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Ozmen E, Demir TD, Ozcan G. Cancer-associated fibroblasts: protagonists of the tumor microenvironment in gastric cancer. Front Mol Biosci 2024; 11:1340124. [PMID: 38562556 PMCID: PMC10982390 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2024.1340124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Enhanced knowledge of the interaction of cancer cells with their environment elucidated the critical role of tumor microenvironment in tumor progression and chemoresistance. Cancer-associated fibroblasts act as the protagonists of the tumor microenvironment, fostering the metastasis, stemness, and chemoresistance of cancer cells and attenuating the anti-cancer immune responses. Gastric cancer is one of the most aggressive cancers in the clinic, refractory to anti-cancer therapies. Growing evidence indicates that cancer-associated fibroblasts are the most prominent risk factors for a poor tumor immune microenvironment and dismal prognosis in gastric cancer. Therefore, targeting cancer-associated fibroblasts may be central to surpassing resistance to conventional chemotherapeutics, molecular-targeted agents, and immunotherapies, improving survival in gastric cancer. However, the heterogeneity in cancer-associated fibroblasts may complicate the development of cancer-associated fibroblast targeting approaches. Although single-cell sequencing studies started dissecting the heterogeneity of cancer-associated fibroblasts, the research community should still answer these questions: "What makes a cancer-associated fibroblast protumorigenic?"; "How do the intracellular signaling and the secretome of different cancer-associated fibroblast subpopulations differ from each other?"; and "Which cancer-associated fibroblast subtypes predominate specific cancer types?". Unveiling these questions can pave the way for discovering efficient cancer-associated fibroblast targeting strategies. Here, we review current knowledge and perspectives on these questions, focusing on how CAFs induce aggressiveness and therapy resistance in gastric cancer. We also review potential therapeutic approaches to prevent the development and activation of cancer-associated fibroblasts via inhibition of CAF inducers and CAF markers in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ece Ozmen
- Koç University Graduate School of Health Sciences, Istanbul, Türkiye
| | - Tevriz Dilan Demir
- Koç University Research Center for Translational Medicine (KUTTAM), Istanbul, Türkiye
| | - Gulnihal Ozcan
- Koç University Research Center for Translational Medicine (KUTTAM), Istanbul, Türkiye
- Department of Medical Pharmacology, Koç University School of Medicine, Istanbul, Türkiye
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2
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Liu L, Xiao H, Yang G. SPARC Controls Migration and Invasion of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells Via Regulating GPD2-Mediated Mitochondrial Respiration. Biochem Genet 2024:10.1007/s10528-024-10682-z. [PMID: 38334876 DOI: 10.1007/s10528-024-10682-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024]
Abstract
Mitochondrial respiration and metabolism play a pivotal role in facilitating the migratory and invasive capacities of cancer cells. In this study, we aimed to explore the potential influence of glycoprotein SPARC on mitochondrial respiration and its subsequent influence on the migration and invasion of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells. Lentivirus-mediated shRNA delivery was employed to deplete SPARC in HCC cell lines. The mitochondria localization of SPARC was validated using cellular fractionation followed by Western blot analysis, as well as immunofluorescence staining and Proteinase K protection assay. Co-immunoprecipitation was employed to investigate the interaction between SPARC and GPD2. Seahorse XF Cell Mito Stress Test was conducted to assess the mitochondrial respiration and functionality of HCC cells. Our study identifies an active pool of SPARC within the mitochondria of HCC cells, with the mitochondrial subset proving crucial for the regulation of migration and invasion. The mitochondrial SPARC interacts with GPD2, influencing its expression levels and subsequently modulating GPD2-mediated mitochondrial respiration. This regulatory mechanism orchestrates the migratory and invasive phenotypes of HCC cells. Notably, SPARC and GPD2 exhibit upregulated expression in HCC tissues compared to normal liver tissues. High expression levels of both SPARC and GPD2 in HCC patients are associated with a poorer prognosis. Our study unveils a novel role for SPARC in governing HCC cell migration and invasion through regulating GPD2-mediated mitochondrial respiration. These findings underscore the importance of mitochondrial processes in cancer progression and propose the SPARC/GPD2 axis as a promising target for HCC interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Liu
- Department of Medical Oncology, Yantaishan Hospital, Yantai, Shandong Province, China
| | - Huawei Xiao
- Department of Medical Oncology, Yantaishan Hospital, Yantai, Shandong Province, China
| | - Guiqing Yang
- Department of Medical Oncology, Yantai Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Yantai, Shandong Province, China.
