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Villano G, Novo E, Turato C, Quarta S, Ruvoletto M, Biasiolo A, Protopapa F, Chinellato M, Martini A, Trevellin E, Granzotto M, Cannito S, Cendron L, De Siervi S, Guido M, Parola M, Vettor R, Pontisso P. The protease activated receptor 2 - CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein beta - SerpinB3 axis inhibition as a novel strategy for the treatment of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. Mol Metab 2024; 81:101889. [PMID: 38307387 PMCID: PMC10864841 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmet.2024.101889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2023] [Revised: 01/11/2024] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 02/04/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The serine protease inhibitor SerpinB3 has been described as critical mediator of liver fibrosis and it has been recently proposed as an additional hepatokine involved in NASH development and insulin resistance. Protease Activated Receptor 2 has been identified as a novel regulator of hepatic metabolism. A targeted therapeutic strategy for NASH has been investigated, using 1-Piperidine Propionic Acid (1-PPA), since this compound has been recently proposed as both Protease Activated Receptor 2 and SerpinB3 inhibitor. METHODS The effect of SerpinB3 on inflammation and fibrosis genes was assessed in human macrophage and stellate cell lines. Transgenic mice, either overexpressing SerpinB3 or carrying Serpinb3 deletion and their relative wild type strains, were used in experimental NASH models. Subgroups of SerpinB3 transgenic mice and their controls were also injected with 1-PPA to assess the efficacy of this compound in NASH inhibition. RESULTS 1-PPA did not present significant cell and organ toxicity and was able to inhibit SerpinB3 and PAR2 in a dose-dependent manner. This effect was associated to a parallel reduction of the synthesis of the molecules induced by endogenous SerpinB3 or by its paracrine effects both in vitro and in vivo, leading to inhibition of lipid accumulation, inflammation and fibrosis in experimental NASH. At mechanistic level, the antiprotease activity of SerpinB3 was found essential for PAR2 activation, determining upregulation of the CCAAT Enhancer Binding Protein beta (C/EBP-β), another pivotal regulator of metabolism, inflammation and fibrosis, which in turn determined SerpinB3 synthesis. CONCLUSIONS 1-PPA treatment was able to inhibit the PAR2 - C/EBP-β - SerpinB3 axis and to protect from NASH development and progression, supporting the potential use of a similar approach for a targeted therapy of NASH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gianmarco Villano
- Dept. of Surgical, Oncological and Gastroenterological Sciences, University of Padova, Italy
| | - Erica Novo
- Dept. of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Torino, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Stefania Cannito
- Dept. of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Torino, Italy
| | | | | | - Maria Guido
- Dept. of Medicine, University of Padova, Italy
| | - Maurizio Parola
- Dept. of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Torino, Italy
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Pessino G, Scotti C, Maggi M, Immuno-Hub Consortium. Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Old and Emerging Therapeutic Targets. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:901. [PMID: 38473265 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16050901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2024] [Revised: 02/16/2024] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Liver cancer, predominantly hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), globally ranks sixth in incidence and third in cancer-related deaths. HCC risk factors include non-viral hepatitis, alcohol abuse, environmental exposures, and genetic factors. No specific genetic alterations are unequivocally linked to HCC tumorigenesis. Current standard therapies include surgical options, systemic chemotherapy, and kinase inhibitors, like sorafenib and regorafenib. Immunotherapy, targeting immune checkpoints, represents a promising avenue. FDA-approved checkpoint inhibitors, such as atezolizumab and pembrolizumab, show efficacy, and combination therapies enhance clinical responses. Despite this, the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains a challenge, as the complex tumor ecosystem and the immunosuppressive microenvironment associated with it hamper the efficacy of the available therapeutic approaches. This review explores current and advanced approaches to treat HCC, considering both known and new potential targets, especially derived from proteomic analysis, which is today considered as the most promising approach. Exploring novel strategies, this review discusses antibody drug conjugates (ADCs), chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy (CAR-T), and engineered antibodies. It then reports a systematic analysis of the main ligand/receptor pairs and molecular pathways reported to be overexpressed in tumor cells, highlighting their potential and limitations. Finally, it discusses TGFβ, one of the most promising targets of the HCC microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Greta Pessino
- Unit of Immunology and General Pathology, Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Claudia Scotti
- Unit of Immunology and General Pathology, Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Maristella Maggi
- Unit of Immunology and General Pathology, Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Immuno-Hub Consortium
- Unit of Immunology and General Pathology, Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy
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Martini A, Turato C, Cannito S, Quarta S, Biasiolo A, Ruvoletto M, Novo E, Marafatto F, Guerra P, Tonon M, Clemente N, Bocca C, Piano SS, Guido M, Gregori D, Parola M, Angeli P, Pontisso P. The polymorphic variant of SerpinB3 (SerpinB3-PD) is associated with faster cirrhosis decompensation. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2024; 59:380-392. [PMID: 37990490 DOI: 10.1111/apt.17804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2023] [Revised: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 10/28/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND SerpinB3 is a cysteine protease inhibitor involved in liver disease progression due to its proinflammatory and profibrogenic properties. The polymorphic variant SerpinB3-PD (SB3-PD), presents a substitution in its reactive centre loop, determining the gain of function. AIMS To disclose the clinical characteristics of a cohort of patients with cirrhosis in relation to the presence of SB3-PD and to assess the effect of this genetic variant on fibrogenic and inflammatory cytokines in vitro. METHODS We assessed SB3 polymorphism in 90 patients with cirrhosis, prospectively followed up in our referral centre. We used HepG2 and HuH-7 cells transfected to overexpress either wild-type SB3 (SB3-WT) or SB3-PD to assess their endogenous effect, while LX2 and THP-1 cells were treated with exogenous SB3-WT or SB3-PD proteins. RESULTS Patients carrying SB3-PD had more severe portal hypertension and higher MELD scores, than patients carrying SB3-WT. In multivariate analysis, SB3-PD was an independent predictor of cirrhosis complications. Patients with SB3-PD polymorphism presented with more severe liver fibrosis and inflammatory features. Hepatoma cells overexpressing SB3-PD showed higher TGF-β1 expression than controls. The addition of recombinant SB3-PD induced an up-regulation of TGF-β1 in LX2 cells and a more prominent inflammatory profile in THP-1 cells, compared to the effect of SB3-WT protein. CONCLUSIONS The polymorphic variant SB3-PD is highly effective in determining activation of TGF-β1 and inflammation in vitro. Patients with cirrhosis who carry SB3-PD polymorphism may be more prone to develop severe liver disease progression. However, further validation studies are warranted to support the in vivo relevance of this polymorphism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Martini
