1
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Wu Y, Zhao J, Tian Y, Jin H. Cellular functions of heat shock protein 20 (HSPB6) in cancer: A review. Cell Signal 2023; 112:110928. [PMID: 37844714 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2023.110928] [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: 08/24/2023] [Revised: 10/07/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/18/2023]
Abstract
Heat shock proteins (HSP) are a large family of peptide proteins that are widely found in cells. Studies have shown that the expression and function of HSPs in cells are very complex, and they can participate in cellular physiological and pathological processes through multiple pathways. Multiple heat shock proteins are associated with cancer cell growth, proliferation, metastasis, and resistance to anticancer drugs, and they play a key role in cancer development by ensuring the correct folding or degradation of proteins in cancer cells. As research hotspots, HSP90, HSP70 and HSP27 have been extensively studied in cancer so far. However, HSP20, also referred to as HSPB6, as a member of the small heat shock protein family, has been shown to play an important role in the cardiovascular system, but little research has been conducted on HSP20 in cancer. This review summarizes the current cellular functions of HSP20 in different cancer types, as well as its effects on cancer proliferation, progression, prognosis, and its other functions in cancer, to illustrate the close association between HSP20 and cancer. We show that, unlike most HSPs, HSP20 mainly plays an active anticancer role in cancer development, which is expected to provide new ideas and help for cancer diagnosis and treatment and research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yifeng Wu
- Department of General Surgery, Wuxi 9th People's Hospital Affiliated to Soochow University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214000, People's Republic of China
| | - Jinjin Zhao
- Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210029, People's Republic of China
| | - Yun Tian
- Department of Oncology, Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210029, People's Republic of China.
| | - Hongdou Jin
- Department of General Surgery, Wuxi 9th People's Hospital Affiliated to Soochow University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214000, People's Republic of China.
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2
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Hsueh KC, Lee CC, Huang PT, Liang CY, Yang SF. Survival Benefit of Experience of Liver Resection for Advanced Recurrent Hepatocellular Carcinoma Treated with Sorafenib: A Propensity Score Matching Analysis. Curr Oncol 2023; 30:3206-3216. [PMID: 36975456 PMCID: PMC10047492 DOI: 10.3390/curroncol30030243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2023] [Revised: 03/05/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Several studies have shown that liver resection (LR) confers better survival outcomes in intermediate- and advanced-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients. However, the postoperative recurrence rate is high, and little is known about the survival benefits of LR for recurrent HCC patients who have already received systemic treatment. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of LR on recurrent advanced-stage HCC patients who received sorafenib as a systemic treatment. In this study, 147 advanced HCC patients were enrolled between 1 January 2012 and 31 December 2019. Two study groups were classified, based on whether they underwent LR or not. To reduce the possible selection bias, a propensity score matching (PSM) analysis was performed. The primary study endpoint was set as overall survival (OS), and the secondary endpoint was set as progression-free survival (PFS). Our study results revealed that advanced HCC patients who received sorafenib with LR had a longer OS than did those without LR, whether before or after PSM (15.0 months vs. 6.0 months, HR 0.45, 95% CI 0.31–0.67, p < 0.001; 15.0 months vs. 5.0 months, HR 0.46, 95% CI 0.28–0.76, p = 0.001). Similar results were obtained in PFS, before or after PSM (4.14 months vs. 2.60 months, HR 0.60, 95% CI 0.40–0.89, p = 0.01; 4.57 months vs. 2.63 months, HR 0.58, 95% CI 0.34–0.97, p = 0.037). Multivariate analysis showed that the experience of LR was independent of other factors associated with better OS and PFS, whether before or after PSM (p < 0.05). Therefore, advanced HCC patients who have undergone liver resection should be encouraged to continue sorafenib treatment to improve prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kuan-Chun Hsueh
- Division of General Surgery, Department of Surgery, Tungs’ Taichung Metroharbor Hospital, Taichung 435, Taiwan
- Department of Post-Baccalaureate Medicine, College of Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 402, Taiwan
| | - Cheng-Chun Lee
- Division of Diagnostic Radiology, Department of Medical Imaging, Tungs’ Taichung Metroharbor Hospital, Taichung 435, Taiwan
| | - Pi-Teh Huang
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Tungs’ Taichung Metroharbor Hospital, Taichung 435, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Yu Liang
- Department of Nursing, Tungs’ Taichung Metroharbor Hospital, Taichung 435, Taiwan
| | - Shun-Fa Yang
- Institute of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung 402, Taiwan
- Department of Medical Research, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung 402, Taiwan
- Correspondence:
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3
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Zhu Y, Xu J, Hu W, Wang F, Zhou Y, Gong W, Xu W. Inhibiting USP8 overcomes hepatocellular carcinoma resistance via suppressing receptor tyrosine kinases. Aging (Albany NY) 2021; 13:14999-15012. [PMID: 34081623 PMCID: PMC8221339 DOI: 10.18632/aging.203061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2020] [Accepted: 04/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
The ubiquitin-specific protease 8 (USP8) is a prototypic multidomain deubiquitinating enzyme with pleiotropic functions. We investigated the role of USP8 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) by analyzing expression patterns of USP8 in HCC patients, and evaluating its functions and underlying signaling. Among 20 HCC patients investigated, we found that USP8 protein upregulation was a common phenomenon (17 out of 20) in HCC compared to normal liver tissue. Furthermore, the upregulation of USP8 was not associated with any clinicopathology. USP8 inhibition via genetic and pharmacological approaches resulted in growth inhibition and apoptosis induction in both sensitive and doxorubicin-resistant HCC cells. Of note, USP8 inhibition significantly enhanced doxorubicin or sorafenib's efficacy in HCC cells and mouse models. We further found that USP8 inhibition decreased levels of multiple receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) by ~90%, such as epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and c-Met. Consistently, the downstream signaling regulated by RTKs was disrupted in HCC cells after USP8 inhibition, as shown by the decreased p-Akt, p-STAT3 and p-Raf. Our findings demonstrate that USP8 is a novel therapeutic target in HCC. Inhibiting USP8 has potential to overcome current drug resistance, particularly on HCC patients with high USP8 expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Zhu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shenzhen Hospital of Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Jianguo Xu
- Department of Liver Disease Center, Shenzhen Hospital of Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Wei Hu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shenzhen Hospital of Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Fang Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shenzhen Hospital of Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Yan Zhou
- Information Management Section, Bethune International Peace Hospital, Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province, China
| | - Wei Gong
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shenzhen Hospital of Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Wen Xu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shenzhen Hospital of Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
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4
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Yamada N, Matsushima-Nishiwaki R, Kobayashi K, Tachi J, Kozawa O. GLP-1 reduces the migration of hepatocellular carcinoma cells via suppression of the stress-activated protein kinase/c-Jun N-terminal kinase pathway. Arch Biochem Biophys 2021; 703:108851. [PMID: 33771507 DOI: 10.1016/j.abb.2021.108851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2020] [Revised: 03/11/2021] [Accepted: 03/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Incretins, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP), are hormones secreted from small intestine accompanied with oral intake. We previously showed that transforming growth factor (TGF)-α stimulates the migration of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells via mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases, AKT and Rho-kinase. However, it remains to be elucidated whether incretins affect HCC cell functions. In the present study, therefore, we investigated whether incretins affect the migration of HCC cells using human HCC-derived HuH7 cells. GLP-1, but not GIP, reduced both TGF-α- and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)-induced cell migration. IBMX, an inhibitor of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase, enhanced the suppressive effect of GLP-1. GLP-1 attenuated the phosphorylation of stress-activated protein kinase/c-Jun N-terminal kinase (SAPK/JNK) by TGF-α and HGF. Our results strongly suggest that GLP-1 suppresses TGF-α- and HGF-induced migration of HCC cells through inhibiting the SAPK/JNK signaling pathway, and that the inhibition by GLP-1 is due to cAMP production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noriko Yamada
- Department of Pharmacology, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, 501-1194, Gifu, Japan
| | | | - Kaido Kobayashi
- Department of Pharmacology, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, 501-1194, Gifu, Japan
| | - Junko Tachi
- Department of Pharmacology, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, 501-1194, Gifu, Japan
| | - Osamu Kozawa
- Department of Pharmacology, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, 501-1194, Gifu, Japan.