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3
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Jiang S, Sun HF, Li S, Zhang N, Chen JS, Liu JX. SPARC: a potential target for functional nanomaterials and drugs. Front Mol Biosci 2023; 10:1235428. [PMID: 37577749 PMCID: PMC10419254 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2023.1235428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC), also termed osteonectin or BM-40, is a matricellular protein which regulates cell adhesion, extracellular matrix production, growth factor activity, and cell cycle. Although SPARC does not perform a structural function, it, however, modulates interactions between cells and the surrounding extracellular matrix due to its anti-proliferative and anti-adhesion properties. The overexpression of SPARC at sites, including injury, regeneration, obesity, cancer, and inflammation, reveals its application as a prospective target and therapeutic indicator in the treatment and assessment of disease. This article comprehensively summarizes the mechanism of SPARC overexpression in inflammation and tumors as well as the latest research progress of functional nanomaterials in the therapy of rheumatoid arthritis and tumors by manipulating SPARC as a new target. This article provides ideas for using functional nanomaterials to treat inflammatory diseases through the SPARC target. The purpose of this article is to provide a reference for ongoing disease research based on SPARC-targeted therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shan Jiang
- School of Pharmacy, Heilongjiang University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Harbin, China
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Rehabilitation and Healthcare, Hunan University of Medicine, Huaihua, China
| | - Hui-Feng Sun
- School of Pharmacy, Heilongjiang University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Harbin, China
| | - Shuang Li
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Rehabilitation and Healthcare, Hunan University of Medicine, Huaihua, China
- College Pharmacy, Jiamusi University, Jiamusi, China
| | - Ning Zhang
- School of Pharmacy, Heilongjiang University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Harbin, China
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Rehabilitation and Healthcare, Hunan University of Medicine, Huaihua, China
| | - Ji-Song Chen
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Rehabilitation and Healthcare, Hunan University of Medicine, Huaihua, China
| | - Jian-Xin Liu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Rehabilitation and Healthcare, Hunan University of Medicine, Huaihua, China
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of South China, Hengyang, China
- Institute of Innovation and Applied Research in Chinese Medicine, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, China
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4
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Yang X, Xia Y, Wang S, Sun C. Prognostic value of SPARC in hepatocellular carcinoma: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0273317. [PMID: 35981080 PMCID: PMC9387809 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0273317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2021] [Accepted: 08/06/2022] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is characterized by a high degree of malignancy, rapid proliferation of tumor cells, and early liver metastasis. Resistance to multiple drugs independent of the high expression of secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC) is associated with a high risk of recurrence and mortality. However, the prognostic value of SPARC in patients with HCC remains unclear. Therefore, we performed a meta-analysis to evaluate the relationship between the expression of SPARC and the prognosis of patients with HCC.
Methods
We searched for relevant articles in the CNKI, PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science databases. The 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated for combined overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) to assess the prognostic value of expression of SPARC in patients with HCC.
Results
In six of the studies, SPARC expression status was significantly associated with OS (combined hazard ratio [HR], 1.38; 95% CI, 1.0–1.82; Z = 2.27, P = 0.02) but not with DFS (combined HR, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.16–4.00, Z = 0.28, P = 0.78). Therefore, it cannot be assumed that upregulated SPARC expression has an effect on DFS in patients with HCC.
Conclusion
Elevated SPARC expression is associated with a low survival rate but not with DFS in patients with HCC. Further studies are needed to confirm our conclusions.