- Unit of Internal Medicine and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliera-Università, Padova, Italy
- European Reference Network - ERN RARE-LIVER, Department of Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliera-Università, Padova, Italy
| | - Cristian Turato
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Stefania Cannito
- Unit of Experimental Medicine and Clinical Pathology, Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Torino, Torino, Italy
| | - Santina Quarta
- Unit of Internal Medicine and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliera-Università, Padova, Italy
- European Reference Network - ERN RARE-LIVER, Department of Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliera-Università, Padova, Italy
| | - Alessandra Biasiolo
- Unit of Internal Medicine and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliera-Università, Padova, Italy
- European Reference Network - ERN RARE-LIVER, Department of Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliera-Università, Padova, Italy
| | - Mariagrazia Ruvoletto
- Unit of Internal Medicine and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliera-Università, Padova, Italy
- European Reference Network - ERN RARE-LIVER, Department of Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliera-Università, Padova, Italy
| | - Erica Novo
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Filippo Marafatto
- Unit of Internal Medicine and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliera-Università, Padova, Italy
- European Reference Network - ERN RARE-LIVER, Department of Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliera-Università, Padova, Italy
| | - Pietro Guerra
- Unit of Internal Medicine and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliera-Università, Padova, Italy
- European Reference Network - ERN RARE-LIVER, Department of Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliera-Università, Padova, Italy
| | - Marta Tonon
- Unit of Internal Medicine and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliera-Università, Padova, Italy
- European Reference Network - ERN RARE-LIVER, Department of Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliera-Università, Padova, Italy
| | - Nausicaa Clemente
- Department of Health Science, Interdisciplinary Research Center of Autoimmune Diseases (IRCAD), University of Piemonte Orientale, Novara, Italy
| | - Claudia Bocca
- Unit of Experimental Medicine and Clinical Pathology, Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Torino, Torino, Italy
| | - Salvatore Silvio Piano
- Unit of Internal Medicine and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliera-Università, Padova, Italy
- European Reference Network - ERN RARE-LIVER, Department of Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliera-Università, Padova, Italy
| | - Maria Guido
- Unit of Internal Medicine and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliera-Università, Padova, Italy
- European Reference Network - ERN RARE-LIVER, Department of Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliera-Università, Padova, Italy
| | - Dario Gregori
- Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Maurizio Parola
- Unit of Experimental Medicine and Clinical Pathology, Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Torino, Torino, Italy
| | - Paolo Angeli
- Unit of Internal Medicine and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliera-Università, Padova, Italy
- European Reference Network - ERN RARE-LIVER, Department of Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliera-Università, Padova, Italy
| | - Patrizia Pontisso
- Unit of Internal Medicine and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliera-Università, Padova, Italy
- European Reference Network - ERN RARE-LIVER, Department of Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliera-Università, Padova, Italy
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Ohara Y, Tang W, Liu H, Yang S, Dorsey TH, Cawley H, Moreno P, Chari R, Guest MR, Azizian A, Gaedcke J, Ghadimi M, Hanna N, Ambs S, Hussain SP. SERPINB3-MYC axis induces the basal-like/squamous subtype and enhances disease progression in pancreatic cancer. Cell Rep 2023; 42:113434. [PMID: 37980563 PMCID: PMC10842852 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.113434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2023] [Revised: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) exhibits distinct molecular subtypes: classical/progenitor and basal-like/squamous. Our study aimed to identify genes contributing to the development of the basal-like/squamous subtype, known for its aggressiveness. Transcriptome analyses revealed consistent upregulation of SERPINB3 in basal-like/squamous PDAC, correlating with reduced patient survival. SERPINB3 transgene expression in PDAC cells enhanced in vitro invasion and promoted lung metastasis in a mouse PDAC xenograft model. Metabolome analyses unveiled a metabolic signature linked to both SERPINB3 and the basal-like/squamous subtype, characterized by heightened carnitine/acylcarnitine and amino acid metabolism, associated with poor prognosis in patients with PDAC and elevated cellular invasiveness. Further analysis uncovered that SERPINB3 inhibited the cysteine protease calpain, a key enzyme in the MYC degradation pathway, and drove basal-like/squamous subtype and associated metabolic reprogramming through MYC activation. Our findings indicate that the SERPINB3-MYC axis induces the basal-like/squamous subtype, proposing SERPINB3 as a potential diagnostic and therapeutic target for this variant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuuki Ohara
- Pancreatic Cancer Section, Laboratory of Human Carcinogenesis, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
| | - Wei Tang
- Laboratory of Human Carcinogenesis, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; Data Science & Artificial Intelligence, R&D, AstraZeneca, Gaithersburg, MD 20878, USA
| | - Huaitian Liu
- Laboratory of Human Carcinogenesis, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Shouhui Yang
- Pancreatic Cancer Section, Laboratory of Human Carcinogenesis, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Tiffany H Dorsey
- Laboratory of Human Carcinogenesis, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Helen Cawley
- Pancreatic Cancer Section, Laboratory of Human Carcinogenesis, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Paloma Moreno
- Pancreatic Cancer Section, Laboratory of Human Carcinogenesis, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Raj Chari
- Genome Modification Core, Laboratory Animal Sciences Program, Frederick National Lab for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD 21701, USA
| | - Mary R Guest
- Genome Modification Core, Laboratory Animal Sciences Program, Frederick National Lab for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD 21701, USA
| | - Azadeh Azizian
- Städtisches Klinikum Karlsruhe, Moltkestraße 90, 76133 Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Jochen Gaedcke
- Städtisches Klinikum Karlsruhe, Moltkestraße 90, 76133 Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Michael Ghadimi
