1
|
He J, Gerstenlauer M, Chan LK, Leithäuser F, Yeh MM, Wirth T, Maier HJ. Block of NF-kB signaling accelerates MYC-driven hepatocellular carcinogenesis and modifies the tumor phenotype towards combined hepatocellular cholangiocarcinoma. Cancer Lett 2019; 458:113-122. [PMID: 31128214 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2019.05.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2019] [Revised: 05/16/2019] [Accepted: 05/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Primary liver cancer ranks among the leading causes of cancer death worldwide. Risk factors are closely linked to inflammation, such as viral hepatitis and alcoholic as well as non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. Among the pathways involved in the pathogenesis of malignant liver tumors, dysregulation of NF-κB signaling plays a prominent role. It provides a link between inflammation and cancer. To examine the role of NF-κB in a MYC-induced model of hepatocellular carcinoma we deleted NEMO (IKKγ) specifically from hepatocytes. NEMO deletion accelerated tumor development and shortened survival, suggesting a tumor-suppressive function of NF-κB signaling. We observed increased proliferation, inflammation and fibrosis, as well as activation of MAPK and STAT signaling. Importantly, deletion of NEMO modified the tumor phenotype from hepatocellular carcinoma to combined hepatocellular cholangiocarcinoma. The intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma tumor component showed increased expression of progenitor markers such as Sox9 and reduced expression of mature hepatic markers such as CPS1. In both cases tumorigenesis was reversible by turning off MYC expression. To our knowledge this is the first mouse model of combined hepatocellular cholangiocarcinoma and may provide insights into the development of this rare malignant tumor.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jiajia He
- Institute of Physiological Chemistry, University Hospital of Ulm, Albert-Einstein-Allee 23, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Melanie Gerstenlauer
- Institute of Physiological Chemistry, University Hospital of Ulm, Albert-Einstein-Allee 23, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Lap Kwan Chan
- Institute of Physiological Chemistry, University Hospital of Ulm, Albert-Einstein-Allee 23, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Frank Leithäuser
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital of Ulm, Albert-Einstein-Allee 23, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Matthew M Yeh
- Department of Pathology, University of Washington, 1959 NE Pacific St., Seattle, USA
| | - Thomas Wirth
- Institute of Physiological Chemistry, University Hospital of Ulm, Albert-Einstein-Allee 23, 89081, Ulm, Germany.
| | - Harald J Maier
- Institute of Physiological Chemistry, University Hospital of Ulm, Albert-Einstein-Allee 23, 89081, Ulm, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Ji F, Zhang ZH, Zhang Y, Shen SL, Cao QH, Zhang LJ, Li SQ, Peng BG, Liang LJ, Hua YP. Low expression of c-Myc protein predicts poor outcomes in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma after resection. BMC Cancer 2018; 18:460. [PMID: 29690860 PMCID: PMC5926532 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-018-4379-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2017] [Accepted: 04/16/2018] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Embryonic Liver Fodrin (ELF) is an adaptor protein of transforming growth factor (TGF-β) signaling cascade. Disruption of ELF results in mislocalization of Smad3 and Smad4, leading to compromised TGF-β signaling. c-Myc is an important oncogenic transcription factor, and the disruption of TGF-β signaling promotes c-Myc-induced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) carcinogenesis. However, the prognostic significance of c-Myc in HCC is less understood Methods The expression of c-Myc protein and mRNA were measured by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and qRT- PCR, respectively. IHC was performed to detect TGF-β1 and ELF expression in HCC tissues. Their relationship with clinicopathological factors and overall survival (OS) and disease free survival (DFS) were examined. Results The expression of c-Myc protein and mRNA in HCC tissues were significantly higher in HCC area than those in normal liver tissues. However, the expression were low compared with those adjacent to HCC area. c-Myc protein was independently predictive of DFS and OS, and it was negatively correlated with tumor size (P = 0.031), tumor number (P = 0.038), and recurrence (P = 0.001). Low c-Myc expression was associated with short-term recurrence and poor prognosis. The predictive value of c-Myc combined with TGF-β1 or/and ELF was higher than that of any other single marker. Low c-Myc, high TGF-β1 or/and low ELF expression was associated with the worst DFS and OS. Conclusions Low expression of c-Myc protein predicts poor outcomes in patients with HCC with hepatectomy. The combination of the expression of c-Myc, TGF-β1, and ELF can be used to accurately predict outcomes of patients with HCC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fei Ji
- Pediatric Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhi-Heng Zhang
- Organ Transplant Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, People's Republic of China
| | - Yi Zhang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510630, People's Republic of China
| | - Shun-Li Shen
- Department of Liver Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, People's Republic of China
| | - Qing-Hua Cao
- Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, People's Republic of China
| | - Long-Juan Zhang
- Laboratory of Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, People's Republic of China
| | - Shao-Qiang Li
- Department of Liver Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, People's Republic of China
| | - Bao-Gang Peng
- Department of Liver Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, People's Republic of China
| | - Li-Jian Liang
- Department of Liver Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, People's Republic of China
| | - Yun-Peng Hua
- Department of Liver Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, People's Republic of China.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Rojas A, Zhang P, Wang Y, Foo WC, Muñoz NM, Xiao L, Wang J, Gores GJ, Hung MC, Blechacz B. A Positive TGF-β/c-KIT Feedback Loop Drives Tumor Progression in Advanced Primary Liver Cancer. Neoplasia 2017; 18:371-86. [PMID: 27292026 PMCID: PMC4909706 DOI: 10.1016/j.neo.2016.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2016] [Accepted: 04/07/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is globally the second most common cause of cancer mortality. The majority of HCC patients are diagnosed at advanced stage disease for which no curative treatments exist. TGF-β has been identified as a potential therapeutic target. However, the molecular mechanisms mediating its functional switch from a tumor suppressor to tumor promoter in HCC and its interactions with other signaling pathways are poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate an aberrant molecular network between the TGF-β and c-KIT pathway that mediates the functional switch of TGF-β to a driver of tumor progression in HCC. TGF-β/SMAD2 signaling transcriptionally regulates expression of the c-KIT receptor ligand (stem cell factor [SCF]) with subsequent auto- and paracrine activation of c-KIT/JAK1/STAT3 signaling. SCF induces TGF-β1 ligand expression via STAT3, thereby forming a positive feedback loop between TGF-β/SMAD and SCF/c-KIT signaling. This network neutralizes TGF-β–mediated cell cycle inhibition and induces tumor cell proliferation, epithelial-to-mesenchymal-transition, migration, and invasion. Disruption of this feedback loop inhibits TGF-β tumor-promoting effects and restores its antiproliferative functions. Consistent with our in vitro data, we demonstrate SCF overexpression and its correlation to SMAD2 and STAT3 activation in human HCC tumors, advanced tumor-node-metastasis stages, and shorter survival. CONCLUSIONS: Canonical TGF-β and c-KIT signaling forms a positive, tumor-promoting feedback loop. Disruption of this loop restores TGF-β tumor suppressor function and provides the rationale for targeting the TGF-β/SCF axis as a novel therapeutic strategy for HCC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andres Rojas
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | - Pingyu Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | - Ying Wang
- Department of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | - Wai Chin Foo
- Department of Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | - Nina M Muñoz
- Department of Interventional Radiology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | - Lianchun Xiao
- Department of Biostatistics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | - Jing Wang
- Department of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | - Gregory J Gores
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
| | - Mien-Chie Hung
- Department of Molecular Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX; Department of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX; Graduate Institute of Cancer Biology and Center for Molecular Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Boris Blechacz
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Dolezal JM, Wang H, Kulkarni S, Jackson L, Lu J, Ranganathan S, Goetzman ES, Bharathi SS, Beezhold K, Byersdorfer CA, Prochownik EV. Sequential adaptive changes in a c-Myc-driven model of hepatocellular carcinoma. J Biol Chem 2017; 292:10068-10086. [PMID: 28432125 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m117.782052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2017] [Revised: 04/12/2017] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common cancer that frequently overexpresses the c-Myc (Myc) oncoprotein. Using a mouse model of Myc-induced HCC, we studied the metabolic, biochemical, and molecular changes accompanying HCC progression, regression, and recurrence. These involved altered rates of pyruvate and fatty acid β-oxidation and the likely re-directing of glutamine into biosynthetic rather than energy-generating pathways. Initial tumors also showed reduced mitochondrial mass and differential contributions of electron transport chain complexes I and II to respiration. The uncoupling of complex II's electron transport function from its succinate dehydrogenase activity also suggested a mechanism by which Myc generates reactive oxygen species. RNA sequence studies revealed an orderly progression of transcriptional changes involving pathways pertinent to DNA damage repair, cell cycle progression, insulin-like growth factor signaling, innate immunity, and further metabolic re-programming. Only a subset of functions deregulated in initial tumors was similarly deregulated in recurrent tumors thereby indicating that the latter can "normalize" some behaviors to suit their needs. An interactive and freely available software tool was developed to allow continued analyses of these and other transcriptional profiles. Collectively, these studies define the metabolic, biochemical, and molecular events accompanyingHCCevolution, regression, and recurrence in the absence of any potentially confounding therapies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Huabo Wang
- From the Divisions of Hematology/Oncology and
| | | | | | - Jie Lu
- From the Divisions of Hematology/Oncology and
| | | | | | | | - Kevin Beezhold
- Bone Marrow and Stem Cell Transplantation, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC), Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15224
| | - Craig A Byersdorfer
- Bone Marrow and Stem Cell Transplantation, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC), Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15224
| | - Edward V Prochownik
- From the Divisions of Hematology/Oncology and .,the Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, and.,the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15232
