of Quantitative Systems Pharmacology (QSP) in Drug Development for NAFLD and NASH and Its Regulatory Application. Pharm Res 2022; 39:1789-1802. [PMID: 35610402 PMCID: PMC9314276 DOI: 10.1007/s11095-022-03295-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a widely prevalent disease, but approved pharmaceutical treatments are not available. As such, there is great activity within the pharmaceutical industry to accelerate drug development in this area and improve the quality of life and reduce mortality for NASH patients. The use of quantitative systems pharmacology (QSP) can help make this overall process more efficient. This mechanism-based mathematical modeling approach describes both the pathophysiology of a disease and how pharmacological interventions can modify pathophysiologic mechanisms. Multiple capabilities are provided by QSP modeling, including the use of model predictions to optimize clinical studies. The use of this approach has grown over the last 20 years, motivating discussions between modelers and regulators to agree upon methodologic standards. These include model transparency, documentation, and inclusion of clinical pharmacodynamic biomarkers. Several QSP models have been developed that describe NASH pathophysiology to varying extents. One specific application of NAFLDsym, a QSP model of NASH, is described in this manuscript. Simulations were performed to help understand if patient behaviors could help explain the relatively high rate of fibrosis stage reductions in placebo cohorts. Simulated food intake and body weight fluctuated periodically over time. The relatively slow turnover of liver collagen allowed persistent reductions in predicted fibrosis stage despite return to baseline for liver fat, plasma ALT, and the NAFLD activity score. Mechanistic insights such as this that have been derived from QSP models can help expedite the development of safe and effective treatments for NASH patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott Q Siler
- DILIsym Services, a Division of Simulations Plus, 510-862-6027, 6 Davis Drive, PO Box 12317, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, 27709, USA.
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4
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Zhao W, Mo H, Liu R, Chen T, Yang N, Liu Z. Matrix stiffness-induced upregulation of histone acetyltransferase KAT6A promotes hepatocellular carcinoma progression through regulating SOX2 expression. Br J Cancer 2022; 127:202-210. [PMID: 35332266 PMCID: PMC9296676 DOI: 10.1038/s41416-022-01784-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2021] [Revised: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/08/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lysine acetyltransferase 6 A (KAT6A) is a MYST-type histone acetyltransferase (HAT) enzyme, which contributes to histone modification and cancer development. However, its biological functions and molecular mechanisms, which respect to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), are still largely unknown. METHODS Immunohistochemical, western blot and qRT-PCR analysis of KAT6A were performed. A series of in vitro and in vivo experiments were conducted to reveal the role of KAT6A in the progression of HCC. RESULTS We demonstrated that KAT6A expression was upregulated in HCC tissues and cell lines. Clinical analysis showed that increased KAT6A was significantly associated with malignant prognostic features and shorter survival. Gain- and loss-of-function experiments indicated that KAT6A promoted cell viability, proliferation and colony formation of HCC cells in vitro and in vivo. We confirmed that KAT6A acetylates lysine 23 of histone H3 (H3K23), and then enhances the association of the nuclear receptor binding protein TRIM24 and H3K23ac. Consequently, TRIM24 functions as a transcriptional activator to activate SOX2 transcription and expression, leading to HCC tumorigenesis. Restoration of SOX2 at least partially abolished the biological effects of KAT6A on HCC cells. Overexpression of KAT6A acetyltransferase activity-deficient mutants or TRIM24 mutants lacking H3K23ac binding sites did not affect SOX2 expression and HCC biological function. Moreover, matrix stiffness can upregulate the expression of KAT6A in HCC cells. CONCLUSIONS Our data support the first evidence that KAT6A plays an oncogenic role in HCC through H3K23ac/TRIM24-SOX2 pathway, and represents a promising therapeutic strategy for HCC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Zhao
- Department of General Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, No. 277 Yanta West Road, 710061, Xi'an, China
| | - Huanye Mo
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, No. 277 Yanta West Road, 710061, Xi'an, China
| | - Runkun Liu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, No. 277 Yanta West Road, 710061, Xi'an, China
| | - Tianxiang Chen
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, No. 277 Yanta West Road, 710061, Xi'an, China
| | - Nan Yang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, No. 277 Yanta West Road, 710061, Xi'an, China.
| | - Zhikui Liu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, No. 277 Yanta West Road, 710061, Xi'an, China.