- Department of General, Visceral and Pediatric Surgery, University Medical Center Göttingen, Robert-Koch-Straße 40, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Nader Hanna
- Division of General & Oncologic Surgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Stefan Ambs
- Laboratory of Human Carcinogenesis, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - S Perwez Hussain
- Pancreatic Cancer Section, Laboratory of Human Carcinogenesis, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
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Wu Y, Ren L, Tang Y, Zhu Z, Liu S, Jiang Y, Zhang S, Zhuang X, Chen Y. Immunobiological signatures and the emerging role of SPP1 in predicting tumor heterogeneity, malignancy, and clinical outcomes in stomach adenocarcinoma. Aging (Albany NY) 2023; 15:11588-11610. [PMID: 37889539 PMCID: PMC10637809 DOI: 10.18632/aging.205148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Immunotherapy, as a form of immunobiological therapy, represents a promising approach for enhancing patients' immune responses. This work aims to present innovative ideas and insights for prognostic assessment and clinical treatment of stomach adenocarcinoma (STAD) by leveraging immunobiological signatures. METHODS We employed weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) and unsupervised clustering analysis to identify hub genes. These hub genes were utilized to construct a prognostic risk model, and their impact on the tumor microenvironment (TME) and DNA variations was assessed using large-scale STAD patient cohorts. Additionally, we conducted transfection experiments with plasmids to investigate the influence of SPP1 on the malignancy of HGC27 and NCI-N87 cells. RESULTS Unsupervised clustering of 12 immune-related genes (IRGs) revealed three distinct alteration patterns with unique molecular phenotypes, clinicopathological characteristics, prognosis, and TME features. Using LASSO and multivariate Cox regression analyses, we identified three hub genes (MMP12, SPP1, PLAU) from the IRGs to establish a risk signature. This IRG-related risk model significantly stratified the prognosis risk among STAD patients in the training (n = 522), testing (n = 521), and validation (n = 300) cohorts. Notably, there were discernible differences in therapy responses and TME characteristics, such as tumor purity and lymphocyte infiltration, between the risk model groups. Subsequently, a nomogram that incorporates the IRG signature and clinicopathological factors demonstrated superior sensitivity and specificity in predicting outcomes for STAD patients. Furthermore, down-regulation of SPP1, as observed after siRNA transfection, significantly inhibited the proliferation and migration abilities of HGC27 and NCI-N87 cells. CONCLUSIONS In summary, this study highlights the critical role of immune-related signatures in STAD and offers novel insights into prognosis indicators and immunotherapeutic targets for this condition. SPP1 emerges as an independent prognostic factor for STAD and appears to regulate STAD progression by influencing the immune microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanan Wu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Rudong People’s Hospital, Rudong Hospital Affiliated to Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Lingyu Ren
- Department of Gastroenterology, Rudong People’s Hospital, Rudong Hospital Affiliated to Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Yichun Tang
- Cancer Research Center Nantong, Nantong Tumor Hospital and Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Zhu Zhu
- Cancer Research Center Nantong, Nantong Tumor Hospital and Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Shifan Liu
- Department of Medical Imaging, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Yan Jiang
- Department of Engineering Training Center, Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Siming Zhang
- Cancer Research Center Nantong, Nantong Tumor Hospital and Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Xiaocan Zhuang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Rudong People’s Hospital, Rudong Hospital Affiliated to Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Yuanbiao Chen
- Affiliated Hospital of Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities, Baise, China
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Guerra P, Martini A, Pontisso P, Angeli P. Novel Molecular Targets for Immune Surveillance of Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:3629. [PMID: 37509293 PMCID: PMC10377787 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15143629] [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: 05/10/2023] [Revised: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common and aggressive cancer with a high mortality rate. The incidence of HCC is increasing worldwide, and the lack of effective screening programs often results in delayed diagnosis, making it a challenging disease to manage. Immunotherapy has emerged as a promising treatment option for different kinds of cancers, with the potential to stimulate the immune system to target cancer cells. However, the current immunotherapeutic approaches for HCC have shown limited efficacy. Since HCC arises within a complex tumour microenvironment (TME) characterized by the presence of various immune and stromal cell types, the understanding of this interaction is crucial for the identification of effective therapy. In this review, we highlight recent advances in our understanding of the TME of HCC and the immune cells involved in anti-tumour responses, including the identification of new possible targets for immunotherapy. We illustrate a possible classification of HCC based on the tumour immune infiltration and give evidence about the role of SerpinB3, a serine protease inhibitor involved in the regulation of the immune response in different cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pietro Guerra
- Unit of Internal Medicine and Hepatology (UIMH), Department of Medicine (DIMED), University of Padova, 35122 Padova, Italy
| | - Andrea Martini
- Unit of Internal Medicine and Hepatology (UIMH), Department of Medicine (DIMED), University of Padova, 35122 Padova, Italy
| | - Patrizia Pontisso
- Unit of Internal Medicine and Hepatology (UIMH), Department of Medicine (DIMED), University of Padova, 35122 Padova, Italy
| | - Paolo Angeli
- Unit of Internal Medicine and Hepatology (UIMH), Department of Medicine (DIMED), University of Padova, 35122 Padova, Italy
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Turato C, Vairetti M, Cagna M, Biasiolo A, Ferrigno A, Quarta S, Ruvoletto M, De Siervi S, Pontisso P, Di Pasqua LG. SerpinB3 administration protects liver against ischemia-reperfusion injury. Eur J Histochem 2022; 66. [DOI: 10.4081/ejh.2022.3561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
We have investigated the change in SerpinB3 during hepatic ischemia and the potential role of its antiprotease activity in cell protection by the administration of wild-type SerpinB3 (SerpinB3-WT) or active loop-deleted recombinant SerpinB3 protein (SerpinB3-D) in a rat model of ischemia (60 min)/reperfusion (60 min) (I/R). A time-dependent increase of SerpinB3, both at transcription and protein level, was found in ischemic livers after 60, 120 and 180 min. SerpinB3-WT decreased polymorphonuclear cell infiltration and serum enzymes and increased ATP when compared with I/R group. These events were not obtained using SerpinB3-D. No significant changes in both liver SerpinB3 mRNA and protein were found in all I/R groups considered. The present data show that the administration of SerpinB3-WT reduced the I/R injury and this effect appears to be dependent on its anti-protease activity.