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Hou CH, Lin FL, Tong KB, Hou SM, Liu JF. Transforming growth factor alpha promotes osteosarcoma metastasis by ICAM-1 and PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. Biochem Pharmacol 2014; 89:453-63. [PMID: 24685520 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2014.03.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2013] [Revised: 03/20/2014] [Accepted: 03/20/2014] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Osteosarcoma is the most common primary malignancy of bone and is characterized by a high malignant and metastatic potential. Transforming growth factor alpha (TGF-α) is classified as the EGF (epidermal growth factor)-like family, which is involved in cancer cellular activities such as proliferation, motility, migration, adhesion and invasion abilities. However, the effect of TGF-α on human osteosarcoma is largely unknown. We found that TGF-α increased the cell migration and expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) in human osteosarcoma cells. Transfection of cells with ICAM-1 siRNA reduced TGF-α-mediated cell migration. We also found that the phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase (PI3K)/Akt/NF-κB pathway was activated after TGF-α treatment, and TGF-α-induced expression of ICAM-1 and cell migration was inhibited by the specific inhibitors and siRNAs of PI3K, Akt, and NF-κB cascades. In addition, knockdown of TGF-α expression markedly decreased cell metastasis in vitro and in vivo. Our results indicate that TGF-α/EGFR interaction elicits PI3K and Akt activation, which in turn activates NF-κB, resulting in the expression of ICAM-1 and contributing the migration of human osteosarcoma cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chun-Han Hou
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Feng-Ling Lin
- Department of Dermatology, Sijhih Cathay General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Kai-Biao Tong
- Veterinarian Central Laboratory, Shin-Kong Wu Ho-Su Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Sheng-Mon Hou
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Shin-Kong Wu Ho-Su Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
| | - Ju-Fang Liu
- Central Laboratory, Shin-Kong Wu Ho-Su Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Calvisi DF, Frau M, Tomasi ML, Feo F, Pascale RM. Deregulation of signalling pathways in prognostic subtypes of hepatocellular carcinoma: novel insights from interspecies comparison. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2013; 1826:215-37. [PMID: 23393659 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2012.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma is a frequent and fatal disease. Recent researches on rodent models and human hepatocarcinogenesis contributed to unravel the molecular mechanisms of hepatocellular carcinoma dedifferentiation and progression, and allowed the discovery of several alterations underlying the deregulation of cell cycle and signalling pathways. This review provides an interpretive analysis of the results of these studies. Mounting evidence emphasises the role of up-regulation of RAS/ERK, P13K/AKT, IKK/NF-kB, WNT, TGF-ß, NOTCH, Hedgehog, and Hippo signalling pathways as well as of aberrant proteasomal activity in hepatocarcinogenesis. Signalling deregulation often occurs in preneoplastic stages of rodent and human hepatocarcinogenesis and progressively increases in carcinomas, being most pronounced in more aggressive tumours. Numerous changes in signalling cascades are involved in the deregulation of carbohydrate, lipid, and methionine metabolism, which play a role in the maintenance of the transformed phenotype. Recent studies on the role of microRNAs in signalling deregulation, and on the interplay between signalling pathways led to crucial achievements in the knowledge of the network of signalling cascades, essential for the development of adjuvant therapies of liver cancer. Furthermore, the analysis of the mechanisms involved in signalling deregulation allowed the identification of numerous putative prognostic markers and novel therapeutic targets of specific hepatocellular carcinoma subtypes associated with different biologic and clinical features. This is of prime importance for the selection of patient subgroups that are most likely to obtain clinical benefit and, hence, for successful development of targeted therapies for liver cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Diego F Calvisi
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Division of Experimental Pathology and Oncology, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
7
|
Zhou Q, Lui VWY, Yeo W. Targeting the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway in hepatocellular carcinoma. Future Oncol 2011; 7:1149-67. [DOI: 10.2217/fon.11.95] [Citation(s) in RCA: 164] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
|
8
|
Ladelfa MF, Toledo MF, Laiseca JE, Monte M. Interaction of p53 with tumor suppressive and oncogenic signaling pathways to control cellular reactive oxygen species production. Antioxid Redox Signal 2011; 15:1749-61. [PMID: 20919943 DOI: 10.1089/ars.2010.3652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
p53 is a crucial transcription factor with tumor suppressive properties that elicits its function through specific target genes. It constitutes a pivotal system that integrates information received by many signaling pathways and subsequently orchestrates cell fate decisions, namely, growth-arrest, senescence, or apoptosis. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in cells can play a key role in signal transduction, being able to trigger different processes as cell death or cell proliferation. Sustained oxidative stress can induce genomic instability and collaborates with cancer development, whereas acute enhancement of high ROS levels leads to toxic oxidative cell damage and cell death. Here, it has been considered p53 broad potential contribution through its ability to regulate selected key cancer signaling pathways, where ROS participate as inductors or effectors of the final biological outcome. Further, we have discussed how p53 could play a role in preventing potentially harmful oxidative state and cell proliferation by pro-oncogenic pathways such as PI3K/AKT/mTOR and WNT/β-catenin or under hypoxia state. In addition, we have considered potential mechanisms by which p53 could collaborate with signal transduction pathways such as transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) and stress-activated protein kinases (SAPK) that produce ROS, to stop or eliminate uncontrolled proliferating cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- María Fátima Ladelfa
- Laboratorio de Biología Celular y Molecular, Departamento de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires , Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
9
|
Coulouarn C, Factor VM, Conner EA, Thorgeirsson SS. Genomic modeling of tumor onset and progression in a mouse model of aggressive human liver cancer. Carcinogenesis 2011; 32:1434-40. [PMID: 21771728 DOI: 10.1093/carcin/bgr133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
A comprehensive understanding of molecular mechanisms driving cancer onset and progression should provide a basis for improving early diagnosis, biomarker discovery and treatment options. A key value of genetically engineered mice for modeling human cancer is the possibility to analyze the entire process of tumor development. Here, we applied functional genomics approach to study step-by-step development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in the c-Myc/Tgfα transgenic mouse model of aggressive human liver cancer. We report that coexpression of c-Myc and Tgfα induces progressive and cumulative transcriptional alterations in the course of liver oncogenesis. Functional analysis of deregulated genes at the early stage of HCC disease supports a model of active hepatocyte proliferation on the background of chronic oxidative stress generated by a general metabolic disorder. In addition, early and persistent deregulation of numerous immune-related genes suggested that disruption of immune microenvironment may contribute to oncogenic process in this model of accelerated liver carcinogenesis. In particularly, by flow cytometry analysis, we found loss of the major histocompatibility complex class I expression in dysplastic hepatocytes followed by upregulation of numerous activating ligands for natural killer (NK) cells concomitant with a drastic decrease in hepatic NK cell frequency. In conclusion, our study provides a comprehensive characterization of sequential molecular changes during a stepwise progression of preneoplastic lesions toward HCC and highlights a critical role of metabolic disorders and innate immunity at the early stages of liver cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cédric Coulouarn
- National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
10
|
Baek JY, Morris SM, Campbell J, Fausto N, Yeh MM, Grady WM. TGF-beta inactivation and TGF-alpha overexpression cooperate in an in vivo mouse model to induce hepatocellular carcinoma that recapitulates molecular features of human liver cancer. Int J Cancer 2010; 127:1060-71. [PMID: 20020490 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.25127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) results from the cumulative effects of deregulated tumor suppressor genes and oncogenes. The tumor suppressor and oncogenes commonly affected include growth factors, receptors and their downstream signaling pathway components. The overexpression of transforming growth factor alpha (TGF-alpha) and the inhibition of TGF-beta signaling are especially common in human liver cancer. Thus, we assessed whether TGF-alpha overexpression and TGF-beta signaling inactivation cooperate in hepatocarcinogenesis using an in vivo mouse model, MT1/TGFa;AlbCre/Tgfbr2(flx/flx) mice ("TGFa;Tgfbr2(hepko)"), which overexpresses TGF-alpha and lacks a TGF-beta receptor in the liver. TGF-beta signaling inactivation did not alter the frequency or number of cancers in mice with overexpression of TGF-alpha. However, the tumors in the TGFa;Tgfbr2(hepko) mice displayed increased proliferation and increased cdk2, cyclin E and cyclin A expression as well as decreased Cdkn1a/p21 expression compared to normal liver and compared to the cancers arising in the TGF-alpha overexpressing mice with intact TGF-beta receptors. Increased phosphorylated ERK1/2 expression was also present in the tumors from the TGFa;Tgfbr2(hepko) mice and correlated with downregulated Raf kinase inhibitor protein expression, which is a common molecular event in human HCC. Thus, TGF-beta signaling inactivation appears to cooperate with TGF-alpha in vivo to promote the formation of liver cancer that recapitulates molecular features of human HCC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ji Yeon Baek
- Center for Colorectal Cancer, Research Institute and Hospital, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Republic of Korea
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
11
|
Deleted in liver cancer 2 (DLC2) was dispensable for development and its deficiency did not aggravate hepatocarcinogenesis. PLoS One 2009; 4:e6566. [PMID: 19668331 PMCID: PMC2718616 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0006566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2009] [Accepted: 07/10/2009] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
DLC2 (deleted in liver cancer 2), a Rho GTPase-activating protein, was previously shown to be underexpressed in human hepatocellular carcinoma and has tumor suppressor functions in cell culture models. We generated DLC2-deficient mice to investigate the tumor suppressor role of DLC2 in hepatocarcinogenesis and the function of DLC2 in vivo. In this study, we found that, unlike homologous DLC1, which is essential for embryonic development, DLC2 was dispensable for embryonic development and DLC2-deficient mice could survive to adulthood. We also did not observe a higher incidence of liver tumor formation or diethylnitrosamine (DEN)-induced hepatocarcinogenesis in DLC2-deficient mice. However, we observed that DLC2-deficient mice were smaller and had less adipose tissue than the wild type mice. These phenotypes were not due to reduction of cell size or defect in adipogenesis, as observed in the 190B RhoGAP-deficient mouse model. Together, these results suggest that deficiency in DLC2 alone does not enhance hepatocarcinogenesis.