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5
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Hasin-Brumshtein Y, Sakaram S, Khatri P, He YD, Sweeney TE. A robust gene expression signature for NASH in liver expression data. Sci Rep 2022; 12:2571. [PMID: 35173224 PMCID: PMC8850484 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-06512-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Accepted: 01/31/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) is a progressive liver disease that affects up to 30% of worldwide population, of which up to 25% progress to Non-Alcoholic SteatoHepatitis (NASH), a severe form of the disease that involves inflammation and predisposes the patient to liver cirrhosis. Despite its epidemic proportions, there is no reliable diagnostics that generalizes to global patient population for distinguishing NASH from NAFLD. We performed a comprehensive multicohort analysis of publicly available transcriptome data of liver biopsies from Healthy Controls (HC), NAFLD and NASH patients. Altogether we analyzed 812 samples from 12 different datasets across 7 countries, encompassing real world patient heterogeneity. We used 7 datasets for discovery and 5 datasets were held-out for independent validation. Altogether we identified 130 genes significantly differentially expressed in NASH versus a mixed group of NAFLD and HC. We show that our signature is not driven by one particular group (NAFLD or HC) and reflects true biological signal. Using a forward search we were able to downselect to a parsimonious set of 19 mRNA signature with mean AUROC of 0.98 in discovery and 0.79 in independent validation. Methods for consistent diagnosis of NASH relative to NAFLD are urgently needed. We showed that gene expression data combined with advanced statistical methodology holds the potential to serve basis for development of such diagnostic tests for the unmet clinical need.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Suraj Sakaram
- Inflammatix, Inc., 863 Mitten Rd, Suite 104, Burlingame, CA, 94010, USA
| | - Purvesh Khatri
- Institute for Immunity, Transplantation and Infection, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, 94305, USA.,Department of Medicine, Center for Biomedical Informatics Research, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Yudong D He
- Inflammatix, Inc., 863 Mitten Rd, Suite 104, Burlingame, CA, 94010, USA.
| | - Timothy E Sweeney
- Inflammatix, Inc., 863 Mitten Rd, Suite 104, Burlingame, CA, 94010, USA.
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6
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Friedman SL, Pinzani M. Hepatic fibrosis 2022: Unmet needs and a blueprint for the future. Hepatology 2022; 75:473-488. [PMID: 34923653 DOI: 10.1002/hep.32285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 138] [Impact Index Per Article: 69.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2021] [Revised: 11/12/2021] [Accepted: 11/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Steady progress over four decades toward understanding the pathogenesis and clinical consequences of hepatic fibrosis has led to the expectation of effective antifibrotic drugs, yet none has been approved. Thus, an assessment of the field is timely, to clarify priorities and accelerate progress. Here, we highlight the successes to date but, more importantly, identify gaps and unmet needs, both experimentally and clinically. These include the need to better define cell-cell interactions and etiology-specific elements of fibrogenesis and their link to disease-specific drivers of portal hypertension. Success in treating viral hepatitis has revealed the remarkable capacity of the liver to degrade scar in reversing fibrosis, yet we know little of the mechanisms underlying this response. Thus, there is an exigent need to clarify the cellular and molecular mechanisms of fibrosis regression in order for therapeutics to mimic the liver's endogenous capacity. Better refined and more predictive in vitro and animal models will hasten drug development. From a clinical perspective, current diagnostics are improving but not always biologically plausible or sufficiently accurate to supplant biopsy. More urgently, digital pathology methods that leverage machine learning and artificial intelligence must be validated in order to capture more prognostic information from liver biopsies and better quantify the response to therapies. For more refined treatment of NASH, orthogonal approaches that integrate genetic, clinical, and pathological data sets may yield treatments for specific subphenotypes of the disease. Collectively, these and other advances will strengthen and streamline clinical trials and better link histologic responses to clinical outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott L Friedman