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5
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LncRNA ANRIL promotes cell growth, migration and invasion of hepatocellular carcinoma cells via sponging miR-144. Anticancer Drugs 2020; 30:1013-1021. [PMID: 31609763 DOI: 10.1097/cad.0000000000000807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Antisense non-coding RNA in the INK4A locus (ANRIL) has been recognized as a cancer-related lncRNA in hepatocellular carcinoma previously. This study aimed to reveal the functional effects and mechanisms of ANRIL on hepatocellular carcinoma cells in vitro. The expression of ANRIL in hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines (MHCC97 and Li-7) and non-tumourigenic liver cell line THLE-3 was detected by qRT-PCR. The expression of ANRIL, miR-144 and PBX3 in hepatocellular carcinoma cells was altered simultaneously or respectively by vector/oligonucleotide transfection. Then, cell viability, migration, invasion, apoptotic cell rate, protein expression of apoptosis-related factors were assessed. The correlation between ANRIL, miR-144 and PBX3 was explored. ANRIL was highly expressed in MHCC97 and Li-7 cells when compared to THLE-3 cells. ANRIL overexpression promoted cell viability, migration, invasion and suppressed apoptosis of MHCC97 and Li-7 cells. ANRIL negatively regulated miR-144, and oncogenic effects of ANRIL were attenuated when miR-144 was overexpressed. PBX3 was a direct target of miR-144. miR-144 overexpression blocked PI3K/AKT and JAK/STAT signalling pathways via targeting PBX3. Our data documented that ANRIL promoted hepatocellular carcinoma cells growth, migration and invasion. One of the possible mechanisms responsible for the tumour-promoting actions is that ANRIL sponging miR-144 to derepress PBX3.
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6
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Yamada N, Matsushima-Nishiwaki R, Kozawa O. Quercetin suppresses the migration of hepatocellular carcinoma cells stimulated by hepatocyte growth factor or transforming growth factor-α: Attenuation of AKT signaling pathway. Arch Biochem Biophys 2020; 682:108296. [DOI: 10.1016/j.abb.2020.108296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2019] [Revised: 01/27/2020] [Accepted: 02/03/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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7
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Chen CY, Chen CC, Chuang WY, Leu YL, Ueng SH, Hsueh C, Yeh CT, Wang TH. Hydroxygenkwanin Inhibits Class I HDAC Expression and Synergistically Enhances the Antitumor Activity of Sorafenib in Liver Cancer Cells. Front Oncol 2020; 10:216. [PMID: 32158695 PMCID: PMC7052045 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2020.00216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2019] [Accepted: 02/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Abnormal histone deacetylase (HDAC) expression is closely related to cancer development and progression. Many HDAC inhibitors have been widely used in cancer treatment; however, severe side effects often limit their clinical application. In this study, we attempted to identify natural compounds with HDAC inhibitory activity and low physiological toxicity and explored their feasibility and mechanisms of action in liver cancer treatment. A yeast screening system was used to identify natural compounds with HDAC inhibitory activity. Further, western blotting was used to verify inhibitory effects on HDAC in human liver cancer cell lines. Cell functional analysis was used to explore the effects and mechanisms and the in vitro results were verified in BALB/c nude mice. We found that hydroxygenkwanin (HGK), an extract from Daphne genkwa, inhibited class I HDAC expression, and thereby induced expression of tumor suppressor p21 and promoted acetylation and activation of p53 and p65. This resulted in the inhibition of growth, migration, and invasion of liver cancer cells and promoted cell apoptosis. Animal models revealed that HGK inhibited tumor growth in a synergistic manner with sorafenib. HGK inhibited class I HDAC expression and had low physiological toxicity. It has great potential as an adjuvant for liver cancer treatment and may be used in combination with anticancer drugs like sorafenib to improve therapeutic efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chi-Yuan Chen
- Tissue Bank, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan.,Research Center for Chinese Herbal Medicine, Graduate Institute of Health Industry Technology and Research Center for Food and Cosmetic Safety, College of Human Ecology, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Chin-Chuan Chen
- Tissue Bank, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan.,Graduate Institute of Natural Products, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Wen-Yu Chuang
- Department of Anatomic Pathology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University School of Medicine, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Yann-Lii Leu
- Graduate Institute of Natural Products, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan.,Chinese Herbal Medicine Research Team, Healthy Aging Research Center, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan.,Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Shir-Hwa Ueng
- Department of Anatomic Pathology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University School of Medicine, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Chuen Hsueh
- Tissue Bank, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan.,Department of Anatomic Pathology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University School of Medicine, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Chau-Ting Yeh
- Department of Hepato-Gastroenterology, Liver Research Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Tong-Hong Wang
- Tissue Bank, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan.,Research Center for Chinese Herbal Medicine, Graduate Institute of Health Industry Technology and Research Center for Food and Cosmetic Safety, College of Human Ecology, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, Taoyuan, Taiwan.,Department of Hepato-Gastroenterology, Liver Research Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan
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8
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DuShane JK, Maginnis MS. Human DNA Virus Exploitation of the MAPK-ERK Cascade. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20143427. [PMID: 31336840 PMCID: PMC6679023 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20143427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2019] [Revised: 07/09/2019] [Accepted: 07/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs) comprise a particular branch of the mitogen-activated protein kinase cascades (MAPK) that transmits extracellular signals into the intracellular environment to trigger cellular growth responses. Similar to other MAPK cascades, the MAPK-ERK pathway signals through three core kinases—Raf, MAPK/ERK kinase (MEK), and ERK—which drive the signaling mechanisms responsible for the induction of cellular responses from extracellular stimuli including differentiation, proliferation, and cellular survival. However, pathogens like DNA viruses alter MAPK-ERK signaling in order to access DNA replication machineries, induce a proliferative state in the cell, or even prevent cell death mechanisms in response to pathogen recognition. Differential utilization of this pathway by multiple DNA viruses highlights the dynamic nature of the MAPK-ERK pathway within the cell and the importance of its function in regulating a wide variety of cellular fates that ultimately influence viral infection and, in some cases, result in tumorigenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeanne K DuShane
- Department of Molecular and Biomedical Sciences, The University of Maine, Orono, ME 04401, USA
| | - Melissa S Maginnis
- Department of Molecular and Biomedical Sciences, The University of Maine, Orono, ME 04401, USA.
- Graduate School in Biomedical Sciences and Engineering, The University of Maine, Orono, ME 04401, USA.