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Effects of Sensitized Sorafenib with a Paeoniflorin and Geniposide Mixture on Liver Cancer via the NF- κB-HIF-2 α-SerpinB3 Pathway. EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE 2022; 2022:1911311. [PMID: 36285158 PMCID: PMC9588328 DOI: 10.1155/2022/1911311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2022] [Revised: 08/18/2022] [Accepted: 09/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Purpose This study focused on determining the anticancer effect of paeoniflorin and geniposide mixture (PFGS) combined with sorafenib (Sor) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and, in particular, whether PFGS increases the antitumor effect of Sor by modulating the NF-κB/HIF-2α/SerpinB3 pathway. Methods The H22 hepatoma tumor-bearing mouse model was treated with PFGS, Sor, and a combination of the two drugs for 12 days. The effects of PFGS combined with Sor on tumor growth and apoptosis and the expression of NF-κB, HIF-2α, and SerpinB3 in tumor tissue were assessed. In addition, Sor-resistant hepatoma cells were treated with PFGS, Sor, and the combination of the two drugs in vitro. The effects of PFGS combined with Sor on cell proliferation and invasion and the protein expression of NF-κB p65, HIF-2α, and SerpinB3 were investigated. Results PFGS combined with Sor treatment synergistically inhibited tumor growth in HCC tumor-bearing mice. Immunostaining showed that PFGS combined with Sor treatment significantly decreased the expression of Ki-67 and obviously induced apoptosis in the tumor compared with a single treatment. Similarly, PFGS combined with Sor treatment significantly downregulated the expression of NF-κB, HIF-2α, and SerpinB3 in the tumor compared with a single treatment. Additionally, PFGS combined with Sor markedly inhibited cell proliferation and invasion and activation of the NF-κB/HIF-2α/SerpinB3 pathway in Sor-resistant hepatoma cells compared with a single treatment. Conclusion Our study demonstrated that PFGS synergistically increased the antiliver cancer effects of Sor by lowering activation of the NF-κB/HIF-2α/SerpinB3 pathway. These findings provided a scientific foundation for clinical studies using PFGS and Sor to treat liver cancer.
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Semisolid Wet Sol–Gel Silica/Hydroxypropyl Methyl Cellulose Formulation for Slow Release of Serpin B3 Promotes Wound Healing In Vivo. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:pharmaceutics14091944. [PMID: 36145692 PMCID: PMC9503603 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14091944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Revised: 09/06/2022] [Accepted: 09/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Foot ulcerations are a disabling complication of diabetes and no treatment is currently available based on disease mechanisms. The protein serpin B3 (SB3) was identified as a positive biomarker of successful diabetic wound healing; therefore, its exogenous administration may promote healing. The topical administration of SB3 is challenging due to its protein nature. Physical entrapment in wet sol–gel silica can stabilize the protein’s conformation and permit its sustained delivery. However, irreversible syneresis and poor viscoelastic properties hamper wet sol–gel silica application as a semisolid vehicle. To overcome these limits, a sol–gel silica/hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC) hydrogel blend was developed. SB3 entrapped in 8% SiO2 wet sol–gel silica preserved its structure, was stabilized against denaturation, and was slowly released for at least three days. Blending a silica gel with an HPMC–glycerol (metolose-G) hydrogel permitted spreadability without affecting the protein’s release kinetics. When administered in vivo, SB3 in silica/metolose-G—but not in solution or in metolose-G alone—accelerated wound healing in SB3 knockout and diabetic mouse models. The results confirmed that SB3 is a new pharmacological option for the treatment of chronic ulcers, especially when formulated in a slow-releasing vehicle. Silica–metolose-G represents a novel type of semisolid dosage form which could also be applied for the formulation of other bioactive proteins.
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Novo E, Cappon A, Villano G, Quarta S, Cannito S, Bocca C, Turato C, Guido M, Maggiora M, Protopapa F, Sutti S, Provera A, Ruvoletto M, Biasiolo A, Foglia B, Albano E, Pontisso P, Parola M. SerpinB3 as a Pro-Inflammatory Mediator in the Progression of Experimental Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease. Front Immunol 2022; 13:910526. [PMID: 35874657 PMCID: PMC9304805 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.910526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Accepted: 06/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is becoming the most common chronic liver disease worldwide. In 20-30% of patients, NAFLD can progress into non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), eventually leading to fibrosis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma development. SerpinB3 (SB3), a hypoxia-inducible factor-2α dependent cysteine protease inhibitor, is up-regulated in hepatocytes during progressive NAFLD and proposed to contribute to disease progression. In this study we investigated the pro-inflammatory role of SB3 by employing phorbol-myristate acetate-differentiated human THP-1 macrophages exposed in vitro to human recombinant SB3 (hrSB3) along with mice overexpressing SB3 in hepatocytes (TG/SB3) or knockout for SB3 (KO/SB3) in which NASH was induced by feeding methionine/choline deficient (MCD) or a choline-deficient, L-amino acid defined (CDAA) diets. In vivo experiments showed that the induction of NASH in TG/SB3 mice was characterized by an impressive increase of liver infiltrating macrophages that formed crown-like aggregates and by an up-regulation of hepatic transcript levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines. All these parameters and the extent of liver damage were significantly blunted in KO/SB3 mice. In vitro experiments confirmed that hrSB3 stimulated macrophage production of M1-cytokines such as TNFα and IL-1β and reactive oxygen species along with that of TGFβ and VEGF through the activation of the NF-kB transcription factor. The opposite changes in liver macrophage activation observed in TG/SB3 or KO/SB3 mice with NASH were associated with a parallel modulation in the expression of triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-2 (TREM2), CD9 and galectin-3 markers, recently detected in NASH-associated macrophages. From these results we propose that SB3, produced by activated/injured hepatocytes, may operate as a pro-inflammatory mediator in NASH contributing to the disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erica Novo
- Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, Unit of Experimental Medicine and Clinical Pathology, University of Torino, Torino, Italy
| | - Andrea Cappon
- Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Gianmarco Villano
- Department of Surgical, Oncological and Gastroenterological Sciences – DISCOG, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Santina Quarta
- Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Stefania Cannito
- Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, Unit of Experimental Medicine and Clinical Pathology, University of Torino, Torino, Italy
| | - Claudia Bocca
- Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, Unit of Experimental Medicine and Clinical Pathology, University of Torino, Torino, Italy
| | - Cristian Turato
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Maria Guido
- Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Marina Maggiora
- Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, Unit of Experimental Medicine and Clinical Pathology, University of Torino, Torino, Italy
| | - Francesca Protopapa
- Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, Unit of Experimental Medicine and Clinical Pathology, University of Torino, Torino, Italy
| | - Salvatore Sutti
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Piemonte Orientale, Novara, Italy
| | - Alessia Provera
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Piemonte Orientale, Novara, Italy
| | | | | | - Beatrice Foglia
- Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, Unit of Experimental Medicine and Clinical Pathology, University of Torino, Torino, Italy
| | - Emanuele Albano
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Piemonte Orientale, Novara, Italy
| | - Patrizia Pontisso
- Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
- *Correspondence: Patrizia Pontisso, ; Maurizio Parola,
| | - Maurizio Parola
- Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, Unit of Experimental Medicine and Clinical Pathology, University of Torino, Torino, Italy
- *Correspondence: Patrizia Pontisso, ; Maurizio Parola,
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11