- Division of Liver DiseasesIcahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiNew YorkNew YorkUSA
| | - Massimo Pinzani
- Institute for Liver and Digestive HealthUniversity College LondonLondonUK
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7
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Arab JP, Dirchwolf M, Álvares-da-Silva MR, Barrera F, Benítez C, Castellanos-Fernandez M, Castro-Narro G, Chavez-Tapia N, Chiodi D, Cotrim H, Cusi K, de Oliveira CPMS, Díaz J, Fassio E, Gerona S, Girala M, Hernandez N, Marciano S, Masson W, Méndez-Sánchez N, Leite N, Lozano A, Padilla M, Panduro A, Paraná R, Parise E, Perez M, Poniachik J, Restrepo JC, Ruf A, Silva M, Tagle M, Tapias M, Torres K, Vilar-Gomez E, Costa Gil JE, Gadano A, Arrese M. Latin American Association for the study of the liver (ALEH) practice guidance for the diagnosis and treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Ann Hepatol 2021; 19:674-690. [PMID: 33031970 DOI: 10.1016/j.aohep.2020.09.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2020] [Accepted: 09/17/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) currently represents an epidemic worldwide. NAFLD is the most frequently diagnosed chronic liver disease, affecting 20-30% of the general population. Furthermore, its prevalence is predicted to increase exponentially in the next decades, concomitantly with the global epidemic of obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and sedentary lifestyle. NAFLD is a clinical syndrome that encompasses a wide spectrum of associated diseases and hepatic complications such as hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Moreover, this disease is believed to become the main indication for liver transplantation in the near future. Since NAFLD management represents a growing challenge for primary care physicians, the Asociación Latinoamericana para el Estudio del Hígado (ALEH) has decided to organize this Practice Guidance for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, written by Latin-American specialists in different clinical areas, and destined to general practitioners, internal medicine specialists, endocrinologists, diabetologists, gastroenterologists, and hepatologists. The main purpose of this document is to improve patient care and awareness of NAFLD. The information provided in this guidance may also be useful in assisting stakeholders in the decision-making process related to NAFLD. Since new evidence is constantly emerging on different aspects of the disease, updates to this guideline will be required in future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Pablo Arab
- Departamento de Gastroenterología, Escuela de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
| | - Melisa Dirchwolf
- Unidad de Trasplante Hepático, Servicio de Hepatología, Hospital Privado de Rosario, Rosario, Argentina.
| | - Mário Reis Álvares-da-Silva
- Hepatology Division, Hospital de Clinicas de Porto Alegre, Brazil; School of Medicine, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil; Graduate Program in Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
| | - Francisco Barrera
- Departamento de Gastroenterología, Escuela de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
| | - Carlos Benítez
- Departamento de Gastroenterología, Escuela de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
| | | | - Graciela Castro-Narro
- Gastroenterology Department, National Institute of Medical Sciences and Nutrition "Salvador Zubirán", Mexico City, Mexico.
| | | | - Daniela Chiodi
- Hospital de Clínicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay.
| | - Helma Cotrim
- School of Medicine, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil.
| | - Kenneth Cusi
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
| | | | - Javier Díaz
- Departamento del Aparato Digestivo, Hospital Edgardo Rebagliati Martins, EsSalud, Lima, Peru.
| | - Eduardo Fassio
- Sección Hígado, Vías Biliares y Páncreas, Servicio de Gastroenterología, Hospital Nacional Profesor Alejandro Posadas, El Palomar, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| | - Solange Gerona
- Liver Unit, Hospital de Fuerzas Armadas, Montevideo, Uruguay.
| | | | - Nelia Hernandez
- Hospital de Clínicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay.
| | | | - Walter Masson
- Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| | | | - Nathalie Leite
- School of Medicine, Internal Medicine Department and Clementino Fraga Filho University Hospital, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
| | - Adelina Lozano
- Unidad de Hígado, Servicio de Gastroenterología, Hospital Nacional Arzobispo Loayza, Lima, Peru; Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru.