Collapse
|
12
|
Mendieta-Condado E, Pichardo-Olvera M, Sánchez-Sevilla L, Chagoya de Sánchez V, Hernández-Muñoz R. Adenosine administration accelerates progression of the cell cycle during rat liver regeneration induced by one-third hepatectomy. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2009; 331:122-32. [PMID: 19638569 DOI: 10.1124/jpet.109.156620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
We have shown that adenosine administration is capable of reversing fibrosis in the carbon tetrachloride-induced rat cirrhotic liver, stimulating the diminished proliferative potential of the cirrhotic liver. To characterize adenosine actions on liver cellular proliferation, we used rats subjected to one-third partial hepatectomy (PH). In PH animals acutely administered with adenosine (25-200 mg/kg b.w.), parameters indicative of cell proliferation were determined. In addition, hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), epidermal growth factor, and transforming growth factor-alpha, cyclins, members of the E2F family, proto-oncogenes, and adenosine-receptors were determined through Western blot analyses. Adenosine (100 mg/kg body weight) induced an earlier increase in liver cell proliferation as evidenced by enhanced levels of proliferating cell nuclear antigen, nuclear Ki-67 antigen, and those for cyclins (D1, E, A, and B1), as well as by an increased mitotic index. These effects were also accompanied for a long-lasting increase of serum and liver levels of HGF and liver expression of c-Met and HGF liver activator. Adenosine effects on cell proliferation could be mediated by an early increase in E2F-1 and by that of c-Myc, despite the fact that phosphorylation of the Rb protein and expression of E2F-3 were decreased. Moreover, the liver amount of specific receptors for adenosine was not significantly changed by PH and/or adenosine treatment. In conclusion, these data suggest that adenosine actions can accelerate and increase proliferation in a "primed" liver, mainly through enhancing c-Myc, E2F family, cell-cycle cyclins, and HGF expression. Therefore, these pharmacological adenosine effects suggest a modulating role for the nucleoside on mitogenic events once the liver has been triggered to proliferate.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Edgar Mendieta-Condado
- Departamento de Biología Celular, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
13
|
Sánchez A, Fabregat I. Genetically modified animal models recapitulating molecular events altered in human hepatocarcinogenesis. Clin Transl Oncol 2009; 11:208-14. [DOI: 10.1007/s12094-009-0342-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
|
14
|
Upregulation of the NADPH oxidase NOX4 by TGF-beta in hepatocytes is required for its pro-apoptotic activity. J Hepatol 2008; 49:965-76. [PMID: 18845355 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2008.07.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 180] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2008] [Revised: 07/02/2008] [Accepted: 07/02/2008] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIMS The transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) induces apoptosis in hepatocytes through an oxidative stress process. Here, we have analyzed the role of different NADPH oxidase isoforms in the intracellular signalling induced by TGF-beta in hepatocytes, to later explore whether this mechanism is altered in liver tumor cells. METHODS Primary cultures of rat and human hepatocytes, HepG2 and Hep3B cells were used in in vitro studies to analyze the TGF-beta response. RESULTS TGF-beta-induced apoptosis in rat hepatocytes does not require Rac-dependent NADPH oxidases. TGF-beta upregulates the Rac-independent Nox4, which correlates with its pro-apoptotic activity. Regulation of Nox4 occurs at the transcriptional level and is counteracted by intracellular survival signals. siRNA targeted knock-down of Nox4 attenuates NADPH oxidase activity, caspase activation and cell death in rat hepatocytes. NOX4 upregulation by TGF-beta is also observed in human hepatocytes, coincident with apoptosis. In human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell lines, NOX4 upregulation by TGF-beta is only observed in cells that are sensitive to its cytotoxic effect, such as Hep3B cells. siRNA targeted knock-down of NOX4 in these cells impairs TGF-beta-induced apoptosis. CONCLUSIONS Upregulation of NOX4 by TGF-beta is required for its pro-apoptotic activity in hepatocytes. Impairment of this TGF-beta-induced response might confer apoptosis resistance in HCC cells.
Collapse
|
15
|
Farinati F, Cardin R, Bortolami M, Burra P, Russo FP, Rugge M, Guido M, Sergio A, Naccarato R. Hepatitis C virus: from oxygen free radicals to hepatocellular carcinoma. J Viral Hepat 2007; 14:821-9. [PMID: 18070284 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2893.2007.00878.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Epidemiological evidence clearly identifies chronic infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) as a major risk factor for the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Among the mechanisms that have been implicated in the pro-carcinogenic effect of HCV infection, an increased production of reactive oxygen species in the liver seems to have a major pathogenetic role in leading from chronic inflammation to cancer. Recent data have also demonstrated that HCV is capable of inducing this active production of free radicals per se, not just through inflammation, a feature peculiar to this virus and the specific activity of its core protein. This paper provides an overview of the inter-relationships between HCV, liver damage, free radical production and HCC, describing at least in part the complex network involving DNA oxidative damage, cytokine synthesis, proto-oncogene activation and oestrogen receptor expression, that may all be deeply involved in liver carcinogenesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- F Farinati
- Dipartimento di Scienze Chirurgiche e Gastroenterologiche, Sezione di Gastroenterologia, Policlinico Universitario, Università di Padova, Padova, Italy.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
16
|
Abstract
The completely assembled human genome has made it possible for modern medicine to step into an era rich in genetic information and high-throughput genomic analysis. These novel and readily available genetic resources and analytical tools may be the key to unravel the molecular basis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Moreover, since an efficient treatment for this disease is lacking, further understanding of the genetic background of HCC will be crucial in order to develop new therapies aimed at selected targets. We report on the current status and recent developments in HCC genetics. Special emphasis is given to the genetics and regulation of major signalling pathways involved in HCC such as p53, Wnt-signalling, TGFβ, Ras, and Rb pathways. Furthermore, we describe the influence of chromosomal aberrations as well as of DNA methylation. Finally, we report on the rapidly developing field of genomic expression profiling in HCC, mainly by microarray analysis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Teufel
- Department of Medicine, Johannes Gutenberg University, Building 301, Langenbeckstr. 1, 55101 Mainz, Germany.
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
17
|
Gusarova GA, Wang IC, Major ML, Kalinichenko VV, Ackerson T, Petrovic V, Costa RH. A cell-penetrating ARF peptide inhibitor of FoxM1 in mouse hepatocellular carcinoma treatment. J Clin Invest 2006; 117:99-111. [PMID: 17173139 PMCID: PMC1697798 DOI: 10.1172/jci27527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 368] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2005] [Accepted: 10/10/2006] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The forkhead box m1 (Foxm1) transcription factor is essential for initiation of carcinogen-induced liver tumors; however, whether FoxM1 constitutes a therapeutic target for liver cancer treatment remains unknown. In this study, we used diethylnitrosamine/phenobarbital treatment to induce hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) in either WT mice or Arf(-/-)Rosa26-FoxM1b Tg mice, in which forkhead box M1b (FoxM1b) is overexpressed and alternative reading frame (ARF) inhibition of FoxM1 transcriptional activity is eliminated. To pharmacologically reduce FoxM1 activity in HCCs, we subjected these HCC-bearing mice to daily injections of a cell-penetrating ARF(26-44) peptide inhibitor of FoxM1 function. After 4 weeks of this treatment, HCC regions displayed reduced tumor cell proliferation and angiogenesis and a significant increase in apoptosis within the HCC region but not in the adjacent normal liver tissue. ARF peptide treatment also induced apoptosis of several distinct human hepatoma cell lines, which correlated with reduced protein levels of the mitotic regulatory genes encoding polo-like kinase 1, aurora B kinase, and survivin, all of which are transcriptional targets of FoxM1 that are highly expressed in cancer cells and function to prevent apoptosis. These studies indicate that ARF peptide treatment is an effective therapeutic approach to limit proliferation and induce apoptosis of liver cancer cells in vivo.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Galina A Gusarova
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Illinois at Chicago, College of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois 60607-7170, USA.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
18
|
Yang YA, Zhang GM, Feigenbaum L, Zhang YE. Smad3 reduces susceptibility to hepatocarcinoma by sensitizing hepatocytes to apoptosis through downregulation of Bcl-2. Cancer Cell 2006; 9:445-57. [PMID: 16766264 PMCID: PMC2708973 DOI: 10.1016/j.ccr.2006.04.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 116] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2005] [Revised: 02/23/2006] [Accepted: 04/06/2006] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
In the liver, derangement of TGF-beta signaling is associated with an increased incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but the mechanism is not clear. We report here that forced expression of a major TGF-beta signaling transducer, Smad3, reduces susceptibility to HCC in a chemically induced murine model. This protection is conferred by Smad3's ability to promote apoptosis by repressing Bcl-2 transcription in vivo through a GC-rich element in the Bcl-2 promoter. We also show that the proapoptotic activity of Smad3 requires both input from TGF-beta signaling and activation of p38 MAPK, which occurs selectively in the liver tumor cells. Thus, Smad3 enables the tumor suppression function of TGF-beta by serving as a physiological mediator of TGF-beta-induced apoptosis.