Registration
INPLASY registration number: INPLASY202180115. https://inplasy.com/inplasy-2021-8-0115/.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyu Yang
- Department of Oncology, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Yunhong Xia
- Department of Oncology, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
- * E-mail:
| | - Shuomin Wang
- Department of Oncology, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Chen Sun
- Department of Oncology, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
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5
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Gopinath P, Natarajan A, Sathyanarayanan A, Veluswami S, Gopisetty G. The multifaceted role of Matricellular Proteins in health and cancer, as biomarkers and therapeutic targets. Gene 2022; 815:146137. [PMID: 35007686 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2021.146137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2021] [Revised: 12/07/2021] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The extracellular matrix (ECM) is composed of a mesh of proteins, proteoglycans, growth factors, and other secretory components. It constitutes the tumor microenvironment along with the endothelial cells, cancer-associated fibroblasts, adipocytes, and immune cells. The proteins of ECM can be functionally classified as adhesive proteins and matricellular proteins (MCP). In the tumor milieu, the ECM plays a major role in tumorigenesis and therapeutic resistance. The current review encompasses thrombospondins, osteonectin, osteopontin, tenascin C, periostin, the CCN family, laminin, biglycan, decorin, mimecan, and galectins. The matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are also discussed as they are an integral part of the ECM with versatile functions in the tumor stroma. In this review, the role of these proteins in tumor initiation, growth, invasion and metastasis have been highlighted, with emphasis on their contribution to tumor therapeutic resistance. Further, their potential as biomarkers and therapeutic targets based on existing evidence are discussed. Owing to the recent advancements in protein targeting, the possibility of agents to modulate MCPs in cancer as therapeutic options are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prarthana Gopinath
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Cancer Institute WIA, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Aparna Natarajan
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Cancer Institute WIA, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
| | | | - Sridevi Veluswami
- Deaprtment of Surgical Oncology, Cancer Institute (WIA), Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Gopal Gopisetty
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Cancer Institute WIA, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
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Dong Y, Wang Q, Sun J, Liu H, Wang H. Long non-coding RNA TPTEP1 exerts inhibitory effects on hepatocellular carcinoma by impairing microRNA-454-3p-mediated DLG5 downregulation. Dig Liver Dis 2022; 54:268-279. [PMID: 34238665 DOI: 10.1016/j.dld.2021.04.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2021] [Revised: 04/07/2021] [Accepted: 04/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is usually diagnosed at late stages, making it the second cause of malignancy-related death across the world. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are of significance to tumorigenesis, highly suggestive of their functional roles as novel biomarkers for cancer therapy. The current study investigated the specific role of lncRNA TPTE pseudogene 1 (TPTEP1) in HCC. METHODS Expression of lncRNA TPTEP1, microRNA-454-3p (miR-454-3p) and discs large homolog 5 (DLG5) was determined in tissues samples from the recruited patients with HCC. Cell proliferation, migration and invasion assays were performed to determine effects of lncRNA TPTEP1, miR-454-3p and DLG5 on the malignant phenotype of tumor cells. Finally, the mouse HCC model was also established to disclose the tumor suppressor effects of lncRNA TPTEP1 in vivo. RESULTS LncRNA TPTEP1 was downregulated both in HCC cells and tissues, and played a negative regulatory role in HCC cell proliferation, migration and invasion. Mechanistically, lncRNA TPTEP1 competitively bound to miR-454-3p, thereby upregulating its endogenous target DLG5. Moreover, lncRNA TPTEP1 hindered activation of the protein kinase B signaling pathway, causing inhibited malignant phenotypes of HCC cells. Also, lncRNA TPTEP1 suppressed tumor growth and extrahepatic metastasis (lung) via miR-454-3p/DLG5 axis. CONCLUSION Taken together, this research revealed a concrete mechanism of lncRNA TPTEP1 in HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuandi Dong
- Department of Hepatobiliary Pancreatic Surgery, The Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150000, PR China; Department of Interventional Vascular Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, No. 23, Youzheng Street, Nangang District, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province 150000, PR China
| | - Qingshan Wang
- Department of Interventional Vascular Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, No. 23, Youzheng Street, Nangang District, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province 150000, PR China; Department of Vascular Surgery, Heilongjiang Provincial Hospital, Harbin 150000, PR China
| | - Jianmin Sun
- Department of Hepatobiliary Pancreatic Surgery, The Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150000, PR China
| | - Haishi Liu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Pancreatic Surgery, The Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150000, PR China
| | - Haiyang Wang
- Department of Interventional Vascular Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, No. 23, Youzheng Street, Nangang District, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province 150000, PR China.