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9
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Yamada N, Matsushima-Nishiwaki R, Masue A, Taguchi K, Kozawa O. Olive oil polyphenols suppress the TGF-α-induced migration of hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Biomed Rep 2019; 1:1-5. [PMID: 31258902 DOI: 10.3892/br.2019.1215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2018] [Accepted: 05/17/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Oleuropein and 3-hydroxytyrosol (3-HT) are natural polyphenols present in olive oil that are known to exhibit potent anti-oxidant activities and exert protective effects against a number of human diseases. In the liver, olive oil polyphenols have been demonstrated to prevent hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell growth. However, little is known about their effects against HCC cell migration. Therefore, the present study investigated whether or not oleuropein and 3-HT were involved in the suppression of transforming growth factor-α (TGF-α)-induced migration of human HCC cells using human HCC-derived HuH7 cells. The TGF-α-induced migration of HuH7 cells was significantly and dose-dependently suppressed by oleuropein and 3-HT. This study group demonstrated previously that the TGF-α-induced activation of AKT and stress-activated protein kinase/c-Jun N-terminal kinase (SAPK/JNK) were involved in HuH7 cell migration. In addition to these protein kinases, the present study examined the involvement of TGF-α-induced activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and Rho kinase in HuH7 cell migration. TGF-α-induced HuH7 cell migration was decreased by SB203580, a p38 MAPK inhibitor, and Y27632, a Rho kinase inhibitor. However, PD98059, an inhibitor of the upstream kinase activating ERK, did not suppress the TGF-α-induced migration of HuH7 cells. Although AKT, SAPK/JNK, p38 MAPK and Rho kinase pathways were suggested to be involved in the TGF-α-induced migration of HuH7 cells, 10-30 µM 3-HT did not exhibit any suppressive effect on the TGF-α-stimulated activities of these kinases. The results of the present study suggest that olive oil polyphenols suppressed the TGF-α-induced migration of HCC cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noriko Yamada
- Department of Pharmacology, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu, Gifu 501-1194, Japan
| | - Rie Matsushima-Nishiwaki
- Department of Pharmacology, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu, Gifu 501-1194, Japan
| | - Ayaka Masue
- Department of Pharmacology, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu, Gifu 501-1194, Japan
| | - Kyoka Taguchi
- Department of Pharmacology, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu, Gifu 501-1194, Japan
| | - Osamu Kozawa
- Department of Pharmacology, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu, Gifu 501-1194, Japan
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10
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Matsushima-Nishiwaki R, Yamada N, Fukuchi K, Kozawa O. Sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) reduces hepatocyte growth factor-induced migration of hepatocellular carcinoma cells via S1P receptor 2. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0209050. [PMID: 30543684 PMCID: PMC6292590 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0209050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2018] [Accepted: 11/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
A bioactive lipid, sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P), acts extracellularly as a potent mediator, and is implicated in the progression of various cancers including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). S1P exerts its functions by binding to five types of specific receptors, S1P receptor 1 (S1PR1), S1PR2, S1PR3, S1PR4 and S1PR5 on the plasma membrane. However, the exact roles of S1P and each S1PR in HCC cells remain to be clarified. In the present study, we investigated the effect of S1P on the hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)-induced migration of human HCC-derived HuH7 cells, and the involvement of each S1PR. S1P dose-dependently reduced the HGF-induced migration of HuH7 cells. We found that all S1PRs exist in the HuH7 cells. Among each selective agonist for five S1PRs, CYM5520, a selective S1PR2 agonist, significantly suppressed the HGF-induced HuH7 cell migration whereas selective agonists for S1PR1, S1PR3, S1PR4 or S1PR5 failed to affect the migration. The reduction of the HGF-induced migration by S1P was markedly reversed by treatment of JTE013, a selective antagonist for S1PR2, and S1PR2- siRNA. These results strongly suggest that S1P reduces the HGF-induced HCC cell migration via S1PR2. Our findings may provide a novel potential of S1PR2 to therapeutic strategy for metastasis of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Noriko Yamada
- Department of Pharmacology, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu, Japan
| | - Kouki Fukuchi
- Department of Pharmacology, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu, Japan
| | - Osamu Kozawa
- Department of Pharmacology, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu, Japan
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11
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Hajiasgharzadeh K, Somi MH, Shanehbandi D, Mokhtarzadeh A, Baradaran B. Small interfering RNA-mediated gene suppression as a therapeutic intervention in hepatocellular carcinoma. J Cell Physiol 2018; 234:3263-3276. [PMID: 30362510 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.27015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2018] [Accepted: 06/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the lethal and difficult-to-cure cancers worldwide. Owing to the late diagnosis and drug resistance of malignant hepatocytes, treatment of this cancer by conventional chemotherapy agents is challenging, and researchers are seeking new alternative treatment options to overcome therapy resistance in this neoplasm. RNA interference (RNAi) is a potent and specific approach in targeting gene expression and has emerged as a novel therapeutic tool for many diseases, including cancers. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) is a type of RNAi that is produced intracellularly from exogenous synthetic oligonucleotides and can selectively knock down target gene expression in a sequence-specific manner. Various factors play roles in the initiation and progression of HCC and provide multiple candidate targets for siRNA intervention. In addition, due to the liver's unique architecture and availability of some hepatic siRNA delivery methods, this organ has received much more attention as a target tissue for such oligonucleotide action. Recent advances in designing nanoparticle systems for the in vivo delivery of siRNAs have markedly enhanced the potency of siRNA-mediated gene silencing under clinical development for HCC therapy. The utility of siRNAs as anti-HCC agents is the subject of the current review. siRNA-based gene therapies could be one of the main feasible approaches for HCC therapy in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mohammad Hossein Somi
- Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Dariush Shanehbandi
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Ahad Mokhtarzadeh
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Behzad Baradaran
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
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12
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Yang L, Wang X, Xu J, Wen Y, Zhang M, Lu J, Wang R, Sun X. Integrated transcriptomic and proteomic analyses reveal ɑ-lipoic acid-regulated cell proliferation via Grb2-mediated signalling in hepatic cancer cells. J Cell Mol Med 2018; 22:2981-2992. [PMID: 29575431 PMCID: PMC5980154 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.13447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2017] [Accepted: 10/09/2017] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma is the most frequent primary liver cancer worldwide. The use of antioxidants as cancer prevention and treatment agents has become a focus of research in recent years due to their limited adverse effects. Alpha lipoic acid (ɑ-LA) is synthesized in the liver and is considered a naturally occurring antioxidant. In this study, a total of 4446 differentially expressed genes (2097 down-regulated and 2349 up-regulated) were identified via RNA-Seq in HepG2 cells after exposure to α-LA for 24 hrs. Moreover, GO and KEGG pathway analyses showed that cancer-relevant cell membrane proteins were significantly affected. An interaction network analysis predicted that Grb2 might mediate the key target pathways activated by exposure to ɑ-LA. Verification of the RNA-Seq and iTRAQ results confirmed that Grb2 mediated the ɑ-LA-induced inhibition of cell proliferation in vitro. Furthermore, the analysis of human hepatocellular carcinoma specimens obtained from the GEO database showed that the expression of EGFR and Met correlated with that of Grb2. These findings provide a novel mechanism through which ɑ-LA regulates cell proliferation via the down-regulation of growth factor-stimulated Grb2 signalling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lan Yang
- Institute of Immunology of Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.,Shenzhen Tumor Immuno-gene Therapy Clinical Application Engineering Lab, Biobank of Shenzhen Second People's Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xiliang Wang
- Department of Biochemistry of Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.,Shenzhen Xenotransplantation Medical Engineering Research and Development Center, Institute of Translational Medicine, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital, First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Juan Xu
- Department of Pharmacology and Proteomics Center, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Ya Wen