Collapse
MESH Headings
- Animals
- Apoptosis
- Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/chemically induced
- Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/metabolism
- Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/pathology
- Cells, Cultured
- Disease Susceptibility
- Down-Regulation
- Hepatocytes/metabolism
- Hepatocytes/pathology
- Liver Neoplasms, Experimental/chemically induced
- Liver Neoplasms, Experimental/metabolism
- Liver Neoplasms, Experimental/pathology
- Mice
- Mice, Transgenic
- Promoter Regions, Genetic
- Protein Transport
- Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2/genetics
- Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2/physiology
- Signal Transduction
- Smad3 Protein/biosynthesis
- Smad3 Protein/genetics
- Smad3 Protein/physiology
- Transcription, Genetic
- Transforming Growth Factor beta/physiology
- p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases/metabolism
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yu-An Yang
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland 20892
| | - Gen-Mu Zhang
- Laboratory Animal Science Program, National Cancer Institute at Frederick, Frederick, Maryland 21702
| | - Lionel Feigenbaum
- Laboratory Animal Science Program, National Cancer Institute at Frederick, Frederick, Maryland 21702
| | - Ying E. Zhang
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland 20892
- Correspondence:
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Farinati F, Cardin R, Bortolami M, Guido M, Rugge M. Oxidative damage, pro-inflammatory cytokines, TGF-α and c-myc in chronic HCV-related hepatitis and cirrhosis. World J Gastroenterol 2006; 12:2065-9. [PMID: 16610058 PMCID: PMC4087686 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v12.i13.2065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
AIM: To assess whether a correlation exists between oxidative DNA damage occurring in chronic HCV-related hepatitis and expression levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, TGF-α and c-myc.
METHODS: The series included 37 patients with chronic active HCV-related hepatitis and 11 with HCV-related compensated cirrhosis. Eight-hydroxydeoxyguanosine in liver biopsies was quantified using an electrochemical detector. The mRNA expression of TNF-α, IL-1β, TGF-α and c-myc in liver specimens was detected by semi-quantitative comparative RT-PCR.
RESULTS: TNF-α levels were significantly higher in hepatitis patients than in cirrhosis patients (P = 0.05). IL-1β was higher in cirrhosis patients (P = 0.05). A significant correlation was found between TNF-α and staging (P = 0.05) and between IL-1β levels and grading (P = 0.04). c-myc showed a significantly higher expression in cirrhosis patients (P = 0.001). Eight-hydroxydeoxyguanosine levels were significantly higher in cirrhosis patients (P = 0.05) and in HCV genotype 1 (P = 0.03). Considering all patients, 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine levels were found to be correlated with genotype (P = 0.04) and grading (P = 0.007). Also multiple logistic regression analysis demonstrated a significant correlation among the number of DNA adducts, TNF-α expression and HCV genotype (P = 0.02).
CONCLUSION: In chronic HCV-related liver damage, oxidative DNA damage correlates with HCV genotype, grading and TNF-α levels. As HCV-related liver damage progresses, TNF-α levels drop while IL-1β and c-myc levels increase, which may be relevant to liver carcinogenesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fabio Farinati
- Department of Surgical and Gastroenterological Sciences, University of Padua, Italy.
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
20
|
Arsura M, Cavin LG. Nuclear factor-kappaB and liver carcinogenesis. Cancer Lett 2005; 229:157-69. [PMID: 16125305 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2005.07.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 140] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2005] [Accepted: 07/10/2005] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third deadliest and fifth most common human cancer worldwide. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections along with alcohol and aflatoxin B1 intake are widely recognized etiological agents in HCCs. It is anticipated that HCCs will constitute a major health problem in the next two decades because of the rising incidence of HCV infections in the US. The poor survival rate achieved by current surgical procedures and chemotherapy treatment has prompted the scientific community to gain a better understanding of the molecular events involved in hepatocarcinogenesis in order to define new targets for more effective treatment. Recent findings from several laboratories have implicated constitutive activation of the transcription factor NF-kappaB as one of the early key events involved in neoplastic progression of the liver. Data is summarized here from recently published studies illustrating a crucial role of NF-kappaB in bridging the action of growth factors and inflammation to hepatic oncogenesis. Although additional work is needed to fully understand the precise role of NF-kappaB in the regulation of the various transitions of HCC development, these new findings raise the intriguing possibility that pharmacologic inhibition of NF-kappaB in the liver could selectively eradicate malignant liver cells without affecting normal liver homeostasis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marcello Arsura
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Cancer Institute, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, 874 Union Avenue, Memphis, TN 38163, USA.
| | | |
Collapse
|
21
|
Calvisi DF, Thorgeirsson SS. Molecular mechanisms of hepatocarcinogenesis in transgenic mouse models of liver cancer. Toxicol Pathol 2005; 33:181-4. [PMID: 15805070 DOI: 10.1080/01926230590522095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Overexpression of c-myc and transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha) has been frequently observed in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC),suggesting a pivotal role played by these protooncogenes in liver oncogenesis. In order to investigate the molecular events underlying human hepatic malignant transformation, we have generated c-myc and c-myc/ TGF-alpha transgenic mice that are prone to liver cancer. These transgenic mice develop HCCs with different incidence, kinetics and histopathological features. Indeed, co-expression of c-myc and TGF-alpha transgenes results in a dramatic synergistic effect on liver tumor development when compared with respective single transgenic lines, including a shorter latency period and a more aggressive phenotype. The more malignant histopathological features characteristic of c-myc/ TGF-alpha HCCs are the result of the increased proliferation and reduced apoptosis in this model of liver cancer when compared with single parental lines. Accordingly, c-myc and c-myc/l TGF-alpha transgenic mice display a different molecular pathogenesis of HCC. Importantly, the genetic and molecular mechanisms that are involved in c-myc and c-myc/ TGF-alpha liver cancer development are major oncogenic events in human hepatocarcinogenesis, indicating that these mouse models represent a useful tool to dissect and elucidate the molecular basis of human HCC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Diego F Calvisi
- Laboratory of Experimental Carcinogenesis, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
22
|
Rogers AB, Boutin SR, Whary MT, Sundina N, Ge Z, Cormier K, Fox JG. Progression of chronic hepatitis and preneoplasia in Helicobacter hepaticus-infected A/JCr mice. Toxicol Pathol 2005; 32:668-77. [PMID: 15513910 DOI: 10.1080/01926230490524247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Helicobacter hepaticus infection induces sustained inflammation and carcinoma of the liver in A/JCr mice, and serves as a model of human cancers associated with viral hepatitis and H. pylorichronic gastritis. Here we describe the pathogenesis of premalignant disease in A/JCr mice infected with H. hepaticus. We inoculated dams intragestationally and/or pups postnatally, and evaluated offspring at 3, 6, or 12 months. Mice infected at or before 3 weeks of age, but not at 12 weeks, developed disease. Male mice were most affected, but expressed a bimodal pattern of susceptibility. Males exhibited lobular necrogranulomatous and interface (chronic active) hepatitis, while females usually developed intraportal (chronic persistent) hepatitis. Portal inflammation was slowly progressive, with tertiary lymphoid nodule development by 12 months. Hepatic bacterial load and preneoplastic lesions, including clear and tigroid cell foci of cellular alteration, were correlated with lobular hepatitis severity. No extrahepatic surrogate disease marker reliably predicted individual hepatitis grade. In conclusion, gender and bacterial exposure timing are key determinants of H. hepaticus disease outcomes. Intrahepatic inflammation is driven by local signals characterized by a vigorous but nonsterilizing immune response. Continued study of chronic hepatitis progression may reveal therapeutic targets to reduce the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Arlin B Rogers
- Comparative Pathology Laboratory 16-849, Division of Comparative Medicine, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
23
|
Kaposi-Novak P, Lee JS, Mikaelyan A, Patel V, Thorgeirsson SS. Oligonucleotide microarray analysis of aminoallyl-labeled cDNA targets from linear RNA amplification. Biotechniques 2005; 37:580, 582-6, 588. [PMID: 15517970 DOI: 10.2144/04374st02] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Single-stranded long oligonucleotide-based (50- to 70-mer) microarrays offer several advantages over conventional cDNA microarrays. These include the easy preparation of the probes, low cost of array production, and low cross-contamination during probe handling. However, the application of oligonucleotide microarrays for the analysis of global gene expression with small amounts of total RNA using the conventional oligo(dT)-T7 promoter-based amplification is hampered by the single-stranded nature (sense strand) of oligonucleotide probes in microarrays. In this report, we describe modified RNA amplification methods generating antisense-labeled cDNA targets and a successful application for oligonucleotide microarray gene expression analysis. In the first round, mRNA was amplified linearly with oligo(dT)24T7-primed reverse transcription and in vitro transcription by T7 RNA polymerase. In the second round, random 9-mer T3 primers and T3 RNA polymerase were used to generate sense-strand amplified RNA (aRNA). Fluorescently labeled cDNA targets were generated from the aRNA and hybridized to the oligonucleotide microarrays. Our data show that the amplification provides highly reproducible results, as evidenced by a significant correlation between the amplified and nonamplified samples. We also demonstrate that amplification of RNA derived from laser-microdissected tumor samples reproduced the gene expression profiles that were obtained from total RNA isolated from the same samples.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pal Kaposi-Novak