| | | | - Arturo Panduro
- Department of Molecular Biology in Medicine, Civil Hospital of Guadalajara, Fray Antonio Alcalde, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico.
| | - Raymundo Paraná
- School of Medicine, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil.
| | - Edison Parise
- Department of Gastroenterology, Federal University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
| | - Marlene Perez
- Hospital General de la Plaza de la Salud, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
| | - Jaime Poniachik
- Sección de Gastroenterología, Hospital Clínico Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
| | - Juan Carlos Restrepo
- Hepatobiliary and Liver Transplant Program, Hospital Pablo Tobon Uribe-Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia; Grupo Gastrohepatologia, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad of Antioquía UdeA, Medellin, Colombia.
| | - Andrés Ruf
- Unidad de Trasplante Hepático, Servicio de Hepatología, Hospital Privado de Rosario, Rosario, Argentina.
| | - Marcelo Silva
- Hepatology and Liver Transplant Unit, Hospital Universitario Austral, Pilar, Argentina.
| | - Martín Tagle
- Facultad de Medicina Alberto Hurtado, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru.
| | - Monica Tapias
- Hospital Universitario Fundación Santa Fe de Bogotá, Bogotá, Colombia.
| | - Kenia Torres
- Hospital General de la Plaza de la Salud, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
| | - Eduardo Vilar-Gomez
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
| | | | - Adrian Gadano
- Liver Unit, Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| | - Marco Arrese
- Departamento de Gastroenterología, Escuela de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
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Xia SJ, Tang LZ, Li WH, Xu ZS, Zhang LL, Cheng FG, Chen HX, Wang ZH, Luo YC, Dai AN, Fan JG. Serum syndecan-4 is associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. J Dig Dis 2021; 22:536-544. [PMID: 34374198 DOI: 10.1111/1751-2980.13037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2021] [Revised: 07/08/2021] [Accepted: 08/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The accelerated shedding of extracellular domains of syndecan-4 (SDC4) is associated with central obesity and insulin resistance, while the association between serum SDC4 and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is unknown. We aimed to examine the association between SDC4 and NAFLD. METHODS Adults undergoing a health examination from 1 June 2019 to 31 December 2019 were enrolled. A diagnosis of NAFLD was made with an abdominal ultrasound. Logistic regression models and the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to evaluate the role of SDC4 in predicting NAFLD. RESULTS In total, 533 eligible participants were finally enrolled, among them 157 (29.46%) had NAFLD. The proportion of patients with NAFLD increased with the increasing quartiles of serum SDC4. With the increase of serum SDC4 levels, metabolic features including waist circumference, serum triglyceride, total cholesterol, fasting blood glucose, fasting insulin and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance were significantly increased. SDC4 was an independent factor for NAFLD (odds ratio 1.963, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.628-2.367, P < 0.001). The area under the ROC curve of SDC4 for predicting NAFLD was 0.934 (95% CI 0.910-0.959). The optimal cut-off value was 6.575 ng/mL at Youden's index of 0.767. SDC4 had the highest diagnostic sensitivity (84.1%), positive predictive value (82.5%), negative predictive value (93.3%) and positive likelihood ratio (11.356) among all the variables. CONCLUSIONS Elevated serum SDC4 level is associated with metabolic disorders and the prevalence of NAFLD among general population. Serum SDC4 may serve as a biomarker of NAFLD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shu Jing Xia
- Department of Gastroenterology, Yancheng TCM Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Yancheng, Jiangsu Province, China.,Department of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Xinghua People's Hospital of Yangzhou University Medical College, Xinghua, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Li Zhong Tang
- Department of Pharmacy, Yancheng TCM Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Yancheng, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Wen Hua Li
- Department of Gastroenterology, Jiading Branch of Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhao Shan Xu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Yancheng TCM Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Yancheng, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Li Li Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Xinghua People's Hospital of Yangzhou University Medical College, Xinghua, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Feng Gan Cheng
