ABL1, Overexpressed in Hepatocellular Carcinomas, Regulates Expression of NOTCH1 and Promotes Development of Liver Tumors in Mice

Dual-color fluorescence detection of tumor-derived extracellular vesicles using a specific and serum-stable membrane-fusion approach

Tumor-derived extracellular vesicles (tEVs), which are essential mediators for cell-to-cell communication during tumorigenesis and tumor development, have demonstrated significant diagnostic potential in cancer liquid biopsy, particularly through biomarkers like membrane proteins and inner microRNAs. However, traditional detection methods such as ELISA and qRT-PCR encounter challenges with low sensitivity and specificity, complex procedures, and high costs. Although emerging biosensors have been developed, these methods are limited to detecting a single type of tEV biomarker, which may result in misdiagnoses due to false-positive or false-negative signals. Herein, we introduce a specific and serum-stable membrane-fusion approach (SSMFA) capable of simultaneously detecting tEV proteins and microRNAs via dual-color fluorescence analysis. In this strategy, the established epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) aptamer-modified serum-stable membrane-fusion liposome (AptSMFL) is labeled with fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) dye pairs, which can specifically recognize EpCAM-overexpressed tEVs and induce serum-stable membrane fusion, allowing the quantification of EpCAM protein levels through red fluorescence changes resulting from FRET alterations. Meanwhile, SSMFA facilitates efficient transfection of the CRISPR/Cas13a probe into tEVs to analyze the levels of microRNA-21 (miR-21) in EpCAM-positive tEVs via green fluorescence detection. When tested on serum samples from hepatocellular carcinoma models, the SSMFA exhibited minimal sample volume requirement and rapid assay time (2 h) to effectively achieve accurate quantification of both tEV EpCAM protein and miR-21 levels. Additionally, this dual-biomarker detection method showed a strong correlation with tumor burden and significantly improved cancer diagnostic accuracy (AUC = 0.98), underscoring the potential of SSMFA as a promising tEV-based liquid biopsy assay for cancer diagnosis.

Combined targeting of glioblastoma stem cells of different cellular states disrupts malignant progression

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most lethal primary brain tumor with intra-tumoral hierarchy of glioblastoma stem cells (GSCs). The heterogeneity of GSCs within GBM inevitably leads to treatment resistance and tumor recurrence. Molecular mechanisms of different cellular state GSCs remain unclear. Here, we find that classical (CL) and mesenchymal (MES) GSCs are enriched in reactive immune region and high CL-MES signature informs poor prognosis in GBM. Through integrated analyses of GSCs RNA sequencing and single-cell RNA sequencing datasets, we identify specific GSCs targets, including MEOX2 for the CL GSCs and SRGN for the MES GSCs. MEOX2-NOTCH and SRGN-NFκB axes play important roles in promoting proliferation and maintaining stemness and subtype signatures of CL and MES GSCs, respectively. In the tumor microenvironment, MEOX2 and SRGN mediate the resistance of CL and MES GSCs to macrophage phagocytosis. Using genetic and pharmacologic approaches, we identify FDA-approved drugs targeting MEOX2 and SRGN. Combined CL and MES GSCs targeting demonstrates enhanced efficacy, both in vitro and in vivo. Our results highlighted a therapeutic strategy for the elimination of heterogeneous GSCs populations through combinatorial targeting of MEOX2 and SRGN in GSCs.

Novel oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Carcinogenesis, progression, and therapeutic targets

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the primary malignancy affecting the liver and the leading cause of mortality among individuals with cirrhosis. This complex disease is associated with various risk factors, including environmental, pathological, and genetic influences, which dysregulate gene expression crucial for the cell cycle and cellular/molecular pathways. The disruption of the balance between tumor suppressors and proto-oncogenes amplifies the pathogenic cascade. Given its predilection for diseased or cirrhotic livers and late-stage diagnosis, HCC prognosis is typically poor. Current therapies offer limited benefits, with conventional non-specific cytotoxic agents exhibiting suboptimal efficacy. However, molecularly targeted therapies have emerged as a promising avenue, leveraging the strategic inhibition of carcinogenic molecules to provide heightened specificity and potency compared to cytotoxic chemotherapy. Several clinical trials have demonstrated promising outcomes in advanced HCC with targeted pharmacotherapies. Many genes have been implicated in HCC pathogenesis, underscoring the need to elucidate their molecular functions and roles. This has profound implications for early HCC prognostication via biomarkers and for identifying therapeutic targets to impede neoplastic progression. Notably, evidence highlights the pivotal roles of oncogenes and tumor suppressors in HCC pathophysiology. This discourse examines the potential involvement of ABL1, Annexins, FAK, FOX, and KIF as candidate oncogenes, contrasted with SORBS2, HPCAL1, PCDH10, PLAC8, and CXXC5 as plausible tumor suppressors. Their signaling cascades and relevance to HCC prognosis and progression are delineated to identify targets for improving HCC diagnosis, prognostication, and therapy.