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Di Maira G, Foglia B, Napione L, Turato C, Maggiora M, Sutti S, Novo E, Alvaro M, Autelli R, Colombatto S, Bussolino F, Carucci P, Gaia S, Rosso C, Biasiolo A, Pontisso P, Bugianesi E, Albano E, Marra F, Parola M, Cannito S. Oncostatin M is overexpressed in
NASH
‐related hepatocellular carcinoma and promotes cancer cell invasiveness and angiogenesis. J Pathol 2022; 257:82-95. [PMID: 35064579 PMCID: PMC9315146 DOI: 10.1002/path.5871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2021] [Revised: 12/03/2021] [Accepted: 01/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Oncostatin M (OSM) is a pleiotropic cytokine of the interleukin (IL)‐6 family that contributes to the progression of chronic liver disease. Here we investigated the role of OSM in the development and progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)/non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). The role of OSM was investigated in (1) selected cohorts of NAFLD/NASH HCC patients, (2) liver cancer cells exposed to human recombinant OSM or stably transfected to overexpress human OSM, (3) murine HCC xenografts, and (4) a murine NASH‐related model of hepatic carcinogenesis. OSM was found to be selectively overexpressed in HCC cells of NAFLD/NASH patients, depending on tumor grade. OSM serum levels, barely detectable in patients with simple steatosis or NASH, were increased in patients with cirrhosis and more evident in those carrying HCC. In this latter group, OSM serum levels were significantly higher in the subjects with intermediate/advanced HCCs and correlated with poor survival. Cell culture experiments indicated that OSM upregulation in hepatic cancer cells contributes to HCC progression by inducing epithelial‐to‐mesenchymal transition and increased invasiveness of cancer cells as well as by inducing angiogenesis, which is of critical relevance. In murine xenografts, OSM overexpression was associated with slower tumor growth but an increased rate of lung metastases. Overexpression of OSM and its positive correlation with the angiogenic switch were also confirmed in a murine model of NAFLD/NASH‐related hepatocarcinogenesis. Consistent with this, analysis of liver specimens from human NASH‐related HCCs with vascular invasion showed that OSM was expressed by liver cancer cells invading hepatic vessels. In conclusion, OSM upregulation appears to be a specific feature of HCC arising on a NAFLD/NASH background, and it correlates with clinical parameters and disease outcome. Our data highlight a novel pro‐carcinogenic contribution for OSM in NAFLD/NASH, suggesting a role of this factor as a prognostic marker and a putative potential target for therapy. © 2022 The Authors. The Journal of Pathology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Di Maira
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine and Center Denothe University of Firenze Italy
| | - Beatrice Foglia
- Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, Unit of Experimental Medicine & Clinical Pathology University of Torino Italy
| | - Lucia Napione
- Laboratory of Vascular Oncology Candiolo Cancer Institute – FPO IRCCS (Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico)
- Department of Applied Science and Technology Politecnico di Torino Torino Italy
| | - Cristian Turato
- Department of Molecular Medicine University of Pavia Pavia Italy
| | - Marina Maggiora
- Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, Unit of Experimental Medicine & Clinical Pathology University of Torino Italy
| | - Salvatore Sutti
- Dept. Health Sciences and Interdisciplinary Research Center for Autoimmune Diseases University Amedeo Avogadro of East Piedmont Novara Italy
| | - Erica Novo
- Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, Unit of Experimental Medicine & Clinical Pathology University of Torino Italy
| | - Maria Alvaro
- Laboratory of Vascular Oncology Candiolo Cancer Institute – FPO IRCCS (Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico)
- Department of Oncology University of Torino Italy
| | - Riccardo Autelli
- Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, Unit of Experimental Medicine & Clinical Pathology University of Torino Italy
| | | | - Federico Bussolino
- Laboratory of Vascular Oncology Candiolo Cancer Institute – FPO IRCCS (Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico)
- Department of Oncology University of Torino Italy
| | - Patrizia Carucci
- Division of Gastroenterology Città della Salute e della Scienza University‐Hospital 10100 Turin Italy
| | - Silvia Gaia
- Division of Gastroenterology Città della Salute e della Scienza University‐Hospital 10100 Turin Italy
| | - Chiara Rosso
- Department of Medical Sciences University of Torino Italy
| | | | | | | | - Emanuele Albano
- Dept. Health Sciences and Interdisciplinary Research Center for Autoimmune Diseases University Amedeo Avogadro of East Piedmont Novara Italy
| | - Fabio Marra
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine and Center Denothe University of Firenze Italy
| | - Maurizio Parola
- Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, Unit of Experimental Medicine & Clinical Pathology University of Torino Italy
| | - Stefania Cannito
- Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, Unit of Experimental Medicine & Clinical Pathology University of Torino Italy
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12
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Shen J, Liu J, Li H, Bai L, Du Z, Geng R, Cao J, Sun P, Tang Z. Explore association of genes in PDL1/PD1 pathway to radiotherapy survival benefit based on interaction model strategy. Radiat Oncol 2021; 16:223. [PMID: 34794456 PMCID: PMC8600865 DOI: 10.1186/s13014-021-01951-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 02/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose To explore the association of genes in “PD-L1 expression and PD-1 check point pathway in cancer” to radiotherapy survival benefit. Methods and materials Gene expression data and clinical information of cancers were downloaded from TCGA. Radiotherapy survival benefit was defined based on interaction model. Fast backward multivariate Cox regression was performed using stacking multiple interpolation data to identify radio-sensitive (RS) genes. Results Among the 73 genes in PD-L1/PD-1 pathway, we identified 24 RS genes in BRCA data set, 25 RS genes in STAD data set and 20 RS genes in HNSC data set, with some crossover genes. Theoretically, there are two types of RS genes. The expression level of Type I RS genes did not affect patients' overall survival (OS), but when receiving radiotherapy, patients with different expression level of Type I RS genes had varied survival benefit. Oppositely, Type II RS genes affected patients' OS. And when receiving radiotherapy, those with lower OS could benefit a lot. Type II RS genes in BRCA had strong positive correlation and closely biological interactions. When performing cluster analysis using these related Type II RS genes, patients could be divided into RS group and non-RS group in BRCA and METABRIC data sets. Conclusions Our study explored potential radio-sensitive biomarkers of several main cancer types in an important tumor immune checkpoint pathway and revealed a strong association between this pathway and radiotherapy survival benefit. New types of RS genes could be identified based on expanded definition to RS genes. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13014-021-01951-x.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junjie Shen
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China.,Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Preventive and Translational Medicine for Geriatric Diseases, Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Jingfang Liu
- Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Huijun Li
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China.,Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Preventive and Translational Medicine for Geriatric Diseases, Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Lu Bai
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China.,Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Preventive and Translational Medicine for Geriatric Diseases, Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Zixuan Du
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China.,Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Preventive and Translational Medicine for Geriatric Diseases, Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Ruirui Geng
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China.,Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Preventive and Translational Medicine for Geriatric Diseases, Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Jianping Cao
- School of Radiation Medicine and Protection and Collaborative Innovation Center of Radiation Medicine of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215006, China
| | - Peng Sun
- Department of Otolaryngology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China.