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7
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Gao ZW, Liu C, Yang L, He T, Wu XN, Zhang HZ, Dong K. SPARC Overexpression Promotes Liver Cancer Cell Proliferation and Tumor Growth. Front Mol Biosci 2021; 8:775743. [PMID: 34912848 PMCID: PMC8668270 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2021.775743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2021] [Accepted: 11/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC) plays an important role in cancer development. The roles of SPARC in the liver hepatocellular carcinoma (LIHC) are unclear. Methods: GEPIA2 and UALCAN were used to analyze the SPARC mRNA expression levels in LIHC based on the TCGA database. The GEO database was used to verify the analysis results. Immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis was used to investigate the SPARC protein levels in LIHC tissues. The Kaplan-Meier (KM) plotter was used to analyze the correlation between SPARC and prognosis. The serum SPARC levels were measured by ELISA. CCK8 and murine xenograft models were used to investigate the effect of SPARC on the liver cancer growth in vitro and in vivo. SPARC-correlated genes were screened by LinkedOmics. Results: Based on the TCGA and GEO databases, the analysis showed that the SPARC mRNA expression levels were increased in tumor tissues and peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) from LIHC compared to normal controls. The IHC analysis showed an increased level of SPARC in LIHC tissues compared to adjacent non-tumor tissues. However, we found that the serum SPARC levels were lower in LIHC than those in healthy controls. The KM plotter showed that there was no significant correlation between the SPARC mRNA levels and overall survival. However, in sorafenib-treated LIHC patients, the high SPARC expression predicts favorable prognosis. Furthermore, the endogenous SPARC overexpression promotes liver cancer cell proliferation in vitro and tumor growth in vivo, while there was no significant effect of exogenous SPARC treatment on liver cancer cell proliferation. Function enrichment analysis of SPARC-correlated genes indicated a critical role of interaction with an extracellular matrix in SPARC-promoting cancer cell proliferation. Conclusion: SPARC mRNAs were increased in LIHC tumor tissues, and SPARC overexpression may promote the liver cancer growth. Further studies are needed to clarify the potential prognostic value of SPARC, both in tissues and in circulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhao-Wei Gao
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Medical University, xi'an, China
| | - Chong Liu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Medical University, xi'an, China
| | - Lan Yang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Medical University, xi'an, China
| | - Ting He
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Medical University, xi'an, China
| | - Xia-Nan Wu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Medical University, xi'an, China
| | - Hui-Zhong Zhang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Medical University, xi'an, China
| | - Ke Dong
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Medical University, xi'an, China
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8
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Chang MC, Chen NY, Chen JH, Huang WL, Chen CY, Huang CC, Pan YH, Chang HH, Jeng JH. bFGF stimulated plasminogen activation factors, but inhibited alkaline phosphatase and SPARC in stem cells from apical Papilla: Involvement of MEK/ERK, TAK1 and p38 signaling. J Adv Res 2021; 40:95-107. [PMID: 36100336 PMCID: PMC9481946 DOI: 10.1016/j.jare.2021.12.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2021] [Revised: 12/04/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
bFGF induced uPA, uPAR, PAI-1 production/expression in SCAP → bFGF induced decline of ALP and SPARC of SCAP → The effects of bFGF are regulated by ERK, p38, TAK1 and Akt signaling → Crucial for SCAP proliferation, matrix turnover and differentiation → These events are important for revascularization/root apexogenesis
Introduction Objectives Methods Results Conclusion