CD146 regulates the stemness and chemoresistance of hepatocellular carcinoma via JAG2-NOTCH signaling

CD146 plays a key role in cancer progression and metastasis. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are responsible for tumor initiation, drug resistance, metastasis, and recurrence. In this study, we explored the role of CD146 in the regulation of liver CSCs. Here, we demonstrated that CD146 was highly expressed in liver CSCs. CD146 overexpression promoted the self-renewal ability and chemoresistance of Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) cells in vitro and tumorigenicity in vivo. Inversely, knockdown of CD146 restrained these abilities. Mechanistically, CD146 activated the NF-κB signaling to up-regulate JAG2 expression and activated the Notch signaling, which resulted in increased stemness of HCC. Furthermore, JAG2 overexpression restored the Notch signaling activity, the stemness, and chemotherapeutic resistance caused by CD146 knockdown. These results demonstrated that CD146 positively regulates HCC stemness by activating the JAG2-NOTCH signaling. Combined targeting of CD146 and JAG2 may represent a novel therapeutic strategy for HCC treatment.

Construction of a prognostic model based on disulfidptosis-related genes and identification of CCNA2 as a novel biomarker for hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Disulfidptosis, identified as an innovative form of cellular death subsequent to cuproptosis, is currently under investigation for its mechanisms in oncological contexts. In-depth analyses exploring the relationship between disulfidptosis-related genes (DRGs) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are currently limited.

METHODS

Transcriptomic data and clinical information were retrieved from the TCGA and GEO databases (GSE76427 and GSE54236), concentrating on the expression levels of 24 DRGs. Subsequently, multifactor and LASSO regression analyses were utilized to construct the 5-DRG prognostic signature. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was employed to assess Cyclin A2 (CCNA2) protein expression levels. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and western blot analyses were conducted to detect transcriptomic and protein expression of CCNA2-targeting short interfering RNA (siRNA). The Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, EdU staining, and scratch experiments were employed to observe the proliferation and migration of hepatoma cell lines subsequent to CCNA2 inhibition.

RESULTS

Three HCC patterns were identified, among which pattern B exhibited the the most unfavorable survival outcomes. Five DRGs (STC2, PBK, CCNA2, SERPINE1, and SLC6A1) were involved to establish the 5-DRG prognostic signature. High-risk groups (HRGs) exhibited prolonged survival durations in comparison to low-risk groups (LRGs). Both bioinformatics analyses and experimental methodologies corroborated the association of CCNA2 with poor prognosis in HCC patients. Functional studies elucidated that interference with CCNA2 significantly inhibited proliferation and migration, while simultaneously promoting apoptosis in hepatoma cells and resulting in the downregulation of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related protein markers.

CONCLUSIONS

The 5-DRG prognostic signature is proficient in predicting clinical outcomes, informing therapeutic strategies, and elucidating the characteristics of the immune microenvironment in HCC patients. Furthermore, this study elucidates the potential of CCNA2 as an innovative biomarker for HCC.

Identification of ANXA1 as a Novel Upstream Negative Regulator of Notch1 Function in AML

Abnormal Notch1 expression has an important role in tumorigenesis. However, upstream control mechanisms for Notch1 are still insufficiently understood. Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is one of the most common and lethal blood malignancies with limited possibilities for treatment. Thus, new therapeutic targets are urgently needed to improve current ineffective therapies. Herein, high Annexin A1 (ANXA1) expression is found correlated with hyperproliferation of AML cells, and then ANXA1 is identified as a novel negative regulator of Notch1 function in AML. Mechanistically, ANXA1 directly bound to the intracellular domain of Notch1 (NICD) to target this tumor suppressor for degradation. Furthermore, NICD executed its tumor suppressive function through activation of the p15 promoter. Thus, ablation of the Notch1-p15-mediated tumor suppression by ANXA1 provided a novel mechanism of AML proliferation. In human AML patients, a mutual exclusive relation is discovered between ANXA1 and Notch1/p15, corroborating mechanistic discovery. On the basis of these results, it is reasonably speculated that targeting ANXA1 would provide an effective approach for treatment of AML. In support of this new therapeutic paradigm, provided proof-of-concept data by antagonizing ANXA1 using NICD inhibitory peptides.

Cepharanthine-mediated endoplasmic reticulum stress inhibits Notch1 via binding GRP78 for suppressing hepatocellular carcinoma metastasis

BACKGROUND

The metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) leads to a poor prognosis, wherein the activation of Notch1 is an essential contributor. Cepharanthine (Cep) has been identified for its effective antiviral function and versatile intracellular targets. Our previous study has only reported the anti-cancer efficacy of Cep in lung cancer, without an in-depth exploration. Herein, the present study aims to investigate the anti-metastasis effect in HCC, the target involved, and the molecular mechanism of Cep.

