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Zhao M, Wang Y, Zhang Y, Li X, Mi J, Wang Q, Geng Z, Zuo L, Song X, Ge S, Zhang Z, Tang M, Li H, Wang Z, Jiang C, Su F. The upregulation of stromal antigen 3 expression suppresses the phenotypic hallmarks of hepatocellular carcinoma through the Smad3-CDK4/CDK6-cyclin D1 and CXCR4/RhoA pathways. BMC Gastroenterol 2022; 22:378. [PMID: 35941537 PMCID: PMC9361574 DOI: 10.1186/s12876-022-02400-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The stromal antigen 3 (STAG3) gene encodes an adhesion complex subunit that can regulate sister chromatid cohesion during cell division. Chromosome instability caused by STAG3 gene mutation may potentially promote tumor progression, but the effect of STAG3 on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and the related molecular mechanism are not reported in the literature. The mechanism of the occurrence and development of HCC is not adequately understood. Therefore, the biological role of STAG3 in HCC remains to be studied, and whether STAG3 might be a sensitive therapeutic target in HCC remains to be determined. Methods The expression and clinical significance of STAG3 in HCC tissues and cell lines were determined by RT–qPCR and immunohistochemistry analyses. The biological functions of STAG3 in HCC were determined through in vitro and in vivo cell function tests. The molecular mechanism of STAG3 in HCC cells was then investigated by western blot assay. Results The mRNA expression of STAG3 was lower in most HCC cells than in normal cells. Subsequently, an immunohistochemical analysis of STAG3 was performed with 126 samples, and lower STAG3 expression was associated with worse overall survival in HCC patients. Moreover, cytofunctional tests revealed that the lentivirus-mediated overexpression of STAG3 in HCC cells inhibited cell proliferation, migration, and invasion; promoted apoptosis; induced G1/S phase arrest in vitro; and inhibited tumor growth in vivo. Furthermore, studies of the molecular mechanism suggested that the overexpression of STAG3 increased Smad3 expression and decreased CDK4, CDK6, cyclin D1, CXCR4 and RhoA expression. Conclusion STAG3 exhibits anticancer effects against HCC, and these effects involve the Smad3-CDK4/CDK6-cyclin D1 and CXCR4/RhoA pathways. STAG3 is a tumor-suppressor gene that may serve as a potential target for molecular therapy, which provides a new idea for the treatment of HCC. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12876-022-02400-z.
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Affiliation(s)
- Menglin Zhao
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College, No. 287 Changhuai Road, Bengbu, 233030, Anhui, China
| | - Yanyan Wang
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College, No. 287 Changhuai Road, Bengbu, 233030, Anhui, China
| | - Yue Zhang
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College, No. 287 Changhuai Road, Bengbu, 233030, Anhui, China
| | - Xinwei Li
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College, No. 287 Changhuai Road, Bengbu, 233030, Anhui, China
| | - Jiaqi Mi
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College, No. 287 Changhuai Road, Bengbu, 233030, Anhui, China
| | - Qiang Wang
- Department of Network Information Center, Bengbu Medical College, No. 2600 Donghai Road, Bengbu, 233030, Anhui, China
| | - Zhijun Geng
- Department of Central Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, China
| | - Lugen Zuo
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College, No. 287 Changhuai Road, Bengbu, 233030, Anhui, China
| | - Xue Song
- Department of Central Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, China
| | - Sitang Ge
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College, No. 287 Changhuai Road, Bengbu, 233030, Anhui, China
| | - Zining Zhang
- Department of Clinical Medicine Science, Bengbu Medical College, No. 2600 Donghai Road, Bengbu, 233030, Anhui, China
| | - Mingyue Tang
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College, No. 287 Changhuai Road, Bengbu, 233030, Anhui, China
| | - Huiyuan Li
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College, No. 287 Changhuai Road, Bengbu, 233030, Anhui, China
| | - Zishu Wang
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College, No. 287 Changhuai Road, Bengbu, 233030, Anhui, China
| | - Chenchen Jiang
- Cancer Neurobiology Group, School of Medicine & Public Health, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia.
| | - Fang Su
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College, No. 287 Changhuai Road, Bengbu, 233030, Anhui, China.