- Department of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Xinghua People's Hospital of Yangzhou University Medical College, Xinghua, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Hong Xia Chen
- Department of Gastroenterology, Yancheng TCM Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Yancheng, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Zi Hua Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Xinghua People's Hospital of Yangzhou University Medical College, Xinghua, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Yu Cheng Luo
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Affiliated Xinghua People's Hospital of Yangzhou University Medical College, Xinghua, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - An Na Dai
- Department of Ultrasonography, Affiliated Xinghua People's Hospital of Yangzhou University Medical College, Xinghua, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Jian Gao Fan
- Department of Gastroenterology, XinHua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
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9
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Frtús A, Smolková B, Uzhytchak M, Lunova M, Jirsa M, Hof M, Jurkiewicz P, Lozinsky VI, Wolfová L, Petrenko Y, Kubinová Š, Dejneka A, Lunov O. Hepatic Tumor Cell Morphology Plasticity under Physical Constraints in 3D Cultures Driven by YAP-mTOR Axis. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2020; 13:ph13120430. [PMID: 33260691 PMCID: PMC7759829 DOI: 10.3390/ph13120430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2020] [Revised: 11/23/2020] [Accepted: 11/26/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent studies undoubtedly show that the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and the Hippo–Yes-associated protein 1 (YAP) pathways are important mediators of mechanical cues. The crosstalk between these pathways as well as de-regulation of their signaling has been implicated in multiple tumor types, including liver tumors. Additionally, physical cues from 3D microenvironments have been identified to alter gene expression and differentiation of different cell lineages. However, it remains incompletely understood how physical constraints originated in 3D cultures affect cell plasticity and what the key mediators are of such process. In this work, we use collagen scaffolds as a model of a soft 3D microenvironment to alter cellular size and study the mechanotransduction that regulates that process. We show that the YAP-mTOR axis is a downstream effector of 3D cellular culture-driven mechanotransduction. Indeed, we found that cell mechanics, dictated by the physical constraints of 3D collagen scaffolds, profoundly affect cellular proliferation in a YAP–mTOR-mediated manner. Functionally, the YAP–mTOR connection is key to mediate cell plasticity in hepatic tumor cell lines. These findings expand the role of YAP–mTOR-driven mechanotransduction to the control hepatic tumor cellular responses under physical constraints in 3D cultures. We suggest a tentative mechanism, which coordinates signaling rewiring with cytoplasmic restructuring during cell growth in 3D microenvironments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Frtús
- Department of Optical and Biophysical Systems, Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, 18221 Prague, Czech Republic; (A.F.); (B.S.); (M.U.); (M.L.); (Š.K.)
| | - Barbora Smolková
- Department of Optical and Biophysical Systems, Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, 18221 Prague, Czech Republic; (A.F.); (B.S.); (M.U.); (M.L.); (Š.K.)
| | - Mariia Uzhytchak
- Department of Optical and Biophysical Systems, Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, 18221 Prague, Czech Republic; (A.F.); (B.S.); (M.U.); (M.L.); (Š.K.)
| | - Mariia Lunova
- Department of Optical and Biophysical Systems, Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, 18221 Prague, Czech Republic; (A.F.); (B.S.); (M.U.); (M.L.); (Š.K.)
- Institute for Clinical & Experimental Medicine (IKEM), 14021 Prague, Czech Republic;
| | - Milan Jirsa
- Institute for Clinical & Experimental Medicine (IKEM), 14021 Prague, Czech Republic;
| | - Martin Hof
- J. Heyrovský Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, 18223 Prague, Czech Republic; (M.H.); (P.J.)
| | - Piotr Jurkiewicz
- J. Heyrovský Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, 18223 Prague, Czech Republic; (M.H.); (P.J.)
| | - Vladimir I. Lozinsky
- A.N. Nesmeyanov Institute of Organoelement Compounds, Russian Academy of Sciences, Vavilov Street, 28, 119991 Moscow, Russia;
| | - Lucie Wolfová
- Department of Biomaterials and Biophysical Methods, Institute of Experimental Medicine of the Czech Academy of Sciences, 14220 Prague, Czech Republic; (L.W.); (Y.P.)