METHODS

Stable over-expression of Notch1-N1ICD yielded C5WN1 cells compared with C5WBF344 cells. The C5WN1 cells and C5WN1 cell-bearing mice were applied as the HCC model. The bioinformatics analysis, RNA sequencing, molecular docking, cellular thermal shift assay (CETSA), drug affinity responsive target stability (DARTS), microscale thermophoresis (MST), and transient knockdown techniques were carried out to identify the underlying target. The apoptosis assay, immunofluorescent staining, qRT-PCR, Western blots, Elisa, flow cytometry, migration and scratching experiments, Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM), micro-computed tomography (micro-CT), and histopathological experiments were conducted to assay the anti-HCC efficacy, functions, and mechanism.

RESULTS

Notch1 had an increased expression in HCC and contributed to metastasis thereupon. Surprisingly, Cep (2 μg/ml in vitro, 5 mg kg-1in vivo) presented potent Notch1 signaling pathway inhibitory effect and anti-metastasis efficacy in C5WN1 cells and in situ mice models as evidenced by reduced Notch1/MMP-2/MMP-9 expression, TGF-β release, decreased cell migration, diminished pulmonary metastases, and prolonged survival. RNA sequencing showed that the differential gene of Cep-treated HCC cells was positioned in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Molecular docking, CETSA, DARTS, and MST further identified that the possible target of Cep was GRP78, which was distributed in the ER. As expected, Cep (2 μg/ml) up-regulated the critical molecules of ER stress such as GRP78, induced β-amyloid accumulation, and promoted calcium burst in HCC. In contrast, suppression of GRP78 attenuated Cep-induced ER stress. Furthermore, inhibition of ER stress abated Cep-induced Notch1 inactivation and HCC cells' migration.

CONCLUSIONS

Taken together, the present study finds that Cep possesses excellent anti-metastasis of HCC, wherein the GRP78 could be directly bound and activated by Cep, leading to ER stress and Notch1 blockage. This study reveals for the first time the effect, critical target, and mechanism of the Cep-mediated anti-cancer effect, providing novel insights into the molecular target therapy by phytomedicine.

Nilotinib boosts the efficacy of anti-PDL1 therapy in colorectal cancer by restoring the expression of MHC-I

BACKGROUND

Although immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have revolutionized the landscape of cancer treatment, only a minority of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients respond to them. Enhancing tumor immunogenicity by increasing major histocompatibility complex I (MHC-I) surface expression is a promising strategy to boost the antitumor efficacy of ICIs.

METHODS

Dual luciferase reporter assays were performed to find drug candidates that can increase MHC-I expression. The effect of nilotinib on MHC-I expression was verified by dual luciferase reporter assays, qRT-PCR, flow cytometry and western blotting. The biological functions of nilotinib were evaluated through a series of in vitro and in vivo experiments. Using RNA-seq analysis, immunofluorescence assays, western blotting, flow cytometry, rescue experiments and microarray chip assays, the underlying molecular mechanisms were investigated.

RESULTS

Nilotinib induces MHC-I expression in CRC cells, enhances CD8+ T-cell cytotoxicity and subsequently enhances the antitumor effects of anti-PDL1 in both microsatellite instability and microsatellite stable models. Mechanistically, nilotinib promotes MHC-I mRNA expression via the cGAS-STING-NF-κB pathway and reduces MHC-I degradation by suppressing PCSK9 expression in CRC cells. PCSK9 may serve as a potential therapeutic target for CRC, with nilotinib potentially targeting PCSK9 to exert anti-CRC effects.

CONCLUSION

This study reveals a previously unknown role of nilotinib in antitumor immunity by inducing MHC-I expression in CRC cells. Our findings suggest that combining nilotinib with anti-PDL1 therapy may be an effective strategy for the treatment of CRC.

Non-Receptor Tyrosine Kinases: Their Structure and Mechanistic Role in Tumor Progression and Resistance

Protein tyrosine kinases (PTKs) function as key molecules in the signaling pathways in addition to their impact as a therapeutic target for the treatment of many human diseases, including cancer. PTKs are characterized by their ability to phosphorylate serine, threonine, or tyrosine residues and can thereby rapidly and reversibly alter the function of their protein substrates in the form of significant changes in protein confirmation and affinity for their interaction with protein partners to drive cellular functions under normal and pathological conditions. PTKs are classified into two groups: one of which represents tyrosine kinases, while the other one includes the members of the serine/threonine kinases. The group of tyrosine kinases is subdivided into subgroups: one of them includes the member of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs), while the other subgroup includes the member of non-receptor tyrosine kinases (NRTKs). Both these kinase groups function as an "on" or "off" switch in many cellular functions. NRTKs are enzymes which are overexpressed and activated in many cancer types and regulate variable cellular functions in response to extracellular signaling-dependent mechanisms. NRTK-mediated different cellular functions are regulated by kinase-dependent and kinase-independent mechanisms either in the cytoplasm or in the nucleus. Thus, targeting NRTKs is of great interest to improve the treatment strategy of different tumor types. This review deals with the structure and mechanistic role of NRTKs in tumor progression and resistance and their importance as therapeutic targets in tumor therapy.