- Shenzhen Tumor Immuno-gene Therapy Clinical Application Engineering Lab, Biobank of Shenzhen Second People's Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China.,Department of Graduate School, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Manqiao Zhang
- Shenzhen Tumor Immuno-gene Therapy Clinical Application Engineering Lab, Biobank of Shenzhen Second People's Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China.,Department of Graduate School, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jingxiao Lu
- Shenzhen Tumor Immuno-gene Therapy Clinical Application Engineering Lab, Biobank of Shenzhen Second People's Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Rongfu Wang
- Institute of Immunology of Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Xiaojuan Sun
- Shenzhen Tumor Immuno-gene Therapy Clinical Application Engineering Lab, Biobank of Shenzhen Second People's Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
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13
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Downregulation of Nedd4L predicts poor prognosis, promotes tumor growth and inhibits MAPK/ERK signal pathway in hepatocellular carcinoma. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2017; 495:1136-1143. [PMID: 29175326 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2017.11.139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2017] [Accepted: 11/20/2017] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Accumulating evidence indicates that the neural precursor cell-expressed, developmentally downregulated 4-like (Nedd4L) related with some tumor progression pathways and was found abnormally expressed in several kinds of solid cancers. However, the role and mechanism of Nedd4L in HCC remain unknown. This study was to assess the role of Nedd4L in HCC tumorigenesis and prognosis. The real-time quantitative RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry results revealed that Nedd4L was downregulated in HCC tissues compared to corresponding peri-noncancerous tissue, and HCC patients with low expression of Nedd4L exhibited poor prognosis assessed by Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analysis in 78 HCC patients. Furthermore, knockdown of Nedd4L could significantly promote proliferation of HCC cells by CCK-8 and colony formation assays in vitro; whereas ectopic expression of Nedd4L resulted in attenuating proliferation in vitro and tumor growth in vivc determined by nude mice xenografts model. Mechanically, Nedd4L could phosphorylate ERK1/2 and regulate genes related with apoptosis. Collectively, Nedd4L plays a tumor suppressive role in HCC, possibly through triggering MAPK/ERK-mediated apoptosis, and Nedd4L downregulation may be a potential prognostic biomarker as well as a therapeutic target for HCC.
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14
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Liao Y, Yuan S, Chen X, Zhu P, Li J, Qin L, Liao W. Up-regulation of BRCA1-associated RING Domain 1 Promotes Hepatocellular Carcinoma Progression by Targeting Akt Signaling. Sci Rep 2017; 7:7649. [PMID: 28794477 PMCID: PMC5550490 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-07962-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2017] [Accepted: 07/03/2017] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The present study was designed to investigate the potential clinical, pathological, prognostic value, role and mechanism of BRCA1-associated RING Domain 1 (BARD1) in Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Quantitative real-time PCR and immunohistochemistry were performed to evaluate the expression of BARD1 mRNA and protein. The expression of BARD1 in the HCC tissue samples was markedly higher than that in the adjacent noncancerous liver tissues. Elevated BARD1 expression was positively correlated with tumor-node-metastasis stage, Barcelona-Clinic Liver Cancer stage, hepatitis B surface antigen, large tumor size, serum alpha-fetoprotein levels, and serum aspartate aminotransferase levels. Univariate and multivariate analyses revealed the BARD1 was an independent predictor for decreased progression-free survival and overall survival in HCC. In vitro experiments demonstrated that knocking down BARD1 significantly inhibited the proliferation, invasion and migration of HCC cells. Moreover, silencing BARD1 inhibit the signaling pathway via decreased the levels of Akt, mTOR, and MMP-9 and inhibited the phosphorylation of Akt (Ser473) and mTOR (Ser2248). Collectively, our findings suggest that BARD1 may be a novel diagnostic and prognostic biomarker of HCC, and up-regulation of BARD1 can contribute to HCC progression by targeting Akt signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Liao
- Laboratory of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, Guilin, Guangxi, P.R. China.,Disease Prevention and Control Center of Guilin, Guilin, Guangxi, P.R. China
| | - Shengguang Yuan
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, Guilin, Guangxi, P.R. China
| | - Xinhuang Chen
- Laboratory of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, Guilin, Guangxi, P.R. China
| | - Pengpeng Zhu
- Laboratory of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, Guilin, Guangxi, P.R. China
| | - Jun Li
- Laboratory of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, Guilin, Guangxi, P.R. China
| | - Liling Qin
- Laboratory of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, Guilin, Guangxi, P.R. China
| | - Weijia Liao
- Laboratory of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, Guilin, Guangxi, P.R. China.
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15
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Heat shock protein 22 (HSPB8) reduces the migration of hepatocellular carcinoma cells through the suppression of the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT pathway. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2017; 1863:1629-1639. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2017.04.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2016] [Revised: 04/07/2017] [Accepted: 04/25/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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16
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Jung KH, Yoo W, Stevenson HL, Deshpande D, Shen H, Gagea M, Yoo SY, Wang J, Eckols TK, Bharadwaj U, Tweardy DJ, Beretta L. Multifunctional Effects of a Small-Molecule STAT3 Inhibitor on NASH and Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Mice. Clin Cancer Res 2017; 23:5537-5546. [PMID: 28533225 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-16-2253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2016] [Revised: 01/16/2017] [Accepted: 05/16/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Purpose: The incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma is increasing in the United States, and liver cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is becoming an important risk for hepatocellular carcinoma, and most patients with hepatocellular carcinoma have underlying liver cirrhosis and compromised liver function, which limit treatment options. Thus, novel therapeutic strategies to prevent or treat hepatocellular carcinoma in the context of NASH and cirrhosis are urgently needed.Experimental Design: Constitutive activation of STAT3 is frequently detected in hepatocellular carcinoma tumors. STAT3 signaling plays a pivotal role in hepatocellular carcinoma survival, growth, angiogenesis, and metastasis. We identified C188-9, a novel small-molecule STAT3 inhibitor using computer-aided rational drug design. In this study, we evaluated the therapeutic potential of C188-9 for hepatocellular carcinoma treatment and prevention.Results: C188-9 showed antitumor activity in vitro in three hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines. In mice with hepatocyte-specific deletion of Pten (HepPten- mice), C188-9 treatment blocked hepatocellular carcinoma tumor growth, reduced tumor development, and reduced liver steatosis, inflammation, and bile ductular reactions, resulting in improvement of the pathological lesions of NASH. Remarkably, C188-9 also greatly reduced liver injury in these mice as measured by serum aspartate aminotransferase and alanine transaminase levels. Analysis of gene expression showed that C188-9 treatment of HepPten- mice resulted in inhibition of signaling pathways downstream of STAT3, STAT1, TREM-1, and Toll-like receptors. In contrast, C188-9 treatment increased liver specification and differentiation gene pathways.Conclusions: Our results suggest that C188-9 should be evaluated further for the treatment and/or prevention of hepatocellular carcinoma. Clin Cancer Res; 23(18); 5537-46. ©2017 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kwang Hwa Jung
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Wonbeak Yoo
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Heather L Stevenson
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas
| | - Dipti Deshpande
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Hong Shen
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Mihai Gagea
- Department of Veterinary Medicine & Surgery, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Suk-Young Yoo
- Department of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Jing Wang
- Department of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - T Kris Eckols
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Infection Control, and Employee Health, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Uddalak Bharadwaj
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Infection Control, and Employee Health, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - David J Tweardy
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas.,Department of Infectious Diseases, Infection Control, and Employee Health, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Laura Beretta
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas.