- Department of Tissue Engineering, Contipro a.s., 56102 Dolni Dobrouc, Czech Republic
| | - Yuriy Petrenko
- Department of Biomaterials and Biophysical Methods, Institute of Experimental Medicine of the Czech Academy of Sciences, 14220 Prague, Czech Republic; (L.W.); (Y.P.)
| | - Šárka Kubinová
- Department of Optical and Biophysical Systems, Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, 18221 Prague, Czech Republic; (A.F.); (B.S.); (M.U.); (M.L.); (Š.K.)
- Department of Biomaterials and Biophysical Methods, Institute of Experimental Medicine of the Czech Academy of Sciences, 14220 Prague, Czech Republic; (L.W.); (Y.P.)
| | - Alexandr Dejneka
- Department of Optical and Biophysical Systems, Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, 18221 Prague, Czech Republic; (A.F.); (B.S.); (M.U.); (M.L.); (Š.K.)
- Correspondence: (A.D.); (O.L.); Tel.: +420-2660-52141 (A.D.); +420-2660-52131 (O.L.)
| | - Oleg Lunov
- Department of Optical and Biophysical Systems, Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, 18221 Prague, Czech Republic; (A.F.); (B.S.); (M.U.); (M.L.); (Š.K.)
- Correspondence: (A.D.); (O.L.); Tel.: +420-2660-52141 (A.D.); +420-2660-52131 (O.L.)
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Hussain A, Vasas P, El-Hasani S. Letter to the Editor: Obesity as a risk factor for greater severity of COVID-19 in patients with metabolic associated fatty liver disease. Metabolism 2020; 108:154256. [PMID: 32360211 PMCID: PMC7189834 DOI: 10.1016/j.metabol.2020.154256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2020] [Accepted: 04/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Peter Vasas
- Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospital, Doncaster, UK
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Yang N, Chen T, Wang L, Liu R, Niu Y, Sun L, Yao B, Wang Y, Yang W, Liu Q, Tu K, Liu Z. CXCR4 mediates matrix stiffness-induced downregulation of UBTD1 driving hepatocellular carcinoma progression via YAP signaling pathway. Am J Cancer Res 2020; 10:5790-5801. [PMID: 32483419 PMCID: PMC7255012 DOI: 10.7150/thno.44789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2020] [Accepted: 04/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Rational: Increasing evidence indicates that the physical environment is a critical mediator of tumor behavior. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) develops in an altered biomechanical environment, and increased matrix stiffness is a strong predictor of HCC development. C-X-C chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4) is known to trigger HCC progression. However, CXCR4 as a mediator of mechanical cues in HCC is not well characterized. Methods: qRT-PCR, Western blot and IHC were used to detect the CXCR4 expression in different matrix stiffness gels. MTT was used to measure the cell proliferation of HCC cells. Immunoblotting was used for detection of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and stemness on the matrix stiffness. Immunofluorescence (IF) was used to detect the nuclear location in HCC cells. IP was used to show the interaction between YAP, UbcH5c and β-TrCP. Results: We identified CXCR4 as a critical intracellular signal transducer that relays matrix stiffness signals to control mechano-sensitive cellular activities through ubiquitin domain-containing protein 1 (UBTD1)-mediated YAP signaling pathway. We found that CXCR4 expression was remarkably up-regulated in HCC cells with increasing matrix stiffness and mediated proliferation, epithelial to mesenchymal transition, and stemness. Mechanistically, matrix stiffness acts through CXCR4 to decrease the levels of UBTD1, which is involved in the proteasome-dependent degradation of YAP, a major cell mechano-transducer. UBTD1 interacted with components of the YAP degradation complex and promoted the interaction between YAP and its E3 ubiquitin ligase β-TrCP. UBTD1 knockdown decreased YAP ubiquitylation and resulted in the activation of YAP-targeted genes and YAP downstream signaling. Downregulation of UBTD1 in HCC tissues correlated with malignant prognostic features and overall survival. Finally, luteolin, a natural product, suppressed matrix stiffness-induced biological effects and CXCR4-mediated YAP signaling pathway in HCC cells. Conclusion: Our findings reveal CXCR4 as a molecular switch in mechano-transduction, thereby defining a mechano-signaling pathway from matrix stiffness to the nucleus.
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