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Carriere P, Calvo N, Novoa Díaz MB, Lopez-Moncada F, Herrera A, Torres MJ, Alonso E, Gandini NA, Gigola G, Contreras HR, Gentili C. Role of SPARC in the epithelial-mesenchymal transition induced by PTHrP in human colon cancer cells. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2021; 530:111253. [PMID: 33781836 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2021.111253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2020] [Revised: 02/27/2021] [Accepted: 03/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Parathyroid hormone-related peptide (PTHrP) exerts its effects on cells derived from colorectal cancer (CRC) and tumor microenvironment and is involved in processes requiring the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Here, we report that PTHrP modulates factors expression and morphological changes associated with EMT in HCT116 cells from CRC. PTHrP increased the protein expression of SPARC, a factor involved in EMT, in HCT116 cells but not in Caco-2 cells also from CRC but with less aggressiveness. PTHrP also increased SPARC expression and its subsequent release from endothelial HMEC-1 cells. The conditioned media of PTHrP-treated HMEC-1 cells induced early changes related to EMT in HCT116 cells. Moreover, SPARC treatment on HCT116 cells potentiated PTHrP modulation in E-cadherin expression and cell migration. In vivo PTHrP also increased SPARC expression and decreased E-cadherin expression. These results suggest a novel PTHrP action on CRC progression involving the microenvironment in the modulation of events associated with EMT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro Carriere
- Department of Biology, Biochemistry and Pharmacy-INBIOSUR, National University of the South, Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - Natalia Calvo
- Department of Biology, Biochemistry and Pharmacy-INBIOSUR, National University of the South, Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - María Belén Novoa Díaz
- Department of Biology, Biochemistry and Pharmacy-INBIOSUR, National University of the South, Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - Fernanda Lopez-Moncada
- Department of Basic and Clinic Oncology. Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Chile
| | - Alexander Herrera
- Department of Basic and Clinic Oncology. Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Chile
| | - María José Torres
- Department of Basic and Clinic Oncology. Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Chile
| | | | | | - Graciela Gigola
- Department of Biology, Biochemistry and Pharmacy-INBIOSUR, National University of the South, Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - Hector R Contreras
- Department of Basic and Clinic Oncology. Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Chile
| | - Claudia Gentili
- Department of Biology, Biochemistry and Pharmacy-INBIOSUR, National University of the South, Bahía Blanca, Argentina.
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Liu L, Borlak J. Advances in Liver Cancer Stem Cell Isolation and their Characterization. Stem Cell Rev Rep 2021; 17:1215-1238. [PMID: 33432485 DOI: 10.1007/s12015-020-10114-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Over the last decade research on cancer stem cells (CSC) significantly contributed to a better understanding of tumor biology. Given their similarity to normal stem cells, i.e. self-renewal and pluripotency the need arises to develop robust protocols for the isolation and characterization of CSCs. As with other malignancies, hepatic tumors are composed of a heterogeneous population of cells including liver cancer stem cells (LCSC). Yet, a precise understanding of why stem cells become cancerous is still lacking. There is unmet need to develop robust protocols for the successful isolation of LCSCs from human tissue resection material as to assist in the development of molecular targeted therapies. Here we review the research progress made in the isolation and characterization of LCSCs by considering a wide range of cell surface markers and sorting methods, as applied to side populations, microsphere cultures and the gradient centrifugation method. We emphasize the different fluorescence activated cell sorting methods and the possibility to enrich LCSCs by immunomagnetic beads. We review the specificity of functional assays by considering ABCG transporter and ALDH1 enzyme activities and evaluate the in vivo tumorigenicity of LCSCs in highly sensitive bioassays. Finally, we evaluate different LCSC markers in association with viral and non-viral liver disease and explore the potential of novel drug delivery systems targeting CD133, EpCAM, CD13 and CD90 for the development of molecular targeted therapies. Graphical Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Liu
- Centre for Pharmacology and Toxicology, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, 30625, Hannover, Germany
| | - Jürgen Borlak
- Centre for Pharmacology and Toxicology, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, 30625, Hannover, Germany.