- National Cancer Institute , National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-4262, USA
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
24
|
Kramer MG, Hernandez-Alcoceba R, Qian C, Prieto J. Evaluation of hepatocellular carcinoma models for preclinical studies. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2005. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ddmod.2005.05.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
|
25
|
Beer S, Zetterberg A, Ihrie RA, McTaggart RA, Yang Q, Bradon N, Arvanitis C, Attardi LD, Feng S, Ruebner B, Cardiff RD, Felsher DW. Developmental context determines latency of MYC-induced tumorigenesis. PLoS Biol 2004; 2:e332. [PMID: 15455033 PMCID: PMC519000 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.0020332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 115] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2004] [Accepted: 07/22/2004] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
One of the enigmas in tumor biology is that different types of cancers are prevalent in different age groups. One possible explanation is that the ability of a specific oncogene to cause tumorigenesis in a particular cell type depends on epigenetic parameters such as the developmental context. To address this hypothesis, we have used the tetracycline regulatory system to generate transgenic mice in which the expression of a c-MYC human transgene can be conditionally regulated in murine hepatocytes. MYC's ability to induce tumorigenesis was dependent upon developmental context. In embryonic and neonatal mice, MYC overexpression in the liver induced marked cell proliferation and immediate onset of neoplasia. In contrast, in adult mice MYC overexpression induced cell growth and DNA replication without mitotic cell division, and mice succumbed to neoplasia only after a prolonged latency. In adult hepatocytes, MYC activation failed to induce cell division, which was at least in part mediated through the activation of p53. Surprisingly, apoptosis is not a barrier to MYC inducing tumorigenesis. The ability of oncogenes to induce tumorigenesis may be generally restrained by developmentally specific mechanisms. Adult somatic cells have evolved mechanisms to prevent individual oncogenes from initiating cellular growth, DNA replication, and mitotic cellular division alone, thereby preventing any single genetic event from inducing tumorigenesis. A transgenic mouse model demonstrates that developmental context may be the reason why the spectrum of tumors differs in children and adults
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shelly Beer
- 1Division of Oncology, Departments of Medicine and PathologyStanford University, Stanford, CaliforniaUnited States of America
| | - Anders Zetterberg
- 2Division of Cellular and Molecular Tumor Cancer Center, Departments of Oncology and PathologyKarolinska Institute, StockholmSweden
| | - Rebecca A Ihrie
- 3Department of Radiation and Cancer Oncology, Stanford UniversityStanford, CaliforniaUnited States of America
| | - Ryan A McTaggart
- 4Department of Surgery, Division of TransplantationUniversity of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CaliforniaUnited States of America
| | - Qiwei Yang
- 1Division of Oncology, Departments of Medicine and PathologyStanford University, Stanford, CaliforniaUnited States of America
| | - Nicole Bradon
- 1Division of Oncology, Departments of Medicine and PathologyStanford University, Stanford, CaliforniaUnited States of America
| | - Constadina Arvanitis
- 1Division of Oncology, Departments of Medicine and PathologyStanford University, Stanford, CaliforniaUnited States of America
| | - Laura D Attardi
- 3Department of Radiation and Cancer Oncology, Stanford UniversityStanford, CaliforniaUnited States of America
| | - Sandy Feng
- 4Department of Surgery, Division of TransplantationUniversity of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CaliforniaUnited States of America
| | - Boris Ruebner
- 5Department of Pathology, University of CaliforniaDavis, Davis, CaliforniaUnited States of America
| | - Robert D Cardiff
- 5Department of Pathology, University of CaliforniaDavis, Davis, CaliforniaUnited States of America
| | - Dean W Felsher
- 1Division of Oncology, Departments of Medicine and PathologyStanford University, Stanford, CaliforniaUnited States of America
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
de Luján Alvarez M, Ronco MT, Ochoa JE, Monti JA, Carnovale CE, Pisani GB, Lugano MC, Carrillo MC. Interferon alpha-induced apoptosis on rat preneoplastic liver is mediated by hepatocytic transforming growth factor beta(1). Hepatology 2004; 40:394-402. [PMID: 15368444 DOI: 10.1002/hep.20307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
In previous work we showed that interferon alfa-2b (IFN-alpha2b) increases apoptosis on rat hepatic preneoplastic foci. The aim of this study was to determine if transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1) was involved in the programmed cell death on the foci. Animals were divided into 6 groups: subjected to a 2-phase model (diethylnitrosamine plus 2-acetylaminofluorene) of preneoplasia development (group 1); treated with IFN-alpha2b during the 2 phases (group 2); treated with IFN-alpha2b during initiation with diethylnitrosamine (group 3); treated with IFN-alpha2b during 2-acetylaminofluorene administration (group 4); subjected only to an initiation stage (group 5); and treated with IFN-alpha2b during the initiation period (group 6). Serum TGF-beta1 levels were increased in IFN-alpha2b-treated rats. Immunohistochemical studies showed that IFN-alpha2b significantly increased the quantity of TGF-beta1-positive hepatocytes in groups 2 to 4. Phosphorylated-Smads-2/3 (p-Smads-2/3) proteins in liver nuclear extracts were significantly elevated. To determine the source of TGF-beta1, isolated hepatocytes, Kupffer cells, and peritoneal macrophages from animals in groups 1 and 5 were cultured with or without IFN-alpha2b. IFN-alpha2b stimulus induced several-fold increases of TGF-beta1 secretion from hepatocytes. Neither Kupffer cells nor peritoneal macrophages secreted detectable TGF-beta1 levels when they were treated with IFN-alpha2b. IFN-alpha2b-stimulated cultured hepatocytes from preneoplastic livers showed enhanced apoptosis, measured by fluorescence microscopy and caspase-3 activity. They presented higher nuclear accumulation of p-Smads-2/3, indicating increased TGF-beta1 signaling. When anti-TGF-beta1 was added to the culture media, TGF-beta1 activation and apoptosis induced by IFN-alpha2b were blocked. In conclusion, IFN-alpha2b-induced production of TGF-beta1 by hepatocytes from preneoplastic liver is involved in the apoptotic elimination of altered hepatic foci.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- María de Luján Alvarez
- Instituto de Fisiología Experimental, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Rosario, Argentina
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
27
|
Chabicovsky M, Wastl U, Taper H, Grasl-Kraupp B, Schulte-Hermann R, Bursch W. Induction of apoptosis in mouse liver adenoma and carcinoma in vivo by transforming growth factor-beta1. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2003; 129:536-42. [PMID: 12905009 DOI: 10.1007/s00432-003-0460-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2002] [Accepted: 05/06/2003] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE In the liver, transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF-beta1) constitutes a major negative growth regulating factor involved in the control of cell numbers; failure of this control mechanism has been associated with the development of liver cancer. Since no reports on the in vivo effects of exogenously administered TGF-beta1 on apoptosis in liver tumors have been published yet, we studied hepatocyte sensitivity to the proapoptotic action of TGF-beta1 in stages of chemically induced mouse liver carcinogenesis. METHODS Mouse liver carcinogenesis was initiated by a single dose of N-nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA, 90 mg/kg b.w., i.p.) to 5-week-old B6C3F1 mice. After 2 weeks, mice received either standard diet or a diet containing phenobarbital (PB, 90 mg/kg b.w) for 85 weeks. Four hours before being killed mice received a single dose of TGF-beta1 (56 microg or 200 microg TGF-beta1/kg of b.w., injected into the tail vein). Quantitative histological analysis of mitosis and apoptosis in normal liver tissue (NL), putative preneoplastic foci (PPF), hepatocellular adenoma (HCA), and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was performed on H&E-stained liver sections. RESULTS In NDEA and NDEA + PB-treated mice, NL exhibited a very low incidence of apoptosis and mitosis, which increased in HCA and HCC. In the lesions apoptoses ranged between 0.03 and 0.6%. Two hundred micrograms of TGF-beta1/kg stimulated apoptoses in NL as well as in neoplastic lesions (significant increase in NL, HCA, and HCC); the most pronounced proapoptotic action of TGF-ss1 was observed in lesions of NDEA+PB pretreated mice (about 1.7%). Fifty-six microg TGF-beta1/kg had no detectable effect on apoptosis. CONCLUSION These observations indicate that during chemically induced liver carcinogenesis in B6C3F1 mice basal rates of apoptoses in adenoma and carcinoma are higher than in normal liver and can be further increased by a proapoptotic cytokine.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Monika Chabicovsky
- Institut für Krebsforschung der Universität Wien, Borschkegasse 8a, 1090, Wien, Austria
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
28
|
