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Xu L, Fan YH, Zhang XJ, Bai L. Unraveling the relationship between histone methylation and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. World J Hepatol 2024; 16:703-715. [PMID: 38818286 PMCID: PMC11135277 DOI: 10.4254/wjh.v16.i5.703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2023] [Revised: 02/09/2024] [Accepted: 04/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) poses a significant health challenge in modern societies due to shifts in lifestyle and dietary habits. Its complexity stems from genetic predisposition, environmental influences, and metabolic factors. Epigenetic processes govern various cellular functions such as transcription, chromatin structure, and cell division. In NAFLD, these epigenetic tendencies, especially the process of histone methylation, are intricately intertwined with fat accumulation in the liver. Histone methylation is regulated by different enzymes like methyltransferases and demethylases and influences the expression of genes related to adipogenesis. While early-stage NAFLD is reversible, its progression to severe stages becomes almost irreversible. Therefore, early detection and intervention in NAFLD are crucial, and understanding the precise role of histone methylation in the early stages of NAFLD could be vital in halting or potentially reversing the progression of this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Xu
- State Key Laboratory of New Targets Discovery and Drug Development for Major Diseases; Gannan Innovation and Translational Medicine Research Institute, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou 341000, China
| | - Yu-Hong Fan
- State Key Laboratory of New Targets Discovery and Drug Development for Major Diseases; Gannan Innovation and Translational Medicine Research Institute, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou 341000, China
| | - Xiao-Jing Zhang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China; State Key Laboratory of New Targets Discovery and Drug Development for Major Diseases, Gannan Innovation and Translational Medicine Research Institute, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou 341000, China
| | - Lan Bai
- State Key Laboratory of New Targets Discovery and Drug Development for Major Diseases; Gannan Innovation and Translational Medicine Research Institute, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou 341000, China.
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Li L, Song Q, Zhou J, Ji Q. Controllers of histone methylation-modifying enzymes in gastrointestinal cancers. Biomed Pharmacother 2024; 174:116488. [PMID: 38520871 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2024.116488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2023] [Revised: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Gastrointestinal (GI) cancers have been considered primarily genetic malignancies, caused by a series of progressive genetic alterations. Accumulating evidence shows that histone methylation, an epigenetic modification program, plays an essential role in the different pathological stages of GI cancer progression, such as precancerous lesions, tumorigenesis, and tumor metastasis. Histone methylation-modifying enzymes, including histone methyltransferases (HMTs) and demethylases (HDMs), are the main executor of post-transcriptional modification. The abnormal expression of histone methylation-modifying enzymes characterizes GI cancers with complex pathogenesis and progression. Interactions between upstream controllers and histone methylation-modifying enzymes have recently been revealed, and have provided numerous opportunities to elucidate the pathogenesis of GI cancers in depth and clearly. Here we focus on the association between histone methylation-modifying enzymes and their controllers, aiming to provide a new perspective on the molecular research and clinical management of GI cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling Li
- Department of Medical Oncology & Cancer Institute of Integrative Medicine, Shuguang Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Qing Song
- Department of Medical Oncology, Suzhou TCM Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215007, China
| | - Jing Zhou
- Department of Medical Oncology & Cancer Institute of Integrative Medicine, Shuguang Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China; Liver Disease Department of Integrative Medicine, Ningbo No.2 Hospital, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315000, China.
| | - Qing Ji
- Department of Medical Oncology & Cancer Institute of Integrative Medicine, Shuguang Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China.
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Deng Y, Hu M, Huang S, Fu N. Molecular mechanism and therapeutic significance of essential amino acids in metabolically associated fatty liver disease. J Nutr Biochem 2024; 126:109581. [PMID: 38219809 DOI: 10.1016/j.jnutbio.2024.109581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2023] [Revised: 01/01/2024] [Accepted: 01/06/2024] [Indexed: 01/16/2024]
Abstract
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), also known as metabolically associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD), is a systemic metabolic disease characterized by lipid accumulation in the liver, lipid toxicity, insulin resistance, intestinal dysbiosis, and inflammation that can progress from simple steatosis to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and even cirrhosis or cancer. It is the most prevalent illness threatening world health. Currently, there are almost no approved drug interventions for MAFLD, mainly dietary changes and exercise to control weight and regulate metabolic disorders. Meanwhile, the metabolic pathway involved in amino acid metabolism also influences the onset and development of MAFLD in the body, and most amino acid metabolism takes place in the liver. Essential amino acids are those amino acids that must be supplemented from outside the diet and that cannot be synthesized in the body or cannot be synthesized at a rate sufficient to meet the body's needs, including leucine, isoleucine, valine (collectively known as branched-chain amino acids), tryptophan, phenylalanine (which are aromatic amino acids), histidine, methionine, threonine and lysine. The metabolic balance of the body is closely linked to these essential amino acids, and essential amino acids are closely linked to the pathophysiological process of MAFLD. In this paper, we will focus on the metabolism of essential amino acids in the body and further explore the therapeutic strategies for MAFLD based on the studies conducted in recent years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuting Deng
- The Affiliated Nanhua Hospital, Department of Gastroenterology, Hunan Provincial Clinical Research Center of Metabolic Associated Fatty Liver Disease, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, 421002, China
| | - Mengsi Hu
- The Affiliated Nanhua Hospital, Department of Gastroenterology, Hunan Provincial Clinical Research Center of Metabolic Associated Fatty Liver Disease, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, 421002, China
| | - Shufang Huang
- The Affiliated Nanhua Hospital, Hunan Provincial Clinical Research Center of Metabolic Associated Fatty Liver Disease, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, 421002, China.
| | - Nian Fu
- The Affiliated Nanhua Hospital, Department of Gastroenterology, Hunan Provincial Clinical Research Center of Metabolic Associated Fatty Liver Disease, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, 421002, China; The Affiliated Nanhua Hospital, Institute of Clinical Research, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, 421002, China.