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11
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Wang L, Wang W, Xu Y, Wang Q. Low Levels of SPARC are Associated with Tumor Progression and Poor Prognosis in Human Endometrial Carcinoma. Onco Targets Ther 2020; 13:11549-11569. [PMID: 33204109 PMCID: PMC7667597 DOI: 10.2147/ott.s277795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2020] [Accepted: 10/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background SPARC (secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine), also known as osteonectin, BM-40, and 43 K protein, is a matricellular protein associated with various tumor progressions. The aim of this research was to investigate the prognostic value of SPARC in endometrial carcinoma (EC) and its function in cancer cell invasion and metastasis. Methods From both mRNA and protein levels, SPARC expression in normal endometrial tissue and EC tissue, normal endometrial cells and 4 EC cell lines (KLE, HEC-1A, HEC-1B, Ishikawa) were evaluated by immunohistochemistry (IHC) or immunocytochemistry (ICC), quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and Western blotting. RNA interference mediated by lentivirus was performed to get the stable SPARC down-expressing cells. The functional analysis techniques in vitro and in vivo were used to detect the effects of SPARC knockdown on EC cell proliferation, apoptosis, invasion and metastasis. Results The expressions of SPARC in EC tissues and cells were much lower than those in normal endometrial cells and tissues; meanwhile, its low expression was closely related to the malignant clinicopathological characteristics of EC. SPARC knockdown could inhibit apoptosis, promote the process of EMT and improve the proliferation and invasion capacities of EC cells in vitro and in vivo. Conclusion The low expression of SPARC was detected in EC tissues and cells, which was positively correlated with the poor prognosis of EC patients. SPARC acted as a tumor suppressor gene that hindered EC progression, which proposed a new therapeutic strategy for EC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling Wang
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130041, People's Republic of China
| | - Wei Wang
- Department of Radiology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130041, People's Republic of China
| | - Yangchun Xu
- Department of Dermatology, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130041, People's Republic of China
| | - Qiang Wang
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130041, People's Republic of China
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12
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Ouyang Z, Li G, Zhu H, Wang J, Qi T, Qu Q, Tu C, Qu J, Lu Q. Construction of a Five-Super-Enhancer-Associated-Genes Prognostic Model for Osteosarcoma Patients. Front Cell Dev Biol 2020; 8:598660. [PMID: 33195283 PMCID: PMC7661850 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2020.598660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2020] [Accepted: 10/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Osteosarcoma is a malignant tumor most commonly arising in children and adolescents and associated with poor prognosis. In recent years, some prognostic models have been constructed to assist clinicians in the treatment of osteosarcoma. However, the prognosis and treatment of patients with osteosarcoma remain unsatisfactory. Notably, super-enhancer (SE)-associated genes strongly promote the progression of osteosarcoma. In the present study, we constructed a novel effective prognostic model using SE-associated genes from osteosarcoma. Five SE-associated genes were initially screened through the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (Lasso) penalized Cox regression, as well as univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses. Meanwhile, a risk score model was constructed using the expression of these five genes. The excellent performance of the five-SE-associated-gene-based prognostic model was determined via time-dependent receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and Kaplan-Meier curves. Inferior outcome of overall survival (OS) was predicted in the high-risk group. A nomogram based on the polygenic risk score model was further established to validate the performance of the prognostic model. It showed that our prognostic model performed outstandingly in predicting 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS of patients with osteosarcoma. Meanwhile, these five genes also belonged to the hub genes associated with survival and necrosis of osteosarcoma according to the result of weighted gene co-expression network analysis based on the dataset of GSE39058. Therefore, we believe that the five-SE-associated-gene-based prognostic model established in this study can accurately predict the prognosis of patients with osteosarcoma and effectively assist clinicians in treating osteosarcoma in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhanbo Ouyang
- Department of Pharmacy, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University; Institute of Clinical Pharmacy, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Guohua Li
- Department of Pharmacy, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University; Institute of Clinical Pharmacy, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Haihong Zhu
- Department of Pharmacy, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University; Institute of Clinical Pharmacy, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Jiaojiao Wang