Günther K, Dimmler A, Rödel F, Reulbach U, Merkel S, Bittorf BR, Matzel KE, Papadopoulos T, Hohenberger W, Sauer R, Rödel C. P27 does not predict histopathological response to radiochemotherapy in rectal cancer. J Surg Res 2003; 113:179-88. [PMID: 12957127 DOI: 10.1016/s0022-4804(03)00049-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tumor response to radiochemotherapy (RCT) varies considerably, even among patients treated in accordance with the same protocol. The aim of the present study was to test the predictive value of the cell-cycle inhibitor p27kip1 with regard to neoadjuvant RCT response in rectal cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS P27kip1 was evaluated by immunohistochemistry in pretreatment biopsy material obtained from 42 patients with rectal cancer treated uniformly in accordance with an identical prospective neoadjuvant RCT protocol (CAO/AIO/ARO-94). Four expression patterns (staining intensity [-,+,++,+++] and the percentage of positive cells, evaluated separately for nuclei and cytoplasm) of p27kip1 were investigated for correlation with tumor response, which was assessed in the resected surgical specimen using a histopathological five-point grading system. Additionally, p27(kip1) expression was investigated for correlation with several pathological features, overall survival, and disease-free survival. RESULTS p27kip1 expression was as follows: nuclear intensity: -: 8, +: 19, ++: 11, +++: 4 cases, median percentage of positive cells: 18.75%; cytoplasmic intensity: -: 0, +: 25, ++: 12, +++: 3 cases, median percentage of positive cells: 70%. Histopathological tumor regression was acceptable in 30 patients (3 complete; 27 good) and inadequate in 12 patients (7 moderate; 5 minimal). No tumor failed to show some regression. No significant correlation was found between any of the p27kip1 expression patterns and RCT response, tumor differentiation (low grade versus high grade), cT- and ypT-category, UICC stage, overall survival, and disease-free survival. CONCLUSIONS p27kip1 cannot aid the individualization of multimodal treatment strategies in rectal cancer, nor can it serve as a predictor of survival.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Klaus Günther
- Institute of Pathology, University of Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
29
|
Daveau M, Scotte M, François A, Coulouarn C, Ros G, Tallet Y, Hiron M, Hellot MF, Salier JP. Hepatocyte growth factor, transforming growth factor alpha, and their receptors as combined markers of prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma. Mol Carcinog 2003; 36:130-41. [PMID: 12619035 DOI: 10.1002/mc.10103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 103] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
A change in the balance between proliferation and apoptosis in the course of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development and progression has been suspected. We wanted to identify related genes whose mRNA levels could provide markers of severity and prognosis after resection. The extent of cell apoptosis, proliferation, and differentiation was measured with a terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine 5-triphosphate-biotin nick-end labeling assay, and the Ki-67 index was determined in paired tumor and cirrhotic tissue samples from patients who had undergone HCC resection after diagnosis of hepatitis C-related or alcoholism-related cirrhosis. These patients included two groups with highly versus poorly differentiated tumor cells, and the latter was split into two subgroups of those with versus without early recurrence. The mRNA levels for various apoptosis-related or proliferation-related genes and those for the growth factor/receptor systems were measured by quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction in paired tumor and cirrhotic liver samples from every patient, and some of the corresponding proteins were detected by immunohistochemistry. In all instances, protein expression was highly heterogeneous within groups and similar between groups. In contrast, some differences in mRNA level between tumor and cirrhotic tissues were quite informative. Low levels of hepatocyte growth factor and transforming growth factor alpha mRNAs were found concomitantly in highly differentiated tumors, whereas overexpression of mRNAs for the cognate receptors c-met and epidermal growth factor receptor were found in poorly differentiated tumors and primarily in patients with early tumor recurrence. These results argue for growth factor-dependent HCC development and provide novel and combined prognosis markers after HCC surgery.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maryvonne Daveau
- INSERM Unité 519 and Institut Fédératif de Recherches Multidisciplinaires sur les Peptides, Faculté de Médecine-Pharmacie, Rouen France
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
30
|
Amicone L, Terradillos O, Calvo L, Costabile B, Cicchini C, Della Rocca C, Lozupone F, Piacentini M, Buendia MA, Tripodi M. Synergy between truncated c-Met (cyto-Met) and c-Myc in liver oncogenesis: importance of TGF-beta signalling in the control of liver homeostasis and transformation. Oncogene 2002; 21:1335-45. [PMID: 11857077 DOI: 10.1038/sj.onc.1205199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2001] [Revised: 11/26/2001] [Accepted: 11/26/2001] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The c-Met tyrosine kinase receptor and its ligand, Hepatocyte Growth Factor/ Scatter Factor, have been implicated in human cancer. We have previously described that the transgenic expression of a truncated form of human c-Met (cyto-Met) in the liver confers resistance to several apoptotic stimuli. Here we show the impact of cyto-Met expression on liver proliferation and transformation. Despite a sixfold increase of hepatocyte proliferation, adult transgenic livers displayed normal size and architecture. We present evidence showing that activation of TGF-beta1 signalling controls the liver mass in cyto-Met mice. The oncogenic potential of cyto-Met was further assessed in the context of c-Myc-induced hepatocarcinogenesis, using WHV/c-Myc transgenic mice. Co-expression of cyto-Met and c-Myc further enhanced hepatocyte proliferation and caused a dramatic acceleration of the Myc-induced tumorigenesis, leading to the emergence of hepatocarcinomas in 3-4-month-old animals. Importantly, the TGF-beta receptor type II expression was strongly downregulated in most tumours, indicating that impairment of TGF-beta1-mediated growth inhibition plays a major role in accelerated neoplastic development. The strong potential of cyto-Met for oncogenic cooperation without direct transforming activity designates cyto-Met mice as an ideal tool for studying the early steps of multistage hepatocarcinogenesis and for identification of prognostic markers of transformation.
Collapse
MESH Headings
- Animals
- Apoptosis
- Blotting, Western
- Cell Division
- Cell Transformation, Neoplastic
- Down-Regulation
- Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
- Hepatitis B Virus, Woodchuck/genetics
- Hepatocytes/metabolism
- Hepatocytes/pathology
- Homeostasis
- Humans
- Hyperplasia/genetics
- Hyperplasia/metabolism
- Hyperplasia/pathology
- Liver Neoplasms/genetics
- Liver Neoplasms/metabolism
- Liver Neoplasms/pathology
- Mice
- Mice, Transgenic
- Organ Size
- Promoter Regions, Genetic/genetics
- Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
- Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met/genetics
- Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met/metabolism
- Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc/genetics
- Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc/metabolism
- RNA, Messenger/genetics
- RNA, Messenger/metabolism
- Receptor, Transforming Growth Factor-beta Type II
- Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta/metabolism
- Signal Transduction
- Transforming Growth Factor beta/metabolism
- Transforming Growth Factor beta1
- Transgenes/genetics
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Laura Amicone
- Fondazione Istituto Pasteur-Cenci Bolognetti, Dipartimento di Biotecnologie Cellulari ed Ematologia, Sezione di Genetica Molecolare, Università La Sapienza, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
31
|
Ijichi H, Ikenoue T, Kato N, Mitsuno Y, Togo G, Kato J, Kanai F, Shiratori Y, Omata M. Systematic analysis of the TGF-beta-Smad signaling pathway in gastrointestinal cancer cells. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2001; 289:350-7. [PMID: 11716479 DOI: 10.1006/bbrc.2001.5988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta)-Smad signaling pathway has an important role in carcinogenesis. To study the frequency and mechanism of functional impairment of this pathway in human gastrointestinal cancers, we used a reporter assay to examine the response of 38 cell lines (11 colorectal, 9 pancreatic, 10 gastric, and 8 hepatic cancers) to TGF-beta. We then analyzed TGF-beta type II receptor (T beta RII) gene, immunoblots of Smad4, and restoration of the pathway by rescuing T beta R or Smad. We observed impaired signaling in 91% of colorectal, 67% of pancreatic, and 40% of gastric cancer cell lines, but in none of the hepatic cancer cells. We suggest that this pathway does not function as a tumor suppressor in hepatic carcinogenesis. The impairment is due to inactivation of T beta RII and Smad4 in colorectal and pancreatic cancers. However, because the signal was not recovered by rescuing T beta R or Smad genes in TGF-beta-response-defective gastric cancer cell lines, we suggest that novel molecules or mechanisms are involved in the impaired pathway in some gastric cancers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- H Ijichi
- Department of Gastroenterology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8655, Japan.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
32
|
Park DY, Hwang SY, Suh KS. Expression of transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1 and TGF-beta type II receptor in preneoplastic lesions during chemical hepatocarcinogenesis of rats. Toxicol Pathol 2001; 29:541-9. [PMID: 11695571 DOI: 10.1080/019262301317226348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1 is an important apoptotic growth inhibitor of hepatocyte proliferation, and the expression of TGF-beta1, which regulates cell proliferation, is closely associated with the expression level of TGF-beta type II receptor (TGR2). Moreover, TGF-beta1 expression has been regarded to be an important change in hepatocarcinogenesis, We undertook this study to investigate the gene expression and protein localization of TGF-beta1 and TGR2 and their relationship with apoptosis in the chemically induced hepatocarcinogenesis of the rat, as produced using Solt and Farber's method, during the promotion stage (up to 56 days after partial hepatectomy). Northern blot analysis showed a slight, but not a significant, increase in TGF-beta1 transcripts, and a significant decrease in the TGR2 transcripts during the later stage of our experiments (42 days after partial hepatectomy). Immunohistochemical study showed that TGF-beta1-positive preneoplastic hepatocytes increased with time, and this correlated with an increase of TGR2 negative or reduced TGR2 expressed preneoplastic lesions. The TUNEL method revealed that apoptotic cells increased with time and were more numerous in the adjacent liver parenchyme than preneoplastic lesions. Our data suggest that the expressions of TGF-beta1 and TGR2 are significantly altered during the promotion stage of hepatocarcinogenesis of rat and that these changes might contribute to the development and progression of preneoplastic lesions.
