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Tsui YM, Ho DWH, Sze KMF, Lee JMF, Lee E, Zhang Q, Cheung GCH, Tang CN, Tang VWL, Cheung ETY, Lo ILO, Chan ACY, Cheung TT, Oi-Lin Ng I. Sorted-Cell Sequencing on HCC Specimens Reveals EPS8L3 as a Key Player in CD24/CD13/EpCAM-Triple Positive, Stemness-Related HCC Cells. Cell Mol Gastroenterol Hepatol 2024:S2352-345X(24)00112-7. [PMID: 38750898 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcmgh.2024.05.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Revised: 05/07/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 06/02/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a heterogeneous cancer with varying levels of liver tumor initiating or cancer stem cells in the tumors. We aimed to investigate the expression of different liver cancer stem cell (LCSC) markers in human HCCs and identify their regulatory mechanisms in stemness-related cells. METHODS We used an unbiased, single-marker sorting approach by flow cytometry, fluorescence-activated cell sorting, and transcriptomic analyses on HCC patients' resected specimens. Knockdown approach was used, and relevant functional assays were conducted on the identified targets of interest. RESULTS Flow cytometry on a total of 60 HCC resected specimens showed significant heterogeneity in the expression of LCSC markers, with CD24, CD13, and EpCAM mainly contributing to this heterogeneity. Concomitant expression of CD24, CD13, and EpCAM was detected in 32 HCC samples, and this was associated with advanced tumor stages. Transcriptomic sequencing on the HCC cells sorted for these individual markers identified epidermal growth factor receptor kinase substrate 8-like protein 3 (EPS8L3) as a common gene associated with the 3 markers and was functionally validated in HCC cells. Knocking down EPS8L3 suppressed the expression of all 3 markers. To search for the upstream regulation of EPS8L3, we found SP1 bound to EPS8L3 promoter to drive EPS8L3 expression. Furthermore, using Akt inhibitor MK2206, we showed that Akt signaling-driven SP1 drove the expression of the 3 LCSC markers. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that Akt signaling-driven SP1 promotes EPS8L3 expression, which is critical in maintaining the downstream expression of CD24, CD13, and EpCAM. The findings provide insight into potential LCSC-targeting therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Man Tsui
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Daniel Wai-Hung Ho
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Karen Man-Fong Sze
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Joyce Man-Fong Lee
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Eva Lee
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Qingyang Zhang
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Gary Cheuk-Hang Cheung
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | | | | | | | | | - Albert Chi-Yan Chan
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Tan-To Cheung
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Irene Oi-Lin Ng
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
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Pan D, Chen H, Xu J, Lin X, Li L. Evaluation of vital genes correlated with CD8 + T cell infiltration as prognostic biomarkers in stomach adenocarcinoma. BMC Gastroenterol 2023; 23:399. [PMID: 37978443 PMCID: PMC10656896 DOI: 10.1186/s12876-023-03003-y] [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: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Infiltration of CD8 + T cells in the tumor microenvironment is correlated with better prognosis in various malignancies. Our study aimed to investigate vital genes correlated with CD8 + T cell infiltration in stomach adenocarcinoma (STAD) and develop a new prognostic model. METHODS Using the STAD dataset, differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were analyzed, and co-expression networks were constructed. Combined with the CIBERSORT algorithm, the most relevant module of WGCNA with CD8 + T cell infiltration was selected for subsequent analysis. The vital genes were screened out by univariate regression analysis to establish the risk score model. The expression of the viral genes was verified by lasso regression analysis and in vitro experiments. RESULTS Four CD8 + T cell infiltration-related genes (CIDEC, EPS8L3, MUC13, and PLEKHS1) were correlated with the prognosis of STAD. Based on these genes, a risk score model was established. We found that the risk score could well predict the prognosis of STAD, and the risk score was positively correlated with CD8 + T cell infiltration. The validation results of the gene expression were consistent with TCGA. Furthermore, the risk score was significantly higher in tumor tissues. The high-risk group had poorer overall survival (OS) in each subgroup. CONCLUSIONS Our study constructed a new risk score model for STAD prognosis, which may provide a new perspective to explore the tumor immune microenvironment mechanism in STAD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dun Pan
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, No.20, ChaZhong Road, TaiJiang District, Fuzhou, 350000, Fujian Province, China
| | - Hui Chen
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, No.20, ChaZhong Road, TaiJiang District, Fuzhou, 350000, Fujian Province, China
| | - Jiaxiang Xu
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, No.20, ChaZhong Road, TaiJiang District, Fuzhou, 350000, Fujian Province, China
| | - Xin Lin
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, No.20, ChaZhong Road, TaiJiang District, Fuzhou, 350000, Fujian Province, China
| | - Liangqing Li
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, No.20, ChaZhong Road, TaiJiang District, Fuzhou, 350000, Fujian Province, China.