- Department of Pharmacy, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University; Institute of Clinical Pharmacy, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Tingting Qi
- Department of Pharmacy, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University; Institute of Clinical Pharmacy, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Qiang Qu
- Department of Pharmacy, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Chao Tu
- Department of Orthopaedics, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Jian Qu
- Department of Pharmacy, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University; Institute of Clinical Pharmacy, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Qiong Lu
- Department of Pharmacy, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University; Institute of Clinical Pharmacy, Central South University, Changsha, China
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13
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Liu Y, Feng Y, Wang X, Yang X, Hu Y, Li Y, Zhang Q, Huang Y, Shi K, Ran C, Hou J, Jiang L, Li J, Wang X. SPARC Negatively Correlates With Prognosis After Transarterial Chemoembolization and Facilitates Proliferation and Metastasis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma via ERK/MMP Signaling Pathways. Front Oncol 2020; 10:813. [PMID: 32670867 PMCID: PMC7326074 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2020.00813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2019] [Accepted: 04/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) represents a widely accepted treatment procedure for intermediate stage or unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, few studies have evaluated serologic prognosis factors in patients with HCC before TACE. Secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC) is a matricellular glycoprotein affecting tumorigenesis and metastasis, and leading to poor prognosis in HCC. Therefore, to further explore the potential prognosis value of SPARC, the expression levels in the plasma of patients and its potential molecular mechanisms underlying the regulation of HCC were investigated in this study. Materials and Methods: The study population included 43 patients with HCC who underwent TACE. To evaluate the expression of SPARC in different grades of pathological tissues, the immunohistochemistry was performed on tissues from 89 patients with HCC. Lentiviral vectors carrying interference sequences, as well as vectors harboring the complete open reading frame of SPARC for the knockdown or overexpression of SPARC in HuH-7 or HepG2 cells, respectively, allowed us to determine the biological functions of SPARC in vitro and in vivo. We also evaluated the levels of phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1/2 (p-ERK1/2) and matrix metalloproteinases 2/9 (MMP2/9) activation. Results: The association between serum levels of SPARC and the survival at different TNM and Barcelona-Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stages in patients with HCC undergoing TACE were evaluated. We observed a significant upregulation of SPARC in high grade HCC tissues, predicting unfavorable prognosis, and suggesting an important tumor-promoting effect of SPARC. Functional studies indicated that downregulation of SPARC contributed to the inhibition of proliferation and metastasis of HuH-7 cells in vitro, whereas its overexpression led to opposite phenotypes. Mechanistically, decreased expression of SPARC resulted in dephosphorylation of ERK1/2 and deactivation of MMP2/9, thereby inhibiting growth and metastasis of HCC. Importantly, low expression levels of SPARC inhibited the formation of subcutaneous tumors in nude mice. Conclusions: SPARC was found to facilitate proliferation and metastasis of HCC via modulation of the ERK1/2-MMP2/9 signaling pathways. Our research has provided a glimpse on the biological mechanism of SPARC and might contribute to the eventual treatment of liver cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yao Liu
- Center of Integrative Medicine, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Ying Feng
- Center of Integrative Medicine, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaojing Wang
- Center of Integrative Medicine, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Xue Yang
- Center of Integrative Medicine, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Ying Hu
- Center of Integrative Medicine, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Yuxin Li
- Center of Integrative Medicine, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Qun Zhang
- Center of Integrative Medicine, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Yunyi Huang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Ke Shi
- Department of Gastroenterology, Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Chongping Ran
- Center of Integrative Medicine, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Jie Hou
- Department of Gastroenterology, Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Li Jiang
- Department of Surgery, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Junfa Li
- Department of Neurobiology and Center of Stroke, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Xianbo Wang
- Center of Integrative Medicine, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
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14