Collapse
MESH Headings
- Animals
- Apoptosis/drug effects
- Carcinogens/toxicity
- Cell Count
- Disease Models, Animal
- Drug Synergism
- Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
- Hepatectomy
- Immunoenzyme Techniques
- In Situ Nick-End Labeling
- Liver Neoplasms, Experimental/genetics
- Liver Neoplasms, Experimental/metabolism
- Liver Neoplasms, Experimental/pathology
- Male
- Precancerous Conditions/genetics
- Precancerous Conditions/metabolism
- Precancerous Conditions/pathology
- Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
- RNA, Messenger/analysis
- RNA, Messenger/metabolism
- Rats
- Rats, Sprague-Dawley
- Receptor, Transforming Growth Factor-beta Type II
- Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta/biosynthesis
- Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta/genetics
- Transforming Growth Factor beta/biosynthesis
- Transforming Growth Factor beta/genetics
- Transforming Growth Factor beta1
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- D Y Park
- Department of Pathology, Pusan National University College of Medicine, Korea
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
33
|
Kanzler S, Meyer E, Lohse AW, Schirmacher P, Henninger J, Galle PR, Blessing M. Hepatocellular expression of a dominant-negative mutant TGF-beta type II receptor accelerates chemically induced hepatocarcinogenesis. Oncogene 2001; 20:5015-24. [PMID: 11526486 DOI: 10.1038/sj.onc.1204544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2001] [Revised: 04/11/2001] [Accepted: 04/12/2001] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The potent growth-inhibitory activity of cytokines of the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) superfamily and their widespread expression in epithelia suggest that they may play an important role in the maintenance of epithelial homeostasis. To analyse TGF-beta mediated tumor suppressor activity in the liver, we generated transgenic mice overexpressing a dominant negative type II TGF-beta receptor in hepatocytes under control of the regulatory elements of the human C-reactive protein gene promoter. Transgenic animals exhibited constitutive and liver-specific transgene expression. The functional inactivation of the TGF-beta signaling pathway in transgenic hepatocytes was shown by reduced TGF-beta induced inhibition of DNA synthesis in primary hepatocyte cultures. Liver morphology and spontaneous tumorigenesis were unchanged in transgenic mice suggesting that interruption of the signaling of all three isoforms of TGF-beta in hepatocytes does not disturb tissue homeostasis in the liver under physiological conditions. However, following initiation with the carcinogen diethylnitrosamine and tumor-promotion with phenobarbital transgenic mice exhibited a moderate albeit significant increase in the incidence, size and multiplicity of both preneoplastic tissue lesions in the liver and of hepatocellular carcinomas. These results give in vivo evidence for a tumor suppressor activity of the endogenous TGF-beta system in the liver during chemical hepatocarcinogenesis.
Collapse
MESH Headings
- Animals
- C-Reactive Protein/genetics
- Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/chemically induced
- Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/etiology
- Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/metabolism
- Cells, Cultured
- Hepatocytes/drug effects
- Hepatocytes/metabolism
- Liver Neoplasms, Experimental/chemically induced
- Liver Neoplasms, Experimental/metabolism
- Liver Neoplasms, Experimental/pathology
- Male
- Mice
- Mice, Transgenic
- Mutation
- Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
- RNA, Messenger/biosynthesis
- Receptor, Transforming Growth Factor-beta Type II
- Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta/genetics
- Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta/metabolism
- Transforming Growth Factor beta/pharmacology
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- S Kanzler
- Department of Medicine, University of Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
34
|
Abstract
TGF-beta is an important factor in the regulation of liver growth. It is an inhibitor of hepatocyte DNA synthesis and may induce active cell death, e.g., to remove excessive tissue mass. Studies using transgenic mice suggest that expression in the resting liver has to be well balanced; either under- or overexpression appear to cause an increased turnover of hepatocytes and to predispose to hepatocarcinogenesis. TGF-beta overexpression is frequently observed in human hepatocellular carcinomas, probably as a late event in tumor development. In men and mice, TGF-beta overexpression appears to be associated with loss of TGF-beta responsiveness often by disruption of TGF-beta signaling. However, mechanisms as mutations in TGF-beta receptor II or Smad2 and 4 genes, frequently observed in other human cancers, have only rarely been observed in hepatocellular carcinomas. Further studies may clarify the mechanisms by which hepatocellular tumors escape TGF-beta growth control, as well as analyze possible roles of TGF-beta overexpression in immunosuppression and angiogenesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- W Rossmanith
- Institute of Cancer Research, University of Vienna, A-1090 Wien, Austria.
| | | |
Collapse
|
35
|
Abstract
TGF-beta is an important factor in the regulation of liver growth. It is an inhibitor of hepatocyte DNA synthesis and may induce active cell death, e.g., to remove excessive tissue mass. Studies using transgenic mice suggest that expression in the resting liver has to be well balanced; either under- or overexpression appear to cause an increased turnover of hepatocytes and to predispose to hepatocarcinogenesis. TGF-beta overexpression is frequently observed in human hepatocellular carcinomas, probably as a late event in tumor development. In men and mice, TGF-beta overexpression appears to be associated with loss of TGF-beta responsiveness often by disruption of TGF-beta signaling. However, mechanisms as mutations in TGF-beta receptor II or Smad2 and 4 genes, frequently observed in other human cancers, have only rarely been observed in hepatocellular carcinomas. Further studies may clarify the mechanisms by which hepatocellular tumors escape TGF-beta growth control, as well as analyze possible roles of TGF-beta overexpression in immunosuppression and angiogenesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- W Rossmanith
- Institute of Cancer Research, University of Vienna, A-1090 Wien, Austria.