| | - Zaixiang Tang
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China. .,Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Preventive and Translational Medicine for Geriatric Diseases, Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China.
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13
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Foglia B, Sutti S, Cannito S, Rosso C, Maggiora M, Autelli R, Novo E, Bocca C, Villano G, Ramavath NN, Younes R, Tusa I, Rovida E, Pontisso P, Bugianesi E, Albano E, Parola M. Hepatocyte-Specific Deletion of HIF2α Prevents NASH-Related Liver Carcinogenesis by Decreasing Cancer Cell Proliferation. Cell Mol Gastroenterol Hepatol 2021; 13:459-482. [PMID: 34655812 PMCID: PMC8688724 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcmgh.2021.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2021] [Revised: 10/06/2021] [Accepted: 10/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Hypoxia and hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs) are involved in chronic liver disease progression. We previously showed that hepatocyte HIF-2α activation contributed significantly to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease progression in experimental animals and human patients. In this study, using an appropriate genetic murine model, we mechanistically investigated the involvement of hepatocyte HIF-2α in experimental nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)-related carcinogenesis. METHODS The role of HIF-2α was investigated by morphologic, cellular, and molecular biology approaches in the following: (1) mice carrying hepatocyte-specific deletion of HIF-2α (HIF-2α-/- mice) undergoing a NASH-related protocol of hepatocarcinogenesis; (2) HepG2 cells stably transfected to overexpress HIF-2α; and (3) liver specimens from NASH patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. RESULTS Mice carrying hepatocyte-specific deletion of HIF-2α (hHIF-2α-/-) showed a significant decrease in the volume and number of liver tumors compared with wild-type littermates. These effects did not involve HIF-1α changes and were associated with a decrease of cell proliferation markers proliferating cell nuclear antigen and Ki67. In both human and rodent nonalcoholic fatty liver disease-related tumors, HIF-2α levels were strictly associated with hepatocyte production of SerpinB3, a mediator previously shown to stimulate liver cancer cell proliferation through the Hippo/Yes-associated protein (YAP)/c-Myc pathway. Consistently, we observed positive correlations between the transcripts of HIF-2α, YAP, and c-Myc in individual hepatocellular carcinoma tumor masses, while HIF-2α deletion down-modulated c-Myc and YAP expression without affecting extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2, c-Jun N-terminal kinase, and AKT-dependent signaling. In vitro data confirmed that HIF-2α overexpression induced HepG2 cell proliferation through YAP-mediated mechanisms. CONCLUSIONS These results indicate that the activation of HIF-2α in hepatocytes has a critical role in liver carcinogenesis during NASH progression, suggesting that HIF-2α-blocking agents may serve as novel putative therapeutic tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatrice Foglia
- Unit of Experimental Medicine and Clinical Pathology, Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Turin, Italy
| | - Salvatore Sutti
- Department of Health Sciences and Interdisciplinary Research Centre for Autoimmune Diseases, University Amedeo Avogadro of East Piedmont, Novara, Italy
| | - Stefania Cannito
- Unit of Experimental Medicine and Clinical Pathology, Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Turin, Italy
| | - Chiara Rosso
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Torino, Italy; Division of Gastroenterology, San Giovanni Hospital, Torino, Italy
| | - Marina Maggiora
- Unit of Experimental Medicine and Clinical Pathology, Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Turin, Italy
| | - Riccardo Autelli
- Unit of Experimental Medicine and Clinical Pathology, Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Turin, Italy
| | - Erica Novo
- Unit of Experimental Medicine and Clinical Pathology, Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Turin, Italy
| | - Claudia Bocca
- Unit of Experimental Medicine and Clinical Pathology, Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Turin, Italy
| | | | - Naresh Naik Ramavath
- Department of Health Sciences and Interdisciplinary Research Centre for Autoimmune Diseases, University Amedeo Avogadro of East Piedmont, Novara, Italy
| | - Ramy Younes
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Torino, Italy; Division of Gastroenterology, San Giovanni Hospital, Torino, Italy
| | - Ignazia Tusa
- Unit of Experimental Oncology and Pathology, Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Rovida
- Unit of Experimental Oncology and Pathology, Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | | | - Elisabetta Bugianesi
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Torino, Italy; Division of Gastroenterology, San Giovanni Hospital, Torino, Italy
| | - Emanuele Albano
- Department of Health Sciences and Interdisciplinary Research Centre for Autoimmune Diseases, University Amedeo Avogadro of East Piedmont, Novara, Italy
| | - Maurizio Parola
- Unit of Experimental Medicine and Clinical Pathology, Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Turin, Italy.