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17
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Lin YT, Chien KY, Wu CC, Chang WY, Chu LJ, Chen MC, Yeh CT, Yu JS. Super-SILAC mix coupled with SIM/AIMS assays for targeted verification of phosphopeptides discovered in a large-scale phosphoproteome analysis of hepatocellular carcinoma. J Proteomics 2017; 157:40-51. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jprot.2017.02.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2016] [Revised: 01/23/2017] [Accepted: 02/08/2017] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
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18
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Activating JAK1 mutation may predict the sensitivity of JAK-STAT inhibition in hepatocellular carcinoma. Oncotarget 2016; 7:5461-9. [PMID: 26701727 PMCID: PMC4868698 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.6684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2015] [Accepted: 12/09/2015] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most common type of cancers worldwide. However, current therapeutic approaches for this epidemic disease are limited, and its 5-year survival rate hasn't been improved in the past decades. Patient-derived xenograft (PDX) tumor models have become an excellent in vivo system for understanding of disease biology and drug discovery. In order to identify new therapeutic targets for HCC, whole-exome sequencing (WES) was performed on more than 60 HCC PDX models. Among them, four models exhibited protein-altering mutations in JAK1 (Janus Kinase 1) gene. To explore the transforming capability, these mutations were then introduced into HEK293FT and Ba/F3 cells. The results demonstrated that JAK1S703I mutation was able to activate JAK-STAT (Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription) signaling pathway and drive cell proliferation in the absence of cytokine stimulation in vitro. Furthermore, the sensitivity to the treatment of a JAK1/2 inhibitor, ruxolitinib, was observed in JAK1S703I mutant PDX model, but not in other non-activating mutant or wild type models. Pharmacodynamic analysis showed that phosphorylation of STAT3 in the Ruxolitinib-treated tumor tissues was significantly suppressed. Collectively, our results suggested that JAK1S703I is an activating mutation for JAK-STAT signaling pathway in vitro and in vivo, and JAK-STAT pathway might represent a new therapeutic approach for HCC treatment. Monotherapy using a more potent and specific JAK1 inhibitor and combinatory therapy should be further explored in JAK1 mutant PDX models.
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Guan Z, Li C, Fan J, He D, Li L. Androgen receptor (AR) signaling promotes RCC progression via increased endothelial cell proliferation and recruitment by modulating AKT → NF-κB → CXCL5 signaling. Sci Rep 2016; 6:37085. [PMID: 27848972 PMCID: PMC5111066 DOI: 10.1038/srep37085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2016] [Accepted: 10/21/2016] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Androgen receptor (AR) signaling may promote renal cell carcinoma (RCC) progression via altered HIF-2α/VEGF signaling. However, it remains unclear whether AR signaling also promotes RCC progression by recruiting vascular endothelial cells (ECs), key players in the development of blood vessels. In our study, AR increased EC proliferation and recruitment to the tumor microenvironment and promoted RCC progression. Mechanistically, AR modulated cytokine CXCL5 expression by altering AKT → NF-κB signaling, and interruption of AKT → NF-κB → CXCL5 signaling using either specific inhibitors or siRNA suppressed AR-enhanced EC recruitment and AR-EC-promoted RCC progression. The results obtained using an in vivo mouse model and a human clinical sample survey confirmed the role of AR in promoting RCC progression through enhancement of EC proliferation and/or recruitment via altered AKT → NF-κB → CXCL5 signaling. Targeting this newly identified AR-induced AKT → NF-κB → CXCL5 pathway may facilitate the development of new therapies for slowing RCC progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenfeng Guan
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061, China
| | - Chong Li
- Core Facility for Protein Research, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.,Beijing Jianlan Institute of Medicine, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Jinhai Fan
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061, China
| | - Dalin He
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061, China
| | - Lei Li
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061, China
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20
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Chen J, Yang P, Yang J, Wen Z, Zhang B, Zheng X. GIT1 is a novel prognostic biomarker and facilitates tumor progression via activating ERK/MMP9 signaling in hepatocellular carcinoma. Onco Targets Ther 2015; 8:3731-42. [PMID: 26719701 PMCID: PMC4689273 DOI: 10.2147/ott.s96715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Aim Multiple studies have revealed that G-protein-coupled receptor kinase-interacting protein 1 (GIT1) is overexpressed in many cancers and facilitates tumor progression. However, the role of GIT1 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains unclear. Methods GIT1 expression was detected in cell lines and 130 pairs of HCC and matched adjacent noncancerous samples. Transwell assay, flow cytometry, caspase 3/7 activity assay, 5-bromodeoxyuridine cell proliferation assay, and 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay were used to assess invasion, migration, apoptosis, and proliferation of HCC cells. Furthermore, GIT1 expression was detected by immunohistochemistry to evaluate its correlation with phospho-extracellular signal-regulated kinase (p-ERK)1/2. The regulatory effect of GIT1 on ERK1/2, p-ERK1/2, and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP9) in HCC cells was confirmed by immunoblotting. Results In this study, we demonstrated that GIT1 was more highly expressed in HCC samples than that in non-HCC samples, and overexpression of GIT1 was correlated with clinicopathological features of poor prognosis. Clinical analysis demonstrated that GIT1 is an independent prognostic biomarker for predicting overall survival and disease-free survival of patients with HCC. In vitro studies showed that downregulation of GIT1 facilitated HCC cell apoptosis and repressed HCC cell invasion, migration, and proliferation. Overexpression of GIT1 is associated with p-ERK1/2 amplification in HCC tissues. Moreover, downregulation of GIT1 resulted in inactivation of ERK signaling and downregulation of MMP9. Conclusion Our findings indicate that GIT1 is an independent prognostic biomarker and facilitates HCC progression via activating ERK/MMP9 signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junyi Chen
- Department of General Surgery, Branch of the First People's Hospital of Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Pinghua Yang
- Department of Hepatic Surgery, the Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Second Military Medical University, People's Republic of China
| | - Jue Yang
- Department of Hepatic Surgery, the Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Second Military Medical University, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhijian Wen
- Department of Hepatic Surgery, the Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Second Military Medical University, People's Republic of China
| | - Baohua Zhang
- Department of Hepatic Surgery, the Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Second Military Medical University, People's Republic of China
| | - Xin Zheng
- Department of General Surgery, Branch of the First People's Hospital of Shanghai, People's Republic of China ; Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Branch of the first People's Hospital of Shanghai, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
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Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major health problem. In human hepatocarcinogenesis, the balance between cell death and proliferation is deregulated, tipping the scales for a situation where antiapoptotic signals are overpowering the death-triggering stimuli. HCC cells harbor a wide variety of mutations that alter the regulation of apoptosis and hence the response to chemotherapeutical drugs, making them resistant to the proapoptotic signals. Considering all these modifications found in HCC cells, therapeutic approaches need to be carefully studied in order to specifically target the antiapoptotic signals. This review deals with the recent relevant contributions reporting molecular alterations for HCC that lead to a deregulation of apoptosis, as well as the challenge of death-inducing chemotherapeutics in current HCC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joaquim Moreno-Càceres
- Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain.,Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Isabel Fabregat
- Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain.,Department of Physiological Sciences II, University of Barcelona, Spain.,Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain.,Department of Physiological Sciences II, University of Barcelona, Spain
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22
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DDR2 facilitates hepatocellular carcinoma invasion and metastasis via activating ERK signaling and stabilizing SNAIL1. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL & CLINICAL CANCER RESEARCH : CR 2015; 34:101. [PMID: 26362312 PMCID: PMC4567819 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-015-0218-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2015] [Accepted: 09/04/2015] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Several studies have found that DDR2 is up-regulated in many tumor types and facilitates tumor progression. However, the role of DDR2 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression and its downstream signaling pathways remain unclear. METHODS DDR2 expression was assessed in several cell lines and 112 pairs of HCC and matched adjacent noncancerous liver tissues. Clinical significance of DDR2 in HCC was analyzed. Phosphorylated DDR2 (p-DDR2) expression was detected by immunoblotting to evaluate its correlation with DDR2. The effect of DDR2 on HCC cell migration and invasion were examined. Cycloheximide chase experiments were performed to detect the half-life of SNAIL1. Moreover, DDR2 expression was detected by immunohistochemistry to evaluate its correlation with SNAIL1. The regulatory effect of DDR2 on ERK signaling, SNAIL1, EMT, MT1-MMP and MMP2 was confirmed by immunoblotting. The effect of type I collagen on DDR2/ERK2/SNAIL1 signaling was assessed. RESULTS DDR2 was more highly expressed in HCC than in non-HCC tissues. DDR2 overexpression was correlated with clinicopathological features of poor prognosis. Clinical analysis revealed that DDR2 is an independent prognostic marker for predicting overall survival and disease free survival of HCC patients. Overexpression of DDR2 is associated with p-DDR2 amplification. In vitro studies showed that DDR2 facilitates HCC cell invasion, migration and EMT via activating ERK2 and stabilizing SNAIL1. DDR2 can up-regulate MT1-MMP and MMP2 expression through ERK2/SNAIL1 signaling in HCC. Additionally, collagen I can induce DDR2/ERK2/SNAIL1 signaling activation in HCC cells. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that DDR2 plays an important role in promoting HCC cell invasion and migration, and may serve as a novel therapeutic target in HCC.