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Yamaguchi T, Yoshida K, Murata M, Suwa K, Tsuneyama K, Matsuzaki K, Naganuma M. Smad3 Phospho-Isoform Signaling in Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23116270. [PMID: 35682957 PMCID: PMC9181097 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23116270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2022] [Revised: 05/28/2022] [Accepted: 05/29/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is characterized by hepatic steatosis with insulin resistance, oxidative stress, lipotoxicity, adipokine secretion by fat cells, endotoxins (lipopolysaccharides) released by gut microbiota, and endoplasmic reticulum stress. Together, these factors promote NAFLD progression from steatosis to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), fibrosis, and eventually end-stage liver diseases in a proportion of cases. Hepatic fibrosis and carcinogenesis often progress together, sharing inflammatory pathways. However, NASH can lead to hepatocarcinogenesis with minimal inflammation or fibrosis. In such instances, insulin resistance, oxidative stress, and lipotoxicity can directly lead to liver carcinogenesis through genetic and epigenetic alterations. Transforming growth factor (TGF)-β signaling is implicated in hepatic fibrogenesis and carcinogenesis. TGF-β type I receptor (TβRI) and activated-Ras/c-Jun-N-terminal kinase (JNK) differentially phosphorylate the mediator Smad3 to create two phospho-isoforms: C-terminally phosphorylated Smad3 (pSmad3C) and linker-phosphorylated Smad3 (pSmad3L). TβRI/pSmad3C signaling terminates cell proliferation, while constitutive Ras activation and JNK-mediated pSmad3L promote hepatocyte proliferation and carcinogenesis. The pSmad3L signaling pathway also antagonizes cytostatic pSmad3C signaling. This review addresses TGF-β/Smad signaling in hepatic carcinogenesis complicating NASH. We also discuss Smad phospho-isoforms as biomarkers predicting HCC in NASH patients with or without cirrhosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takashi Yamaguchi
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kansai Medical University, 2-5-1 Shin-machi, Hirakata, Osaka 573-1010, Japan; (K.Y.); (M.M.); (K.S.); (K.M.); (M.N.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +81-72-804-0101; Fax: +81-72-804-2524
| | - Katsunori Yoshida
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kansai Medical University, 2-5-1 Shin-machi, Hirakata, Osaka 573-1010, Japan; (K.Y.); (M.M.); (K.S.); (K.M.); (M.N.)
| | - Miki Murata
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kansai Medical University, 2-5-1 Shin-machi, Hirakata, Osaka 573-1010, Japan; (K.Y.); (M.M.); (K.S.); (K.M.); (M.N.)
| | - Kanehiko Suwa
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kansai Medical University, 2-5-1 Shin-machi, Hirakata, Osaka 573-1010, Japan; (K.Y.); (M.M.); (K.S.); (K.M.); (M.N.)
| | - Koichi Tsuneyama
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima University Graduate School, 3-18-15 Kuramoto, Tokushima 770-8503, Japan;
| | - Koichi Matsuzaki
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kansai Medical University, 2-5-1 Shin-machi, Hirakata, Osaka 573-1010, Japan; (K.Y.); (M.M.); (K.S.); (K.M.); (M.N.)
| | - Makoto Naganuma
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kansai Medical University, 2-5-1 Shin-machi, Hirakata, Osaka 573-1010, Japan; (K.Y.); (M.M.); (K.S.); (K.M.); (M.N.)