| | | |
Collapse
|
36
|
Abstract
Hepatocytes undergo marked changes in proliferation during normal liver development. In order to elucidate the mechanism for these changes, we examined the ontogeny of expression for the known cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors (CKIs), p15(Ink4b), p16(Ink4a), p18(Ink4c), p19(Ink4d), p21(Cip1), p27(Kip1) and p57(Kip2). All except p16(Ink4a) were expressed at some time between late gestation and adulthood. The mRNA and protein expression patterns for p15(Ink4b) and p57(Kip2) were consistent with a role for these CKIs in the regulation of hepatocyte proliferation. Specifically, p57(Kip2) may contribute to hepatocyte growth arrest that occurs in term fetuses, while p15(Ink4b) may contribute to the maintenance of adult hepatocytes in a quiescent state. These results assign a possible role to two CKIs not previously identified as involved in hepatocyte cell cycle control.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- M M Awad
- Department of Pediatrics, Rhode Island Hospital and Brown University School of Medicine, 593 Eddy Street, Providence, RI 02903, USA
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
37
|
Jensen MR, Audolfsson T, Factor VM, Thorgeirsson SS. In vivo expression and genomic organization of the mouse cyclin I gene (Ccni). Gene 2000; 256:59-67. [PMID: 11054536 DOI: 10.1016/s0378-1119(00)00361-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Cyclins control cell-cycle progression by regulating the activity of cyclin-dependent kinases. Cyclin I was recently added to the cyclin family of proteins because of the presence of a cyclin box motif in the deduced amino-acid sequence. Cyclin I may share functional roles with cyclin G1 and G2 because of the high structural similarity between their deduced amino-acid sequences. However, the biological and functional roles of this subclass of cyclins remain obscure. The mouse cyclin G1 and G2 genes have previously been cloned and characterized. In this report, we describe the cloning of the mouse homolog of cyclin I. The cyclin I cDNA sequence was used to determine the genomic organization of the mouse cyclin I gene which co-localizes with cyclin G2 to chromosome 5E3.3-F1.3. Cyclin I was transcribed from seven exons distributed over more than 19kb of genomic sequence. The expression of cyclin I was determined in various tissues, but no clear correlation with the proliferative state was found. Furthermore, in contrast to cyclin G1, cyclin I expression was stable during cell-cycle progression after partial hepatectomy in both the absence and presence of DNA damage. Transient expression of cyclin I-green fluorescent protein (GFP) fusion proteins in cell lines showed that cyclin I was distributed throughout the cell in contrast with the mainly cytoplasmic localization of cyclin G2 and nuclear localization of cyclin G1. Our results indicate that despite the close structural similarity between cyclin G1, G2 and I, these three proteins are likely to have distinct biological roles.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- M R Jensen
- Laboratory of Experimental Carcinogenesis, Division of Basic Sciences, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
38
|
Tannapfel A, Grund D, Katalinic A, Uhlmann D, Köckerling F, Haugwitz U, Wasner M, Hauss J, Engeland K, Wittekind C. Decreased expression of p27 protein is associated with advanced tumor stage in hepatocellular carcinoma. Int J Cancer 2000; 89:350-5. [PMID: 10956409 DOI: 10.1002/1097-0215(20000720)89:4<350::aid-ijc6>3.0.co;2-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Reduced expression of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p27 has previously been correlated with fatal clinical outcome in some tumors, including gastric, breast, and prostate cancers. For hepatocellular carcinoma, the findings are equivocal. In situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry were performed on a series of 203 curatively (R0) resected hepatocellular carcinomas and in corresponding non-cancerous liver tissue to detect p27. Patients receiving liver transplantation were excluded. The results were correlated with histopathological stage according to the UICC system, Edmondson grade, several other histopathological factors of possible prognostic significance, and finally patient survival. Whereas p27 mRNA was expressed homogeneously in all carcinomas examined, the p27 protein was found in various amounts. The labeling index of p27 protein was significantly lower in advanced stages of the disease (P < 0.001, chi(2) = 28.1). We observed decreased p27 protein in higher pT categories (P < 0.001, chi(2) = 24.7) and in multiple tumor nodules (P < 0.001, chi(2) = 9.3). Multivariate Cox survival analysis identified age, co-existing cirrhosis, and Edmondson grade as independent prognostic factors. We conclude that evaluation of p27 in hepatocellular carcinoma is useful to predict stage of disease and may have clinical significance, e.g., in predicting optimal therapeutic regimes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- A Tannapfel
- Institute of Pathology, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
39
|
Günther K, Jung A, Völker U, Meyer M, Brabletz T, Matzel KE, Reymond MA, Kirchner T, Hohenberger W. p27(kip1) expression in rectal cancer correlates with disease-free survival. J Surg Res 2000; 92:78-84. [PMID: 10864486 DOI: 10.1006/jsre.2000.5871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The cell-cycle inhibitor p27(kip1) is a potential tumor suppressor and might serve as a prognostic marker in rectal cancer, in particular with regard to patient selection for adjuvant therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS Immunohistochemical analysis was performed, using an anti-p27(kip1) monoclonal antibody, on paraffin sections of two matched [age, gender, UICC stage, year of operation (1982-1991)] groups of patients (n = 2 x 82) with rectal carcinoma curatively treated by surgery alone. The groups differed only in subsequent metachronous distant metastatic spread. All patients had to meet the selection criterion "free of local disease," in order to exclude surgical influence. Follow-up was prospective (median of 74 months). The intensity of staining (-, +, ++, ) and rate of positive cells (as a percentage of total tumor volume) were judged separately for cytoplasms and nuclei. RESULTS On multivariate analysis, cytoplasmic staining intensity proved to be the best prognostic factor of disease-free survival and approached statistical significance (P = 0.0552, Cox regression). On univariate analysis, considering cytoplasmic staining alone, intensely stained ( ) tumors showed significantly poorer disease-free survival (vs ++, +, -; Kaplan-Meier, logrank, P = 0.0185). CONCLUSIONS The demonstrated correlation between cytoplasmic compartmentalization of p27(kip1) and increased metastatic spread as well as disease-free survival underscores the role of p27(kip1) in rectal cancer. However, since other reports emphasize the importance of nuclear p27(kip1) expression, the mechanisms of steady-state and subcellular distribution of p27(kip1) remain unclear, and further investigation is needed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- K Günther
- Department of Surgery, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
40
|
Santoni-Rugiu E, Falck J, Mailand N, Bartek J, Lukas J. Involvement of Myc activity in a G(1)/S-promoting mechanism parallel to the pRb/E2F pathway. Mol Cell Biol 2000; 20:3497-509. [PMID: 10779339 PMCID: PMC85642 DOI: 10.1128/mcb.20.10.3497-3509.2000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 132] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/1999] [Accepted: 02/22/2000] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The retinoblastoma protein (pRb)/E2F pathway regulates commitment of mammalian cells to replicate DNA. On the other hand, mitogen-stimulated cells deprived of E2F activity can still maintain physiologically relevant levels of cyclin E-dependent kinase activity and gradually enter S phase, suggesting the existence of a DNA synthesis-inducing mechanism parallel to the pRb/E2F axis. Here we show that regulatable ectopic expression of cyclin E or transcriptionally active Myc can rapidly induce DNA synthesis in U2OS-derived cell lines whose E2F activity is blocked by a constitutively active pRb (pRbDeltacdk) mutant. The effect of Myc is associated with Cdc25A phosphatase and cyclin E-CDK2 kinase activation and abolished by antagonizing Myc activity with the dominant-negative (dn) MadMyc chimera. Moreover, while abrogation of either endogenous E2F or Myc activity only delays and lowers DNA synthesis in synchronized U2OS cells or rat diploid fibroblasts, concomitant neutralization of both abolishes it. Whereas ectopic Myc and E2F1 rescue the G(1)/S delay caused by pRbDeltacdk (or dnDP1) and MadMyc, respectively, cyclin E or Cdc25A can restore DNA replication even in cells concomitantly exposed to pRbDeltacdk and MadMyc. However, coexpression of dnCDK2 neutralizes all of these rescuing effects. Finally, proper transcription of cyclin E and Cdc25A at the G(1)/S transition requires both Myc and E2F activities, and subthreshold levels of ectopic cyclin E and Cdc25A synergistically restore DNA synthesis in cells with silenced Myc and E2F activities. These results suggest that Myc controls a G(1)/S-promoting mechanism regulating cyclin E-CDK2 in parallel to the "classical" pRb/E2F pathway.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- E Santoni-Rugiu
- Institute of Cancer Biology, Danish Cancer Society, DK-2100 Copenhagen O., Denmark
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
41
|
Factor VM, Laskowska D, Jensen MR, Woitach JT, Popescu NC, Thorgeirsson SS. Vitamin E reduces chromosomal damage and inhibits hepatic tumor formation in a transgenic mouse model. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2000; 97:2196-201. [PMID: 10681450 PMCID: PMC15777 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.040428797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 110] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
We have previously shown that chronic activation of mitogenic signaling induced by over-expression of c-myc and transforming growth factor-alpha (TGFalpha) transgenes in mouse liver induces a state of oxidative stress. We therefore proposed that increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation might be responsible for the extensive chromosomal damage and acceleration of hepatocarcinogenesis characteristic for TGFalpha/c-myc mice. In this study, we show that vitamin E (VE), a potent free radical scavenging antioxidant, is able to protect liver tissue against oxidative stress and suppress tumorigenic potential of c-myc oncogene. Dietary supplementation with VE, starting from weaning, decreased ROS generation coincident with a marked inhibition of hepatocyte proliferation while increasing the chromosomal as well as mtDNA stability in the liver. Similarly, dietary VE reduced liver dysplasia and increased viability of hepatocytes. At 6 mo of age, VE treatment decreased the incidence of adenomas by 65% and prevented malignant conversion. These results indicate that ROS generated by over-expression of c-myc and TGFalpha in the liver are the primary carcinogenic agents in this animal model. Furthermore, the data demonstrate that dietary supplementation of VE can effectively inhibit liver cancer development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- V M Factor
- Laboratory of Experimental Carcinogenesis, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-4255, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
42
|
Patel T, Steer CJ, Gores GJ. Apoptosis and the liver: A mechanism of disease, growth regulation, and carcinogenesis. Hepatology 1999; 30:811-5. [PMID: 10462391 DOI: 10.1002/hep.510300334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- T Patel
- Division of Gastroenterology, Scott and White Clinic, Texas A&M University System Health Science Center College of Medicine, Temple, TX 76508, USA.
| | | | | |
Collapse
|