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23
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Zuo M, Li C, Lin J, Javle M. LLL12, a novel small inhibitor targeting STAT3 for hepatocellular carcinoma therapy. Oncotarget 2015; 6:10940-9. [PMID: 25883212 PMCID: PMC4484430 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.3458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2015] [Accepted: 02/24/2015] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The constitutive activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) is frequently detected in clinical incidences of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) but not in normal human hepatocytes. STAT3 signaling plays pivotal roles in angiogenesis, survival, metastasis, and growth of HCC. Recent evidence suggests that the blockade of aberrant STAT3 pathways can be exploited as a therapeutic strategy for HCC. We have developed the novel small molecular STAT3 inhibitor LLL12 on the basis of curcumin structure using computer-aided rational design. LLL12 has shown antitumor activity in various solid tumors including breast, brain, pancreatic cancer, and glioblastoma in vitro and in vivo. In this study, we hypothesized LLL12 inhibits STAT3 phosphorylation at tyrosine 705 (Y705) in HCC and show antitumor activity in HCC in vitro and in vivo. Our results show that LLL12 selectively inhibited HCC cell proliferation and induced apoptosis in SNU387, SNU398, SNU449, and Hep3B HCC cells in vitro. Furthermore, LLL12 at 5 mg/kg/day significantly inhibited the growth of SNU398 xenografts in nude mice. Collectively, our results indicate that LLL12 could be used to target STAT3 for the effective prevention or treatment of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingxin Zuo
- 1 Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Chenglong Li
- 2 Division of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Jiayuh Lin
- 3 Center for Childhood Cancer, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43205, USA
| | - Milind Javle
- 1 Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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Pu X, Guo QX, Long HA, Yang CW. Effects of mTOR-STAT3 on the migration and invasion abilities of hepatoma cell and mTOR-STAT3 expression in liver cancer. ASIAN PAC J TROP MED 2015; 7:368-72. [PMID: 25063062 DOI: 10.1016/s1995-7645(14)60057-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2013] [Revised: 01/15/2014] [Accepted: 03/15/2014] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects of mTOR-STAT3 pathway on the invasion and migration of hepatoma cell. METHODS mTOR and STAT3 expression in the hepatocellular carcinoma cell line HepG2 and normal liver cell line L02 were detected by reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) and western blotting. The migration and invasion abilities of cells and expression of STAT3 were detected by scratch adhesion test and transwell migration assays, after siRNA transfection blocking mTOR expression of HepG2 cells. RESULTS The HepG2 cells expression is higher compared with normal cells L02 expression. Western blotting assay showed the mTOR expression was blocked, while STAT3 expression was also decreased, after the siRNA transfection of HepG2 cells. The migration (scratch adhesion test) and invasion (transwell assays) abilities of HepG2 cells which the mTOR expression was blocked by siRNA interference were significantly decreased (P<0.05). CONCLUSION mTORSTAT3 expression in hepatoma cells HepG2 was significantly higher than that in normal liver cells. mTOR blocking can reduce the expression of STAT3, which is also closely related to the invasion and metastasis of liver cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xia Pu
- Department of Pathology, Affiliated Hospital of Luzhou Medical College, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China.
| | - Qing-Xi Guo
- Department of Pathology, Affiliated Hospital of Luzhou Medical College, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China
| | - Han-An Long
- Department of Pathology, Affiliated Hospital of Luzhou Medical College, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China
| | - Cheng-Wan Yang
- Department of Pathology, Affiliated Hospital of Luzhou Medical College, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China
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Kamdje AHN, Etet PFS, Vecchio L, Tagne RS, Amvene JM, Muller JM, Krampera M, Lukong KE. New targeted therapies for breast cancer: A focus on tumor microenvironmental signals and chemoresistant breast cancers. World J Clin Cases 2014; 2:769-86. [PMID: 25516852 PMCID: PMC4266825 DOI: 10.12998/wjcc.v2.i12.769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2014] [Revised: 07/12/2014] [Accepted: 09/23/2014] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer is the most frequent female malignancy worldwide. Current strategies in breast cancer therapy, including classical chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and targeted therapies, are usually associated with chemoresistance and serious adverse effects. Advances in our understanding of changes affecting the interactome in advanced and chemoresistant breast tumors have provided novel therapeutic targets, including, cyclin dependent kinases, mammalian target of rapamycin, Notch, Wnt and Shh. Inhibitors of these molecules recently entered clinical trials in mono- and combination therapy in metastatic and chemo-resistant breast cancers. Anticancer epigenetic drugs, mainly histone deacetylase inhibitors and DNA methyltransferase inhibitors, also entered clinical trials. Because of the complexity and heterogeneity of breast cancer, the future in therapy lies in the application of individualized tailored regimens. Emerging therapeutic targets and the implications for personalized-based therapy development in breast cancer are herein discussed.