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Li L, Wang Q, He Y, Sun L, Yang Y, Pang X. Astragaloside IV suppresses migration and invasion of TGF-β 1-induced human hepatoma HuH-7 cells by regulating Nrf2/HO-1 and TGF-β 1/Smad3 pathways. Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol 2022; 395:397-405. [PMID: 35092472 DOI: 10.1007/s00210-021-02199-8] [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: 10/15/2021] [Accepted: 12/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Astragaloside IV (AS-IV), one of the major compounds extract from Astragalus membranaceus, has shown attractive anti-cancer effects in certain malignancies. Oxidative stress (OS) is considered as a crucial factor in promoting the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In response to OS, nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) upregulates and induces heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) to combat oxidative damages. The phosphorylation of the COOH-terminal of Smad3 (pSmad3C) activates p21 to resist HCC progression, while the phosphorylation of the linker region of Smad3 (pSmad3L) up-regulates c-Myc transcription to exert promoting effect towards HCC. This study aimed to explore whether AS-IV suppresses migration and invasion of human hepatoma HuH-7 cells by regulating Nrf2/HO-1 and TGF-β1/Smad3 pathways. HuH-7 cells were induced with TGF-β1 (9 or 40 pM) to establish HCC model in vitro and pretreated with AS-IV at different concentration (5, 10, and 20 μM) for 24 h. Cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) of HuH-7 cells were measured. The expression of Nrf2, pSmad3C, Nrf2/pNrf2, HO-1, pSmad3C/3L, c-Myc, and p21 were detected. Exposure of HuH-7 cells to TGF-β1 enhanced the cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and ROS production. Pretreatment with AS-IV (5, 10, and 20 μM) significantly reduced the cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and ROS production in HuH-7 cells. Furthermore, AS-IV increased the expressions of Nrf2/pNrf2, HO-1, pSmad3C, and p21, meanwhile reduced the expressions of pSmad3L and c-Myc. In conclusion, our study suggested that AS-IV inhibit HuH-7 cells migration and invasion, which related to activate Nrf2/HO-1 pathway, up-regulation pSmad3C/p21 pathway, and down-regulation pSmad3L/c-Myc pathway. The present research supports the notion that AS-IV may be a latent agent for the treatment of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lili Li
- Department of Pharmacology, Key Laboratory of Anti-Inflammatory and Immunopharmacology, Ministry of Education, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China
| | - Qin Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, Key Laboratory of Anti-Inflammatory and Immunopharmacology, Ministry of Education, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China
| | - Yinghao He
- Department of Pharmacology, Key Laboratory of Anti-Inflammatory and Immunopharmacology, Ministry of Education, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China
| | - Liangjie Sun
- Department of Pharmacology, Key Laboratory of Anti-Inflammatory and Immunopharmacology, Ministry of Education, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China
| | - Yan Yang
- Department of Pharmacology, Key Laboratory of Anti-Inflammatory and Immunopharmacology, Ministry of Education, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China.
| | - Xiaonan Pang
- Department of Pharmacology, Key Laboratory of Anti-Inflammatory and Immunopharmacology, Ministry of Education, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China.
- Department of Oncology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230601, China.
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Yang S, Zhang H, Yang H, Zhang J, Wang J, Luo T, Jiang Y, Hua H. SEPHS1 promotes SMAD2/3/4 expression and hepatocellular carcinoma cells invasion. Exp Hematol Oncol 2021; 10:17. [PMID: 33622411 PMCID: PMC7903722 DOI: 10.1186/s40164-021-00212-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2021] [Accepted: 02/16/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the common cancers that are very aggressive. The secreted cytokine transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) promotes cancer metastasis by multiple mechanisms such as epithelial-mesenchymal transition and immune evasion. The canonical TGF-β signaling is largely mediated by smooth muscle actin/mothers against decapentaplegic (SMAD) proteins. The current study aims to explore the regulation of TGF-β/SMAD signaling by selenophosphate synthetase 1 (SEPHS1). METHODS Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of SEPHS1 in HCC and adjacent liver tissues. Western blotting and quantitative reverse-transcription PCR were used to detect the protein and mRNA levels in HCC cell lines. Cell migration and invasion were determined by transwell assay. Bioinformatic analysis was conducted to determine SEPHS1 expression in HCC and its correlation with the survival of HCC patients. RESULTS Here we report that SEPHS1 is a positive regulator of SMAD proteins. SEPHS1 expression is up-regulated in HCC compared with adjacent liver tissues. SEPHS1 knockdown leads to decreased expression of SMAD2/3/4 and mesenchymal markers including snail, slug and N-cadherin in HCC cells. Furthermore, SEPHS1 knockdown results in a decrease in HCC cells migration and invasion, and suppresses the stimulation of HCC cells migration and invasion by TGF-β. Overexpression of SEPHS1 in HCC cells promotes cell invasion, which can be abrogated by SMAD3 knockdown. Lastly, higher expression of SEPHS1 is correlated with poor prognosis in HCC patients, as manifested by decreased overall survival and disease-free survival. CONCLUSIONS SEPHS1 is a positive regulator of TGF-β/SMAD signaling that is up-regulated in HCC. Increased SEPHS1 expression may indicate poor prognosis for patients with HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shu Yang
- Laboratory of Oncogene, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China.,Department of Abdominal Oncology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, Guizhou, China
| | - Hongying Zhang
- Laboratory of Oncogene, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Hua Yang
- Department of Pathology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, Guizhou, China
| | - Jin Zhang
- Laboratory of Oncogene, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Jiao Wang
- School of Basic Medicine, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Ting Luo
- Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Yangfu Jiang
- Laboratory of Oncogene, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China.
| | - Hui Hua
- Laboratory of Stem Cell Biology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China.
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