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14
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Vijayasimha K, Dolan BP. The Many Potential Fates of Non-Canonical Protein Substrates Subject to NEDDylation. Cells 2021; 10:2660. [PMID: 34685640 PMCID: PMC8534235 DOI: 10.3390/cells10102660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2021] [Revised: 09/28/2021] [Accepted: 09/30/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuronal precursor cell-expressed developmentally down-regulated protein 8 (NEDD8) is a ubiquitin-like protein (UBL) whose canonical function involves binding to, and thus, activating Cullin-Ring finger Ligases (CRLs), one of the largest family of ubiquitin ligases in the eukaryotic cell. However, in recent years, several non-canonical protein substrates of NEDD8 have been identified. Here we attempt to review the recent literature regarding non-canonical NEDDylation of substrates with a particular focus on how the covalent modification of NEDD8 alters the protein substrate. Like much in the study of ubiquitin and UBLs, there are no clear and all-encompassing explanations to satisfy the textbooks. In some instances, NEDD8 modification appears to alter the substrates localization, particularly during times of stress. NEDDylation may also have conflicting impacts upon a protein's stability: some reports indicate NEDDylation may protect against degradation whereas others show NEDDylation can promote degradation. We also examine how many of the in vitro studies measuring non-canonical NEDDylation were conducted and compare those conditions to those which may occur in vivo, such as cancer progression. It is likely that the conditions used to study non-canonical NEDDylation are similar to some types of cancers, such as glioblastoma, colon and rectal cancers, and lung adenocarcinomas. Although the full outcomes of non-canonical NEDDylation remain unknown, our review of the literature suggests that researchers keep an open mind to the situations where this modification occurs and determine the functional impacts of NEDD8-modification to the specific substrates which they study.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Brian P. Dolan
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA;
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15
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Hu X, Zhu H, Shen Y, Zhang X, He X, Xu X. The Role of Non-Coding RNAs in the Sorafenib Resistance of Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Front Oncol 2021; 11:696705. [PMID: 34367979 PMCID: PMC8340683 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.696705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2021] [Accepted: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the second most common cause of cancer-related death. Sorafenib is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to be a first-line chemotherapy agent for patients with advanced HCC. A portion of advanced HCC patients can benefit from the treatment with sorafenib, but many patients ultimately develop sorafenib resistance, leading to a poor prognosis. The molecular mechanisms of sorafenib resistance are sophisticated and indefinite. Notably, non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), which include long ncRNAs (lncRNAs), microRNAs (miRNAs) and circular RNAs (circRNAs), are critically participated in the occurrence and progression of tumors. Moreover, growing evidence has suggested that ncRNAs are crucial regulators in the development of resistance to sorafenib. Herein, we integrally and systematically summarized the molecular mechanisms and vital role of ncRNAs impact sorafenib resistance of HCC, and ultimately explored the potential clinical administrations of ncRNAs as new prognostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets for HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyao Hu
- Department of Oncology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.,Cancer Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Hua Zhu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yang Shen
- Department of Oncology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.,Cancer Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiaoyu Zhang
- Department of Oncology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.,Cancer Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiaoqin He
- Department of Oncology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.,Cancer Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Ximing Xu
- Department of Oncology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.,Cancer Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
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16
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Engineered EVs for Oxidative Stress Protection. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2021; 14:ph14080703. [PMID: 34451800 PMCID: PMC8399368 DOI: 10.3390/ph14080703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2021] [Revised: 07/13/2021] [Accepted: 07/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are increasingly studied as vectors for drug delivery because they can transfer a variety of molecules across biological barriers. SerpinB3 is a serine protease inhibitor that has shown a protective anti-apoptotic function in a variety of stressful conditions. The aim of this study was to evaluate protection from oxidative stress-induced damage, using extracellular vesicles that overexpress SerpinB3 (EVs-SB3) in order to enhance the effect of extracellular vesicles on cellular homeostasis. EVs-SB3s were obtained from HepG2 cells engineered to overexpress SerpinB3 and they revealed significant proteomic changes, mostly characterized by a reduced expression of other proteins compared with EVs from non-engineered cells. These EV preparations showed a significantly higher protection from H2O2 induced oxidative stress in both the hepatoma cell line and in primary cardiomyocytes, compared to cells treated with naïve EVs or SerpinB3 alone, used at the same concentration. In conclusion, the induction of SerpinB3 transgene expression results in the secretion of EVs enriched with the protein product that exhibits enhanced cytoprotective activity, compared with naïve EVs or the nude SerpinB3 protein.
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17
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Moldogazieva NT, Mokhosoev IM, Zavadskiy SP, Terentiev AA. Proteomic Profiling and Artificial Intelligence for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Translational Medicine. Biomedicines 2021; 9:biomedicines9020159. [PMID: 33562077 PMCID: PMC7914649 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9020159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2020] [Revised: 01/27/2021] [Accepted: 02/02/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary cancer of the liver with high morbidity and mortality rates worldwide. Since 1963, when alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) was discovered as a first HCC serum biomarker, several other protein biomarkers have been identified and introduced into clinical practice. However, insufficient specificity and sensitivity of these biomarkers dictate the necessity of novel biomarker discovery. Remarkable advancements in integrated multiomics technologies for the identification of gene expression and protein or metabolite distribution patterns can facilitate rising to this challenge. Current multiomics technologies lead to the accumulation of a huge amount of data, which requires clustering and finding correlations between various datasets and developing predictive models for data filtering, pre-processing, and reducing dimensionality. Artificial intelligence (AI) technologies have an enormous potential to overcome accelerated data growth, complexity, and heterogeneity within and across data sources. Our review focuses on the recent progress in integrative proteomic profiling strategies and their usage in combination with machine learning and deep learning technologies for the discovery of novel biomarker candidates for HCC early diagnosis and prognosis. We discuss conventional and promising proteomic biomarkers of HCC such as AFP, lens culinaris agglutinin (LCA)-reactive L3 glycoform of AFP (AFP-L3), des-gamma-carboxyprothrombin (DCP), osteopontin (OPN), glypican-3 (GPC3), dickkopf-1 (DKK1), midkine (MDK), and squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCCA) and highlight their functional significance including the involvement in cell signaling such as Wnt/β-catenin, PI3K/Akt, integrin αvβ3/NF-κB/HIF-1α, JAK/STAT3 and MAPK/ERK-mediated pathways dysregulated in HCC. We show that currently available computational platforms for big data analysis and AI technologies can both enhance proteomic profiling and improve imaging techniques to enhance the translational application of proteomics data into precision medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nurbubu T. Moldogazieva
- Laboratory of Bioinformatics, Institute of Translational Medicine and Biotechnology, I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), 119991 Moscow, Russia
- Correspondence: or
| | - Innokenty M. Mokhosoev
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, N.I. Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, 117997 Moscow, Russia; (I.M.M.); (A.A.T.)