Identification of a vascular invasion-related signature based on lncRNA pairs for predicting prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma

OBJECTIVES

Most signatures are constructed on the basis of RNA or protein expression levels. The value of vascular invasion-related signatures based on lncRNA pairs, regardless of their specific expression level in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), is not yet clear.

METHODS

Vascular invasion-related differentially expressed lncRNA (DElncRNA) pairs were identified with a two-lncRNA combination strategy by using a novel modeling algorithm. Based on the optimal cutoff value of the ROC curve, patients with HCC were classified into high- and low-risk subgroups. We used KM survival analysis to evaluate the overall survival rate of patients in the high- and low-risk subgroups. The independent indicators of survival were identified using univariate and multivariate Cox analyses.

RESULTS

Five pairs of vascular invasion-related DElncRNAs were selected to develop a predictive model for HCC. High-risk subgroups were closely associated with aggressive clinicopathological characteristics and genes, chemotherapeutic sensitivity, and highly expressed immune checkpoint inhibitors.

CONCLUSIONS

We identified a signature composed of 5 pairs of vascular invasion-related lncRNAs that does not require absolute expression levels of lncRNAs and shows promising clinical predictive value for HCC prognosis. This predictive model provides deep insight into the value of vascular invasion-related lncRNAs in prognosis.

Focal adhesion kinase confers lenvatinib resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma via the regulation of lysine-deficient kinase 1

Lenvatinib is a clinically effective multikinase inhibitor approved for first-line therapy of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Although resistance against lenvatinib often emerges and limits its antitumor activity, the underlying molecular mechanisms involved in endogenous and acquired resistance remain elusive. In this study, we identified focal adhesion kinase (FAK) as a critical contributor to lenvatinib resistance in HCC. The elevated expression and phosphorylation of FAK were observed in both acquired and endogenous lenvatinib-resistant (LR) HCC cells. Furthermore, inhibition of FAK reversed lenvatinib resistance in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, FAK promoted lenvatinib resistance through regulating lysine-deficient kinase 1 (WNK1). Phosphorylation of WNK1 was significantly increased in LR-HCC cells. Further, WNK1 inhibitor WNK463 resensitized either established or endogenous LR-HCC cells to lenvatinib treatment. In addition, overexpression of WNK1 desensitized parental HCC cells to lenvatinib treatment. Conclusively, our results establish a crucial role and novel mechanism of FAK in lenvatinib resistance and suggest that targeting the FAK/WNK1 axis is a promising therapeutic strategy in HCC patients showing lenvatinib resistance.

Hydrodynamic Transfection of Hepatocytes for the Study of Hepatocellular Carcinogenesis

Hydrodynamic tail vein injection (HTVi), also called hydrodynamic gene transfer (HGT), is attracting increasing interest for modeling hepatic carcinogenesis. This highly versatile approach reproducibly provides efficient in vivo transfection of hepatocytes with naked DNA. Here, we give an in-depth description of the injection procedure, which is key for the success of the method. HTVi requires the injection of a large volume of a solution containing plasmids into the tail vein of the mouse. The transient right heart overload created by the injection forces the blood to flow back into the hepatic veins, enlarging the endothelial fenestrae and permeabilizing a fraction of hepatocytes for a few seconds. This results in the uptake of plasmids by the permeabilized hepatocytes, giving rise to their in vivo transfection. Including the Sleeping Beauty transposon system among the injected plasmids leads to the stable transfection of a subset of hepatocytes. HTVi is a powerful technique which enables numerous applications in liver cancer biology, such as a study of oncogene cooperation, of tumor heterogeneity, and interaction with the tumor microenvironment.

Inhibition of Abelson Tyrosine-Protein Kinase 2 Suppresses the Development of Alcohol-Associated Liver Disease by Decreasing PPARgamma Expression

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) represents a spectrum of alcohol use-related liver diseases. Outside of alcohol abstinence, there are currently no Food and Drug Administration-approved treatments for advanced ALD, necessitating a greater understanding of ALD pathogenesis and potential molecular targets for therapeutic intervention. The ABL-family proteins, including ABL1 and ABL2, are non-receptor tyrosine kinases that participate in a diverse set of cellular functions. We investigated the role of the ABL kinases in alcohol-associated liver disease.

METHODS

We used samples from patients with ALD compared with healthy controls to elucidate a clinical phenotype. We established strains of liver-specific Abl1 and Abl2 knockout mice and subjected them to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism acute-on-chronic alcohol feeding regimen. Murine samples were subjected to RNA sequencing, AST, Oil Red O staining, H&E staining, Western blotting, and quantitative polymerase chain reaction to assess phenotypic changes after alcohol feeding. In vitro modeling in HepG2 cells as well as primary hepatocytes from C57BL6/J mice was used to establish this mechanistic link of ALD pathogenesis.