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Hatano M, Akiyama Y, Shimada S, Yagi K, Akahoshi K, Itoh M, Tanabe M, Ogawa Y, Tanaka S. Loss of KDM6B epigenetically confers resistance to lipotoxicity in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease-related HCC. Hepatol Commun 2023; 7:e0277. [PMID: 37782459 PMCID: PMC10545410 DOI: 10.1097/hc9.0000000000000277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND NAFLD caused by abnormalities in hepatic lipid metabolism is associated with an increased risk of developing HCC. The molecular mechanisms underlying the progression of NAFLD-related HCC are not fully understood. We investigated the molecular mechanism and role of KDM6B downregulation in NAFLD-related HCC after the KDM6B gene was identified using microarray analysis as commonly downregulated in mouse NAFLD-related HCC and human nonhepatitis B and nonhepatitis C viral-HCC. METHODS The 5-hydroxymethylcytosine levels of KDM6B in HCC cells were determined using glycosylated hydroxymethyl-sensitive PCR. Microarray and chromatin immunoprecipitation analyses using KDM6B-knockout (KO) cells were used to identify KDM6B target genes. Lipotoxicity was assessed using a palmitate-treated cell proliferation assay. Immunohistochemistry was used to evaluate KDM6B expression in human HCC tissues. RESULTS KDM6B expression levels in HCC cells correlated with the 5-hydroxymethylcytosine levels in the KDM6B gene body region. Gene set enrichment analysis revealed that the lipid metabolism pathway was suppressed in KDM6B-KO cells. KDM6B-KO cells acquired resistance to lipotoxicity (p < 0.01) and downregulated the expression of G0S2, an adipose triglyceride lipase/patatin like phospholipase domain containing 2 (ATGL/PNPLA2) inhibitor, through increased histone H3 lysine-27 trimethylation levels. G0S2 knockdown in KDM6B-expressed HCC cells conferred lipotoxicity resistance, whereas ATGL/PNPLA2 inhibition in the KDM6B-KO cells reduced these effects. Immunohistochemistry revealed that KDM6B expression was decreased in human NAFLD-related HCC tissues (p < 0.001), which was significantly associated with decreased G0S2 expression (p = 0.032). CONCLUSIONS KDM6B-disrupted HCC acquires resistance to lipotoxicity via ATGL/PNPLA2 activation caused by epigenetic downregulation of G0S2 expression. Reduced KDM6B and G0S2 expression levels are common in NAFLD-related HCC. Targeting the KDM6B-G0S2-ATGL/PNPLA2 pathway may be a useful therapeutic strategy for NAFLD-related HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megumi Hatano
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yoshimitsu Akiyama
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shu Shimada
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kohei Yagi
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Keiichi Akahoshi
- Department of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Michiko Itoh
- Kanagawa Institute of Industrial Science and Technology, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Minoru Tanabe
- Department of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yoshihiro Ogawa
- Department of Medicine and Bioregulatory Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Shinji Tanaka
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
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Liu Y, Chen M. Histone Demethylation Profiles in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Prognostic Values in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Bioinformatic Analysis. Curr Issues Mol Biol 2023; 45:3640-3657. [PMID: 37185761 PMCID: PMC10136463 DOI: 10.3390/cimb45040237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Revised: 03/30/2023] [Accepted: 04/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common chronic liver disease with multifactorial pathogenesis; histone demethylases (HDMs) are emerging as attractive targets. We identified HDM genes (including KDM5C, KDM6B, KDM8, KDM4A, and JMJD7) that were differentially expressed in NAFLD and normal samples by exploring gene expression profiling datasets. There was no significant difference in the expression of genes related to histone demethylation between mild and advanced NAFLD. In vitro and in vivo studies indicated that KDM6B and JMJD7 were upregulated at the mRNA level in NAFLD. We explored the expression levels and prognostic values of the identified HDM genes in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). KDM5C and KDM4A were upregulated in HCC compared to normal tissue, while KDM8 showed downregulation. The abnormal expression levels of these HDMs could provide prognostic values. Furthermore, KDM5C and KDM4A were associated with immune cell infiltration in HCC. HDMs were associated with cellular and metabolic processes and may be involved in the regulation of gene expression. Differentially expressed HDM genes identified in NAFLD may provide value to understanding pathogenesis and in the development of epigenetic therapeutic targets. However, on the basis of the inconsistent results of in vitro studies, future in vivo experiments combined with transcriptomic analysis are needed for further validation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanbin Liu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, No. 99 Zhang Zhidong Road, Wuhan 430000, China
| | - Mingkai Chen
- Department of Gastroenterology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, No. 99 Zhang Zhidong Road, Wuhan 430000, China
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