| | - Sergey P. Zavadskiy
- Department of Pharmacology, A.P. Nelyubin Institute of Pharmacy, I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), 119991 Moscow, Russia;
| | - Alexander A. Terentiev
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, N.I. Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, 117997 Moscow, Russia; (I.M.M.); (A.A.T.)
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18
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Albanese A, Daly LA, Mennerich D, Kietzmann T, Sée V. The Role of Hypoxia-Inducible Factor Post-Translational Modifications in Regulating Its Localisation, Stability, and Activity. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 22:E268. [PMID: 33383924 PMCID: PMC7796330 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22010268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2020] [Revised: 12/22/2020] [Accepted: 12/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The hypoxia signalling pathway enables adaptation of cells to decreased oxygen availability. When oxygen becomes limiting, the central transcription factors of the pathway, hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs), are stabilised and activated to induce the expression of hypoxia-regulated genes, thereby maintaining cellular homeostasis. Whilst hydroxylation has been thoroughly described as the major and canonical modification of the HIF-α subunits, regulating both HIF stability and activity, a range of other post-translational modifications decorating the entire protein play also a crucial role in altering HIF localisation, stability, and activity. These modifications, their conservation throughout evolution, and their effects on HIF-dependent signalling are discussed in this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Albanese
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Cell Signalling, Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L697ZB, UK;
| | - Leonard A. Daly
- Department of Biochemistry and System Biology, Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L697ZB, UK;
| | - Daniela Mennerich
- Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Biocenter Oulu, University of Oulu, FI-90014 Oulu, Finland; (D.M.); (T.K.)
| | - Thomas Kietzmann
- Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Biocenter Oulu, University of Oulu, FI-90014 Oulu, Finland; (D.M.); (T.K.)
| | - Violaine Sée
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Cell Signalling, Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L697ZB, UK;
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Yao J, Liang X, Liu Y, Zheng M. Neddylation: A Versatile Pathway Takes on Chronic Liver Diseases. Front Med (Lausanne) 2020; 7:586881. [PMID: 33195347 PMCID: PMC7604315 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2020.586881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2020] [Accepted: 08/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Neddylation is a ubiquitin-like posttranslational modification that conjugates neural precursor cell expressed developmentally downregulated-8 (Nedd8) to specific substrates for regulation of protein activity. In light of current researches, the neddylation pathway is aberrant in the pathogenesis of many diseases. In our review, we summarize the versatile roles of neddylation in chronic liver diseases (CLDs). CLDs are one of the leading causes of chronic disease-associated deaths worldwide. There are diverse etiologic agents causing CLDs, mainly including hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), chronic exposure to alcohol or drugs, and autoimmune causes. So far, however, there remains a paucity of effective therapeutic approach to CLDs. In this review, we summarized the role of the neddylation pathway which runs through the chronic hepatitis B/NAFLD-liver fibrosis-cirrhosis-hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) axis, a canonical pattern in the process of CLD development and progression. The dysregulation of neddylation may provide a better understanding of CLD pathology and even a novel therapeutic strategy. Correspondingly, inhibiting neddylation via MLN4924, a small molecule compound targeting NEDD8-activating enzyme (NAE), can potently alleviate CLD progression and improve the outcome. On this basis, profiling and characterization of the neddylation pathway can provide new insights into the CLD pathology as well as novel therapeutic strategies, independently of the etiology of CLD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiping Yao
- The State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xue Liang
- The State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yanning Liu
- The State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Min Zheng
- The State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
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Chen Z, Xie H, Hu M, Huang T, Hu Y, Sang N, Zhao Y. Recent progress in treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. Am J Cancer Res 2020; 10:2993-3036. [PMID: 33042631 PMCID: PMC7539784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2020] [Accepted: 06/28/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. In the past decade, there have been improvements in non-drug therapies and drug therapies for HCC treatment. Non-drug therapies include hepatic resection, liver transplantation, transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) and ablation. The former two surgical treatments are beneficial for patients with early and mid-stage HCC. As the first choice for non-surgical treatment, different TACE methods has been developed and widely used in combination therapy. Ablation has become an important alternative therapy for the treatment of small HCC or cases of unresectable surgery. Meanwhile, the drugs including small molecule targeted drugs like sorafenib and lenvatinib, monoclonal antibodies such as nivolumab are mainly used for the systematic treatment of advanced HCC. Besides strategies described above are recommended as first-line therapies due to their significant increase in mean overall survival, there are also potential drugs in clinical trials or under preclinical development. In addition, a number of potential preclinical surgical or adjuvant therapies are being studied, such as oncolytic virus, mesenchymal stem cells, biological clock, gut microbiome composition and peptide vaccine, all of which have shown different degrees of inhibition on HCC. With some potential anti-HCC drugs being reported, many promising therapeutic targets in related taxonomic signaling pathways including cell cycle, epigenetics, tyrosine kinase and so on that affect the progression of HCC have also been found. Together, the rational application of existing therapies and drugs as well as the new strategies will bring a bright future for the global cure of HCC in the coming decades.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiqian Chen
- West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan UniversityChengdu 610041, China
| | - Hao Xie
- West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan UniversityChengdu 610041, China
| | - Mingming Hu
- West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan UniversityChengdu 610041, China
| | - Tianyi Huang
- West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan UniversityChengdu 610041, China
| | - Yanan Hu
- West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan UniversityChengdu 610041, China
| | - Na Sang
- Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Sichuan UniversityChengdu 610041, China
| | - Yinglan Zhao
- West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan UniversityChengdu 610041, China
- Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Sichuan UniversityChengdu 610041, China
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