RESULTS

We demonstrate that the ABL kinases are highly activated in ALD patient liver samples as well as in liver tissues from mice subjected to an alcohol feeding regimen. We found that the liver-specific knockout of Abl2, but not Abl1, attenuated alcohol-induced steatosis, liver injury, and inflammation. Subsequent RNA sequencing and gene set enrichment analyses of mouse liver tissues revealed that relative to wild-type alcohol-fed mice, Abl2 knockout alcohol-fed mice exhibited numerous pathway changes, including significantly decreased peroxisome proliferator activated receptor (PPAR) signaling. Further examination revealed that PPARγ, a previously identified regulator of ALD pathogenesis, was induced upon alcohol feeding in wild-type mice, but not in Abl2 knockout mice. In vitro analyses revealed that shRNA-mediated knockdown of ABL2 abolished the alcohol-induced accumulation of PPARγ as well as subsequent lipid accumulation. Conversely, forced overexpression of ABL2 resulted in increased PPARγ protein expression. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the regulation of hypoxia inducible factor 1 subunit alpha (HIF1α) by ABL2 is required for alcohol-induced PPARγ expression. Furthermore, treatment with ABL kinase inhibitors attenuated alcohol-induced PPARγ expression, lipid droplet formation, and liver injury.

CONCLUSIONS

On the basis of our current evidence, we propose that alcohol-induced ABL2 activation promotes ALD through increasing HIF1α and the subsequent PPARγ expression, and ABL2 inhibition may serve as a promising target for the treatment of ALD.

A redox-responsive self-assembling COA-4-arm PEG prodrug nanosystem for dual drug delivery suppresses cancer metastasis and drug resistance by downregulating hsp90 expression

Metastasis and resistance are main causes to affect the outcome of the current anticancer therapies. Heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) as an ATP-dependent molecular chaperone takes important role in the tumor metastasis and resistance. Targeting Hsp90 and downregulating its expression show promising in inhibiting tumor metastasis and resistance. In this study, a redox-responsive dual-drug nanocarrier was constructed for the effective delivery of a commonly used chemotherapeutic drug PTX, and a COA-modified 4-arm PEG polymer (4PSC) was synthesized. COA, an active component in oleanolic acid that exerts strong antitumor activity by downregulating Hsp90 expression, was used as a structural and functional element to endow 4PSC with redox responsiveness and Hsp90 inhibitory activity. Our results showed that 4PSC/PTX nanomicelles efficiently delivered PTX and COA to tumor locations without inducing systemic toxicity. By blocking the Hsp90 signaling pathway, 4PSC significantly enhanced the antitumor effect of PTX, inhibiting tumor proliferation and invasiveness as well as chemotherapy-induced resistance in vitro. Remarkable results were further confirmed in vivo with two preclinical tumor models. These findings demonstrate that the COA-modified 4PSC drug delivery nanosystem provides a potential platform for enhancing the efficacy of chemotherapies.

Comprehensive analysis of the prognostic value and biological function of TDG in hepatocellular carcinoma

Epigenetics plays an important role in the malignant progression of tumors, in which DNA methylation can alter genetic performance without altering the DNA sequence. As a key regulator demethylation, thymine-DNA glycosylase (TDG) has been reported to participate in malignant progression of multiple tumors. In this study, we demonstrate that TDG is highly expressed in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and its high expression is closely related to the poor prognosis of patients. Decreasing TDG expression can significantly inhibit the malignant biological behavior of HCC cells. ABL proto-oncogene 1(ABL1) was identified as a downstream gene regulated by TDG demethylation. In addition, TDG can affect the Hippo signaling pathway through ABL1 to regulate HCC cell proliferation, apoptosis, invasion and migration. Overall, our study demonstrated that TDG reduces DNA methylation of ABL1, increases ABL1 protein expression, and affects the Hippo signaling pathway to regulate the malignant progression of HCC.

Small molecule drugs promote repopulation of transplanted hepatocytes by stimulating cell dedifferentiation

Background & Aims

Hepatocyte transplantation has emerged as a possible treatment option for end-stage liver disease. However, an important obstacle to therapeutic success is the low level of engraftment and proliferation of transplanted hepatocytes, which do not survive long enough to exert therapeutic effects. Thus, we aimed to explore the mechanisms of hepatocyte proliferation in vivo and find a way to promote the growth of transplanted hepatocytes.

Methods

Hepatocyte transplantation was performed in Fah ^-/- mice to explore the mechanisms of hepatocyte proliferation in vivo. Guided by in vivo regeneration mechanisms, we identified compounds that promote hepatocyte proliferation in vitro. The in vivo effects of these compounds on transplanted hepatocytes were then evaluated.

Results

The transplanted mature hepatocytes were found to dedifferentiate into hepatic progenitor cells (HPCs), which proliferate and then convert back to a mature state at the completion of liver repopulation. The combination of two small molecules Y-27632 (Y, ROCK inhibitor) and CHIR99021 (C, Wnt agonist) could convert mouse primary hepatocytes into HPCs, which could be passaged for more than 30 passages in vitro. Moreover, YC could stimulate the proliferation of transplanted hepatocytes in Fah ^-/- livers by promoting their conversion into HPCs. Netarsudil (N) and LY2090314 (L), two clinically used drugs which target the same pathways as YC, could also promote hepatocyte proliferation in vitro and in vivo, by facilitating HPC conversion.