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Zhao J, Wang Y, Han M, Lu H, Chen X, Liu S, Yuan X, Han K, Liang P, Cheng J. P7TP3 inhibits tumor development, migration, invasion and adhesion of liver cancer through the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Cancer Sci 2020; 111:994-1007. [PMID: 31746531 PMCID: PMC7060470 DOI: 10.1111/cas.14243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2019] [Revised: 11/04/2019] [Accepted: 11/06/2019] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The effect of hepatitis C virus p7 trans‐regulated protein 3 (P7TP3) in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is still unknown. The present study aimed to investigate the role and mechanism of P7TP3 in HCC. P7TP3 was significantly decreased in HCC tissues when compared with corresponding liver tissues immediately around the tumor (LAT) from seven HCC patients. Fewer and smaller colonies originated from HepG2‐P7TP3 cells when compared to HepG2‐NC cells. Overexpression of P7TP3 in HepG2 cells significantly repressed the growth of HCC xenografts in nude mice. Furthermore, wound‐healing tests, Transwell assays, Matrigel Transwell assays, adhesion assays, CCK‐8 assays, flow cytometry and western blotting analysis showed that P7TP3 protein expression inhibited migration, invasion, adhesion, proliferation and cell cycle progression in HCC cell lines. Moreover, P7TP3 suppressed the activity of the Wnt/β‐catenin signaling pathway, and was restored by Wnt3a, which is an activator of the Wnt/β‐catenin signaling pathway. Consistently, β‐catenin was highly expressed by P7TP3 silencing, and restored by XAV939, an inhibitor of the Wnt/β‐catenin signaling pathway. Finally, microRNA (miR)‐182‐5p suppressed the expression of target gene P7TP3 by directly interacting with the 3′‐UTR region. Taken together, P7TP3, the direct target gene of miR‐182‐5p, inhibited HCC by regulating migration, invasion, adhesion, proliferation and cell cycle progression of liver cancer cell through the Wnt/β‐catenin signaling pathway. These findings provide strong evidence that P7TP3 functions as a new promising tumor suppressor in HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Zhao
- Peking University Ditan Teaching Hospital, Beijing, China.,Institute of Infectious Diseases, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University/Beijing Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Yun Wang
- Peking University Ditan Teaching Hospital, Beijing, China.,Institute of Infectious Diseases, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University/Beijing Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Ming Han
- Institute of Infectious Diseases, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University/Beijing Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Hongping Lu
- Institute of Infectious Diseases, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University/Beijing Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaofan Chen
- Institute of Infectious Diseases, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University/Beijing Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Beijing, China.,Department of Infectious Diseases, Center for Liver Diseases, Peking University, First Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Shunai Liu
- Institute of Infectious Diseases, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University/Beijing Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoxue Yuan
- Institute of Infectious Diseases, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University/Beijing Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Kai Han
- Institute of Infectious Diseases, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University/Beijing Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Pu Liang
- Institute of Infectious Diseases, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University/Beijing Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Jun Cheng
- Peking University Ditan Teaching Hospital, Beijing, China.,Institute of Infectious Diseases, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University/Beijing Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Beijing, China.,Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Big Data-Based Precision Medicine, Beihang University and Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
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15
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SPARC correlates with unfavorable outcome and promotes tumor growth in lung squamous cell carcinoma. Exp Mol Pathol 2019; 110:104276. [PMID: 31233732 DOI: 10.1016/j.yexmp.2019.104276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2019] [Revised: 06/17/2019] [Accepted: 06/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC) plays a crucial role in the malignant progression of a number of human cancers. However, the roles of SPARC in lung squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) remain elusive. In this present study, we first detected SPARC expression and investigated the relationship between SPARC expression and the clinicopathological attributes of LSCC patients. Then we constructed SPARC-overexpression model in LSCC cell line to explore the characteristics of SPARC in LSCC development both in vitro and in vivo. The data demonstrated a remarkably higher level of SPARC in LSCC tissues than in corresponding non-cancerous tissues and elevated SPARC expression was significantly correlated with poor outcome in LSCC patients. Moreover, a serial of phenotypic experiments indicated that SPARC overexpression substantially facilitated the growth and inhibited the apoptosis in LSCC cells and xenografts. Taken together, our results suggest that SPARC is a novel prognostic marker for LSCC prognosis and SPARC significantly promotes LSCC tumorigenesis. Targeting SPARC may provide a novel therapeutic strategy for LSCC management.
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