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26
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Zhao H, Wang L, Wei R, Xiu D, Tao M, Ke J, Liu Y, Yang J, Hong T. Activation of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor inhibits tumourigenicity and metastasis of human pancreatic cancer cells via PI3K/Akt pathway. Diabetes Obes Metab 2014; 16:850-60. [PMID: 24641303 DOI: 10.1111/dom.12291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2013] [Revised: 01/14/2014] [Accepted: 03/11/2014] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
AIMS It has been reported that glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agents are associated with an increased risk of pancreatic cancer in patients with type 2 diabetes. Reports have indicated that GLP-1 promotes pancreatic metaplasia and premalignant lesions. The aims of this study were to determine the effects of GLP-1-based therapy on pancreatic cancer cells. METHODS Immunohistochemistry was used to investigate GLP-1 receptor (GLP-1R) expression in 30 human pancreatic cancer tissues. We also analysed associated clinicopathological data and each patient's prognosis. Two human pancreatic cancer cell lines were used to evaluate the in vitro effects of the GLP-1R agonist liraglutide on cell growth, migration and invasion. Mouse xenograft models of human pancreatic cancer were established to evaluate the effects of liraglutide in vivo. RESULTS Human pancreatic cancer tissues showed lower levels or a lack of GLP-1R expression when compared with levels in the tumour-adjacent pancreatic tissues. Negative GLP-1R expression occurred more frequently in advanced tumours with larger diameters and lymphatic metastasis, and was associated with a poor prognosis. GLP-1R activation with liraglutide inhibited tumourigenicity and metastasis of human pancreatic cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. Akt activation was dose-dependently inhibited by liraglutide, and the PI3K inhibitors, LY294002 and wortmannin, displayed similar suppressive effects to liraglutide in human pancreatic cancer cells. CONCLUSIONS GLP-1R activation has an antitumour effect on human pancreatic cancers via inhibition of the PI3K/Akt pathway. This finding suggests that GLP-1-based therapies may be beneficial, rather than harmful, in treating type 2 diabetic patients with pancreatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Zhao
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
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27
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Fractal analysis of contrast-enhanced CT images to predict survival of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma treated with sunitinib. Dig Dis Sci 2014; 59:1996-2003. [PMID: 24563237 DOI: 10.1007/s10620-014-3064-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2013] [Accepted: 02/05/2014] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Intratumoral heterogeneity is a well-recognized feature of malignancy. AIMS To assess the heterogeneity of tumor using fractal analysis of contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CE-CT) images for predicting survival of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients treated with sunitinib. METHODS The patient cohort comprised 23 patients (19 men, 4 women; mean age 61.5 years) with HCC who underwent CE-CT at baseline and after one cycle of sunitinib. Arterial-phase (AP) and portal-phase (PP) CE-CT images were analyzed using a plugin software for ImageJ (NIH, Bethesda, MD). A differential box-counting method was employed to calculate the fractal dimension (FD) of the tumor. Tumor FD, density, and size were compared with survival. RESULTS Median progression-free survival (PFS) was 4.43 months. Patients were grouped into a favorable PFS (PFS >4.43 months; 9 patients) and an unfavorable PFS group (PFS ≤ 4.43; 13 patients). The baseline FD on both the AP and PP images was lower in the favorable PFS group than in the unfavorable PFS group (both P = 0.03). There was a significant difference in the change of the FD on the AP image between the favorable and unfavorable PFS groups (P = 0.02). Tumor density and size showed no significant correlations with PFS. In the Kaplan-Meier analysis, patients with tumors showing lower FD on the AP image at baseline showed longer PFS (P = 0.002). Patients with tumors showing a greater reduction in the FD on the PP image after one cycle of the therapy showed longer overall survival (P = 0.002). CONCLUSION The FD of the tumor on CE-CT images may be a useful biomarker for HCC patients treated with sunitinib.
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Hayano K, Lee SH, Yoshida H, Zhu AX, Sahani DV. Fractal analysis of CT perfusion images for evaluation of antiangiogenic treatment and survival in hepatocellular carcinoma. Acad Radiol 2014; 21:654-60. [PMID: 24703479 DOI: 10.1016/j.acra.2014.01.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2013] [Revised: 01/28/2014] [Accepted: 01/29/2014] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES Tumor vascular heterogeneity is a recognized biomarker for cancer progression. Our purpose was to assess the tumor perfusion heterogeneity during antiangiogenic therapy in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) by means of fractal analysis on computed tomography perfusion (CTP) images. MATERIALS AND METHODS Twenty-two patients (15 men and 7 women; mean age: 61.5 years) with advanced HCC underwent CTP at baseline and 2 weeks after administration of bevacizumab. Perfusion maps of blood flow (BF) were generated by the adiabatic approximation to the tissue homogeneity model with a motion registration, and fractal analyses were applied to gray-scale perfusion maps using a plugin tool on ImageJ software (NIH, Bethesda, MD). A differential box-counting method was applied, and the fractal dimension (FD) was calculated as a heterogeneity parameter. RESULTS Patients were grouped into favorable progression-free survival (PFS) group (PFS>6 months, 11 patients) and unfavorable PFS group (PFS≤6, 11 patients). After 2 weeks of antiangiogenic therapy, the BF decreased significantly (P < .0001), whereas the FD showed no significant change (P = .69). The percent change of the FD in tumor BF was significantly different between patients with favorable PFS and those without (-2.52% vs. 3.72%, P = .01), whereas the change of tumor BF showed no significant difference between them (-28.93% vs. -25.47%, P = .64). In Kaplan-Meier analysis, patients with greater reduction in the percent change of FD and lower baseline FD in tumor BF showed significantly longer overall survival (P = .009, P = .005). CONCLUSIONS Fractal analysis of tumor BF can be a biomarker for antiangiogenic therapy.
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Alternol inhibits migration and invasion of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells by targeting epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. Tumour Biol 2014; 35:1627-35. [PMID: 24078466 DOI: 10.1007/s13277-013-1224-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2013] [Accepted: 09/16/2013] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third most common cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Such deaths are due, in large part, to its propensity to metastasize. We have examined the effect of alternol on human HCC cells and the underlying molecular mechanism. Therapeutic effects of alternol on cancer cell migration and invasion were analyzed with Boyden chamber and wound healing assays. Effects of alternol on the levels of various proteins involved in cancer cell migration and invasion were determined with gelatin zymography, immunofluorescence, and Western blotting. As shown, treatment with alternol has resulted in a concentration-dependent inhibition of cell migration and invasion of HepG2 cells. The inhibition of HCC invasion by alternol was associated with the suppression of MMP-9 expression and reversal of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). The above results indicated that alternol has the ability to inhibit the migration and invasion of human HCC cells by reversing the process of EMT, suggesting that alternol may be developed as an alternative drug for the treatment of HCC.
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New Insights into the Pathogenesis of Alcohol-Induced ER Stress and Liver Diseases. Int J Hepatol 2014; 2014:513787. [PMID: 24868470 PMCID: PMC4020372 DOI: 10.1155/2014/513787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2014] [Accepted: 04/07/2014] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Alcohol-induced liver disease increasingly contributes to human mortality worldwide. Alcohol-induced endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and disruption of cellular protein homeostasis have recently been established as a significant mechanism contributing to liver diseases. The alcohol-induced ER stress occurs not only in cultured hepatocytes but also in vivo in the livers of several species including mouse, rat, minipigs, zebrafish, and humans. Identified causes for the ER stress include acetaldehyde, oxidative stress, impaired one carbon metabolism, toxic lipid species, insulin resistance, disrupted calcium homeostasis, and aberrant epigenetic modifications. Importance of each of the causes in alcohol-induced liver injury depends on doses, duration and patterns of alcohol exposure, genetic disposition, environmental factors, cross-talks with other pathogenic pathways, and stages of liver disease. The ER stress may occur more or less all the time during alcohol consumption, which interferes with hepatic protein homeostasis, proliferation, and cell cycle progression promoting development of advanced liver diseases. Emerging evidence indicates that long-term alcohol consumption and ER stress may directly be involved in hepatocellular carcinogenesis (HCC). Dissecting ER stress signaling pathways leading to tumorigenesis will uncover potential therapeutic targets for intervention and treatment of human alcoholics with liver cancer.