Conclusions

Our work suggests drugs promoting hepatocyte dedifferentiation may facilitate the growth of transplanted hepatocytes in vivo and may facilitate the application of hepatocyte therapy.

Impact and implications

Hepatocyte transplantation may be a treatment option for patients with end-stage liver disease. However, one important obstacle to hepatocyte therapy is the low level of engraftment and proliferation of the transplanted hepatocytes. Herein, we show that small molecule compounds which promote hepatocyte proliferation in vitro by facilitating dedifferentiation, could promote the growth of transplanted hepatocytes in vivo and may facilitate the application of hepatocyte therapy.

Genome-wide association study reveals the genetic determinism of serum biochemical indicators in ducks

BACKGROUND

The serum is rich in nutrients and plays an essential role in electrolyte and acid-base balance, maintaining cellular homeostasis. In addition, serum parameters have been commonly used as essential biomarkers for clinical diagnosis. However, little is known about the genetic mechanism of the serum parameters in ducks.

RESULTS

This study measured 18 serum parameters in 320 samples of the F₂ segregating population generated by Mallard × Pekin duck. The phenotypic correlations showed a high correlation between LDH, HBDH, AST, and ALT (0.59-0.99), and higher coefficients were also observed among TP, ALB, HDL-C, and CHO (0.46-0.87). And then, we performed the GWAS to reveal the genetic basis of the 18 serum biochemical parameters in ducks. Fourteen candidate protein-coding genes were identified with enzyme traits (AST, ALP, LDH, HBDH), and 3 protein-coding genes were associated with metabolism and protein-related serum parameters (UA, TG). Moreover, the expression levels of the above candidate protein-coding genes in different stages of breast muscle and different tissues were analyzed. Furthermore, the genes located within the high-LD region (r² > 0.4 and - log₁₀(P) < 4) neighboring the significant locus also remained. Finally, 86 putative protein-coding genes were used for GO and KEGG enrichment analysis, the enzyme-linked receptor protein signaling pathway and ErbB signaling pathway deserve further focus.

CONCLUSIONS

The obtained results can contribute to new insights into blood metabolism and provide new genetic biomarkers for application in duck breeding programs.

IL6 supports long-term expansion of hepatocytes in vitro

Hepatocytes are very difficult to expand in vitro. A few studies have demonstrated that chemical cocktails with growth factors or Wnt ligands can support long-term expansion of hepatocytes via dedifferentiation. However, the culture conditions are complex, and clonal expansion of hepatic progenitors with full differentiation capacity are rarely reported. Here, we discover IL6, combined with EGF and HGF, promotes long-term expansion (>30 passages in ~150 days with theoretical expansion of ~10³⁵ times) of primary mouse hepatocytes in vitro in simple 2D culture, by converting hepatocytes into induced hepatic progenitor cells (iHPCs), which maintain the capacity of differentiation into hepatocytes. IL6 also supports the establishment of single hepatocyte-derived iHPC clones. The summation of the downstream STAT3, ERK and AKT pathways induces a number of transcription factors which support rapid growth. This physiological and simple way may provide ideas for culturing previously difficult-to-culture cell types and support their future applications.

CD8+ T cell trajectory subtypes decode tumor heterogeneity and provide treatment recommendations for hepatocellular carcinoma

Introduction

Mounting evidence has revealed that the interactions and dynamic alterations among immune cells are critical in shaping the tumor microenvironment and ultimately map onto heterogeneous clinical outcomes. Currently, the underlying clinical significance of immune cell evolutions remains largely unexplored in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods

A total of 3,817 immune cells and 1,750 HCC patients of 15 independent public datasets were retrieved. The Seurat and Monocle algorithms were used to depict T cell evolution, and nonnegative matrix factorization (NMF) was further applied to identify the molecular classification. Subsequently, the prognosis, biological characteristics, genomic variations, and immune landscape among distinct clusters were decoded. The clinical efficacy of multiple treatment approaches was further investigated.

Results

According to trajectory gene expression, three heterogeneous clusters with different clinical outcomes were identified. C2, with a more advanced pathological stage, presented the most dismal prognosis relative to C1 and C3. Eight independent external cohorts validated the robustness and reproducibility of the three clusters. Further explorations elucidated C1 to be characterized as lipid metabolic HCC, and C2 was referred to as cell-proliferative HCC, whereas C3 was defined as immune inflammatory HCC. Moreover, C2 also displayed the most conspicuous genomic instability, and C3 was deemed as “immune-hot”, having abundant immune cells and an elevated expression of immune checkpoints. The assessments of therapeutic intervention suggested that patients in C1 were suitable for transcatheter arterial chemoembolization treatment, and patients in C2 were sensitive to tyrosine kinase inhibitors, while patients in C3 were more responsive to immunotherapy. We also identified numerous underlying therapeutic agents, which might be conducive to clinical transformation in the future.

Conclusions

Our study developed three clusters with distinct characteristics based on immune cell evolutions. For specifically stratified patients, we proposed individualized treatment strategies to improve the clinical outcomes and facilitate the clinical management.

Comprehensive transcriptomic and co-expression analysis of ABL1 gene and molecularly targeted drugs in hepatocellular carcinoma based on multi-database mining

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the leading causes of cancer death worldwide. Consequently, it is essential to identify biomarkers for treatment response and the prognosis prediction. We investigated whether ABL1 can function as a biomarker or a drug target for HCC. We assessed the ABL1 expression, genetic alterations and patients' survival from LinkedOmics, GEO, TCGA and Human Protein Atlas. We analyzed PPI, GO and KEGG pathways. GSEA was analyzed for functional comparison. The current drugs targeting ABL1 were statistically analyzed using DRUGSURV and DGIdb database. We found ABL1 is overexpressed in HCC and its higher expression reduces survival probability. Genetic changes of ABL1 are not frequent. We screened out 25 differentially expressed genes correlated with ABL1. The top functions of ABL1 are biological regulation, metabolic process, protein-containing, and protein binding. KEGG pathways showed that ABL1 and correlated with ABL1 significantly genes markedly enriched in the ErbB signaling pathway, and pathways in cancer. We counted the existing drugs targeting ABL1, which indicates that inhibiting ABL1 expression may improve the survival probability of HCC. In conclusion, ABL1 plays a crucial role in the development and progression of this cancerization and is a potential drug target.

Integrin subunit beta 8 contributes to lenvatinib resistance in HCC

Lenvatinib is a multikinase inhibitor approved as a first-line therapy for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the development of drug resistance is common, and the underlying mechanisms governing this resistance are largely unknown. In this study, we established two lenvatinib-resistant (LR) HCC cell lines and identified integrin subunit beta 8 (ITGB8) as a critical contributor to lenvatinib resistance in HCC. The elevated expression of ITGB8 was observed in LR HCC cells. Furthermore, silencing of ITGB8 reversed lenvatinib resistance in vitro and in vivo, whereas ectopic expression of ITGB8 in lenvatinib-sensitive parental HCC cells exhibited increased resistance to lenvatinib. Mechanistically, ITGB8 regulated lenvatinib resistance through an HSP90-mediated stabilization of AKT and enhanced AKT signaling. In support of this model, either an AKT inhibitor MK-2206 or an HSP90 inhibitor 17-AAG resensitized LR HCC cells to lenvatinib treatment. Conclusion: Collectively, our results establish a crucial role of ITGB8 in lenvatinib resistance, and suggest that targeting the ITGB8/HSP90/AKT axis is a promising therapeutic strategy in patients with HCC exhibiting lenvatinib resistance.

Targeting the PDGF/PDGFR signaling pathway for cancer therapy: A review

Platelet-derived growth factors (PDGFs) and PDGF receptors (PDGFRs) are expressed in a variety of tumors. Activation of the PDGF/PDGFR signaling pathway is associated with cancer proliferation, metastasis, invasion, and angiogenesis through modulating multiple downstream pathways, including phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase/protein kinase B pathway and mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase pathway. Therefore, targeting PDGF/PDGFR signaling pathway has been demonstrated to be an effective strategy for cancer therapy, and accordingly, some great progress has been made in this field in the past few decades. This review will focus on the PDGF isoforms and their binding with the related PDGFRs, the PDGF/PDGFR signaling and regulation, and especially present strategies and inhibitors developed for cancer therapy, and the related clinical benefits and side effects.

Bioinformatics and In Silico Findings Uncover Bio-Targets of Calycosin Against Heart Failure and Diabetes Mellitus

BACKGROUND

Heart failure (HF) and diabetes mellitus (DM) are life-threatening diseases. However, existing clinical drugs to treat HF complicated with DM are relatively limited. In this study, we performed a viable bioinformatics strategy combining network pharmacology and molecular docking to identify potential anti-HF and -DM targets and therapeutic mechanisms of calycosin, a functional phytoestrogen.

METHODS

Web-based databases were used to collect candidate genes/targets of calycosin and HF/DM and then identify the hub bio-targets of calycosin against HF/DM. Using the online-available database, all functional processes and signaling pathways of calycosin against HF/DM were screened and identified before further visualization.

RESULTS

All potential bio-targets of calycosin and HF/DM were collected, and 20 hub targets of calycosin against HF/DM were identified. Interestingly, molecular docking findings indicated that mitogen-activated protein kinase-1 (MAPK1), β-arrestin 1 (ARRB1), and homologue-1 (ABL1) may be potent pharmacological targets of calycosin against HF/DM. In addition, all primary molecular functions of calycosin against HF/DM were identified, including regulating protein binding, ubiquitination, and the metabolic process. Furthermore, the top molecular pathways of calycosin against HF/DM were revealed, including cardiomyocyte and chemokine signaling pathways.