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Wang JG, Zheng XX, Zeng GY, Zhou YJ, Yuan H. Purified vitexin compound 1 induces apoptosis through activation of FOXO3a in hepatocellular carcinoma. Oncol Rep 2013; 31:488-96. [PMID: 24247909 DOI: 10.3892/or.2013.2855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2013] [Accepted: 10/29/2013] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
We previously reported that purified vitexin compound 1 (VB1, a neolignan from the seed of Chinese herb Vitex negundo) exhibited antitumor activity in cancer cell lines and xenograft models. In the present study, we examined the molecular mechanisms by which activation of the FOXO3a transcription factor mediated VB1-induced apoptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells. The effects of VB1 on the proliferation of HCC cell lines HepG2, Hep3B, Huh-7 and human embryo liver L-02 cells were investigated using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Apoptotic death in HepG2 cells was examined using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) detection kit, flow cytometry after propidium iodide (PI) staining, and by DNA agarose gel electrophoresis. Caspase activity was measured using ELISA. The AKT/FOXO3a and ERK/FOXO3a pathways were analyzed using western blotting. VB1 inhibited human HCC cell proliferation in a concentration-dependent manner and increased the percentage of sub-G1 population HepG2 cells. Histone/DNA fragmentation and active caspase-3, -8 and -9 levels increased in a concentration-dependent manner and a DNA ladder was formed. The phosphorylation of AKT and ERK1/2 were inhibited and FOXO3a transcription factor was activated, resulting in apoptotic death. Knockdown of AKT1 by small interfering RNA (siRNA) and the MEK1/2 inhibitor, PD98059, enhanced VB1-induced apoptosis and FOXO3a transcriptional activity. Suppression of FOXO3a expression by siRNA inhibited VB1-induced apoptosis. VB1 induced expression of Bim, TRAIL, DR4 and DR5. Activation of the FOXO3a transcription factor appears to mediate pro-apoptotic effects of VB1 by inhibiting the AKT and ERK pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian-Gang Wang
- Department of Cardiology, The Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410013, P.R. China
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Lu JW, Yang WY, Tsai SM, Lin YM, Chang PH, Chen JR, Wang HD, Wu JL, Jin SLC, Yuh CH. Liver-specific expressions of HBx and src in the p53 mutant trigger hepatocarcinogenesis in zebrafish. PLoS One 2013; 8:e76951. [PMID: 24130815 PMCID: PMC3793937 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0076951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2013] [Accepted: 08/29/2013] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocarcinogenesis is a multistep process that starts from fatty liver and transitions to fibrosis and, finally, into cancer. Many etiological factors, including hepatitis B virus X antigen (HBx) and p53 mutations, have been implicated in hepatocarcinogenesis. However, potential synergistic effects between these two factors and the underlying mechanisms by which they promote hepatocarcinogenesis are still unclear. In this report, we show that the synergistic action of HBx and p53 mutation triggers progressive hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) formation via src activation in zebrafish. Liver-specific expression of HBx in wild-type zebrafish caused steatosis, fibrosis and glycogen accumulation. However, the induction of tumorigenesis by HBx was only observed in p53 mutant fish and occurred in association with the up-regulation and activation of the src tyrosine kinase pathway. Furthermore, the overexpression of src in p53 mutant zebrafish also caused hyperplasia, HCC, and sarcomatoid HCC, which were accompanied by increased levels of the signaling proteins p-erk, p-akt, myc, jnk1 and vegf. Increased expression levels of lipogenic factors and the genes involved in lipid metabolism and glycogen storage were detected during the early stages of hepatocarcinogenesis in the HBx and src transgenic zebrafish. The up-regulation of genes involved in cell cycle regulation, tumor progression and other molecular hallmarks of human liver cancer were found at later stages in both HBx and src transgenic, p53 mutant zebrafish. Together, our study demonstrates that HBx and src overexpression induced hepatocarcinogenesis in p53 mutant zebrafish. This phenomenon mimics human HCC formation and provides potential in vivo platforms for drug screening for therapies for human liver cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeng-Wei Lu
- Institute of Molecular and Genomic Medicine, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan, Miaoli, Taiwan
- Department of Life Sciences, National Central University, Jhongli City, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Wan-Yu Yang
- Institute of Molecular and Genomic Medicine, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan, Miaoli, Taiwan
| | - Su-Mei Tsai
- Institute of Molecular and Genomic Medicine, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan, Miaoli, Taiwan
| | - Yueh-Min Lin
- Department of Pathology, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua City, Changhua County, Taiwan
- Department of Medical Technology, Jen-Teh Junior College of Medicine, Nursing and Management, Hou-Loung Town, Miaoli County, Taiwan
| | - Pen-Heng Chang
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Jim-Ray Chen
- Department of Pathology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Keelung, Taiwan
- College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Horng-Dar Wang
- Institute of Biotechnology, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Jen-Leih Wu
- Institute of Cellular and Organismic Biology, Academia Sinica, Nangang District, Taipei, Taiwan
| | | | - Chiou-Hwa Yuh
- Institute of Molecular and Genomic Medicine, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan, Miaoli, Taiwan
- Institute of Bioinformatics and Structural Biology, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, National Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
- * E-mail:
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Zhou JD, Shen F, Ji JS, Zheng K, Huang M, Wu JC. FAM9C plays an anti-apoptotic role through activation of the PI3K/Akt pathway in human hepatocellular carcinoma. Oncol Rep 2013; 30:1275-84. [PMID: 23836295 DOI: 10.3892/or.2013.2592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2013] [Accepted: 06/07/2013] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The function of FAM9C encoding a testis-exclusively expressed and nuclear-localized protein remains unknown. In the present study, we evaluated the role of FAM9C in human hepatocellular carcinoma. We found that among three FAM9 family members, only FAM9C was frequently upregulated in HCC specimens compared with that in corresponding adjacent non-cancer liver tissues. FAM9C was located in the nucleus of HCC cells, as shown by both western blotting and immumofluorescence assays. Significantly, FAM9C overexpression promoted proliferation, clonogenicity in an anchorage-dependent manner, in vivo tumorigenicity of YY-8103, and Huh-7 cells. In contrast, FAM9C knockdown suppressed proliferation, anchorage-dependent colony formation and in vivo tumorigenicity of QGY-7703, and BEL-7404 cells. However, FAM9C had no significant effects on cell cycle progression when FAM9C was stably overexpressed in Huh-7 cells or knocked down in BEL-7404 cells. Most importantly, FAM9C regulated activation of Akt and UV-induced apoptosis in HCC cells. FAM9C overexpression increased the phosphorylation levels of Akt and anti-apoptotic ability of Huh-7 cells, whereas endogenous FAM9C knockdown reduced the phosphorylated levels of Akt and anti-apoptotic ability of BEL-7404 cells. Furthermore, the anti-apoptotic function of FAM9C could be prevented when the PI3K-Akt pathway was in a loss-of-function caused by RNA interference against Akt or PI3K inhibitor LY294002 in HCC cells. Taken together, our data demonstrate that FAM9C as a novel cancer testis gene plays an anti-apoptotic role in human hepatocellular carcinoma through activating the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, and serves as a promising target for HCC therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun-Dong Zhou
- The Core Laboratory of the Suzhou Cancer Center and Department of Radiotherapy of the Suzhou Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou 215001, P.R. China
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