CONCLUSION

Our bioinformatics analysis uncovered the network targets and therapeutic mechanisms of calycosin against HF/DM. For the first time, the current in silico findings revealed that the identified hub targets may be used to screen and treat HF/DM.

Novel oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes in hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a very deadly disease. HCC initiation and progression involve multiple genetic events, including the activation of proto-oncogenes and disruption of the function of specific tumor suppressor genes. Activation of oncogenes stimulates cell growth and survival, while loss-of-function mutations of tumor suppressor genes result in unrestrained cell growth. In this review, we summarize the new findings that identified novel proto-oncogenes and tumor suppressors in HCC over the past five years. These findings may inspire the development of novel therapeutic strategies to improve the outcome of HCC patients.

ABL1 Is a Prognostic Marker and Associated with Immune Infiltration in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Background

The role of ABL1 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is still unclear. Therefore, this study aims to explore the potential role of ABL1 in the progression of HCC using bioinformatics methods.

Methods

We analyzed the expression, prognostic potential, and immune cell effect of ABL1 in HCC by using a variety of datasets.

Results

ABL1 is highly expressed in HCC and associated with unfavorable overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS). Functional network analysis revealed that ABL1 plays an important role in mitochondrial activity, ATP metabolism, protein translation and metabolism, various neurological diseases, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and notch signaling pathway. In addition, we found that ABL1 expression was closely correlated with B cells, CD8 + T cells, CD4 + T cells, macrophages, neutrophils, and dendritic cells. Furthermore, ABL1 expression was positively associated with the expression levels of immune checkpoint genes, such as PD-1L, TIM3, TIGIT, and CTLA4.

Conclusion

ABL1 is associated with immune infiltration and prognosis of HCC.

Circulating tumor cell detection and single-cell analysis using an integrated workflow based on ChimeraX® -i120 Platform: A prospective study

Circulating tumor cell (CTC) analysis holds great potential to be a noninvasive solution for clinical cancer management. A complete workflow that combined CTC detection and single-cell molecular analysis is required. We developed the ChimeraX® -i120 platform to facilitate negative enrichment, immunofluorescent labeling, and machine learning-based identification of CTCs. Analytical performances were evaluated, and a total of 477 participants were enrolled to validate the clinical feasibility of ChimeraX® -i120 CTC detection. We analyzed copy number alteration profiles of isolated single cells. The ChimeraX® -i120 platform had high sensitivity, accuracy, and reproducibility for CTC detection. In clinical samples, an average value of > 60% CTC-positive rate was found for five cancer types (i.e., liver, biliary duct, breast, colorectal, and lung), while CTCs were rarely identified in blood from healthy donors. In hepatocellular carcinoma patients treated with curative resection, CTC status was significantly associated with tumor characteristics, prognosis, and treatment response (all P < 0.05). Single-cell sequencing analysis revealed that heterogeneous genomic alteration patterns resided in different cells, patients, and cancers. Our results suggest that the use of this ChimeraX® -i120 platform and the integrated workflow has validity as a tool for CTC detection and downstream genomic profiling in the clinical setting.

DNA and RNA Sequencing Recapitulated Aberrant Tumor Metabolism in Liver Cancer Cell Lines

AIM

Metabolic reprogramming has recently attracted extensive attention for understanding cancer development. We aimed to demonstrate a genomic and transcriptomic landscape of metabolic reprogramming underlying liver cancer cell lines.

METHODS

We investigated metabolic aberrant at both the transcriptome and genome levels using transcriptome and whole-exome sequencing data from 12 human liver cancer cell lines (hLCCLs) and one normal liver cell line.

RESULTS

Three subgroups of hLCCLs characterized from transcriptome sequencing data exhibit significantly different aberrations in various metabolic processes, including amino acid, lipid, energy, and carbohydrate metabolism. Furthermore, whole-exome sequencing revealed distinct mutational signatures among different subgroups of hLCCLs and identified a total of 19 known driver genes implicated in metabolism.

CONCLUSION

Our findings highlighted differential metabolic mechanisms in the development of liver cancer and provided a resource for further investigating its metabolic mechanisms.

Role of the ABL tyrosine kinases in the epithelial-mesenchymal transition and the metastatic cascade

The ABL kinases, ABL1 and ABL2, promote tumor progression and metastasis in various solid tumors. Recent reports have shown that ABL kinases have increased expression and/or activity in solid tumors and that ABL inactivation impairs metastasis. The therapeutic effects of ABL inactivation are due in part to ABL-dependent regulation of diverse cellular processes related to the epithelial to mesenchymal transition and subsequent steps in the metastatic cascade. ABL kinases target multiple signaling pathways required for promoting one or more steps in the metastatic cascade. These findings highlight the potential utility of specific ABL kinase inhibitors as a novel treatment paradigm for patients with advanced metastatic disease. Video abstract.