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Qi C, Ma J, Sun J, Wu X, Ding J. The role of molecular subtypes and immune infiltration characteristics based on disulfidptosis-associated genes in lung adenocarcinoma. Aging (Albany NY) 2023; 15:204782. [PMID: 37315289 PMCID: PMC10292876 DOI: 10.18632/aging.204782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is the most common type of lung cancer which accounts for about 40% of all lung cancers. Early detection, risk stratification and treatment are important for improving outcomes for LUAD. Recent studies have found that abnormal accumulation of cystine and other disulfide occurs in the cell under glucose starvation, which induces disulfide stress and increases the content of disulfide bond in actin cytoskeleton, resulting in cell death, which is defined as disulfidptosis. Because the study of disulfidptosis is in its infancy, its role in disease progression is still unclear. In this study, we detected the expression and mutation of disulfidptosis genes in LUAD using a public database. Clustering analysis based on disulfidptosis gene was performed and differential genes of disulfidptosis subtype were analyzed. 7 differential genes of disulfidptosis subtype were used to construct a prognostic risk model, and the causes of prognostic differences were investigated by immune-infiltration analysis, immune checkpoint analysis, and drug sensitivity analysis. qPCR was used to verify the expression of 7 key genes in lung cancer cell line (A549) and normal bronchial epithelial cell line (BEAS-2B). Since G6PD had the highest risk factor of lung cancer, we further verified the protein expression of G6PD in lung cancer cells by western blot, and confirmed through colony formation experiment that interference with G6PD was able to significantly inhibit the proliferation ability of lung cancer cells. Our results provide evidence for the role of disulfidptosis in LUAD and provide new ideas for individualized precision therapy of LUAD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cui Qi
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Qingdao Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Qingdao, China
| | - Jianmin Ma
- Department of Cardiac Ultrasound, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Jinjin Sun
- Department of Operating Room, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Xiaolin Wu
- Department of Orthopedics, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
- Cancer Institute, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao University, Qingdao Cancer Institute, Qingdao, China
| | - Jian Ding
- Department of Neurology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
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Fan Z, Li M, Xu Y, Ge C, Gu J. EPS8L3 promotes pancreatic cancer proliferation and metastasis by activating GSK3B. J Med Biochem 2023; 42:105-112. [PMID: 36819133 PMCID: PMC9920878 DOI: 10.5937/jomb0-38840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Background We intended to investigate the role and regulatory mechanism of EPS8L3 in increase the development of pancreatic cancer (PC). Methods In order to analyze the relationship between EPS8L3 level and clinicopathological indicators of PC patients, qRT-PCR was used to detect the expression of EPS8L3 in tumor specimens of 40 PC patients. EPS8L3 knockdown models were then constructed in PC cell lines. Furthermore, the effect of EPS8L3 on PC cell function was analyzed by CCK-8 and Transwell assay. Dual luciferase reporter gene assay and recovery assay were used to further investigate the underlying mechanism. Results qRT-PCR results indicated that EPS8L3 was highly expressed in PC tissues compared with adjacent ones. At the same time, the incidence of distant metastasis was higher in PC patients with high EPS8L3 level. In vitro analysis such as CCK-8 and Transwell experimentations indicated that knockdown of EPS8L3 markedly inhibited the proliferative and metastatic ability. Bio-informatics together with luciferase report assay proposing that EPS8L3 can target GSK3B. Western Blot results revealed that knockdown of EPS8L3 markedly reduced the GSK3B expression in PC cells, and there was a positively associated between the two in PC cells. In addition, the recovery experimentation proved that EPS8L3 and GSK3B have a mutual regulation effect. Overexpression of GSK3B can reversal the prohibitive effect of EPS8L3 knockdown on the malignant development of PC cells, thereby jointly regulating the occurrence and development of PC. Conclusions EPS8L3 promotes the development of PC by regulating GSK3B, suggesting that EPS8L3 can be used as a biomarker for early diagnosis and treatment of PC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zun Fan
- Changshu No.1 People's Hospital Affiliated to Soochow University, Department of General Surgery, Changshu, China
| | - Ming Li
- Changshu No.1 People's Hospital Affiliated to Soochow University, Department of General Surgery, Changshu, China
| | - Yinjie Xu
- Changshu No.1 People's Hospital Affiliated to Soochow University, Department of General Surgery, Changshu, China
| | - Chenxing Ge
- Changshu No.1 People's Hospital Affiliated to Soochow University, Department of General Surgery, Changshu, China
| | - Jianfeng Gu
- Changshu No.1 People's Hospital Affiliated to Soochow University, Department of General Surgery, Changshu, China
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Lyu X, Tsui YM, Ho DWH, Ng IOL. Liquid Biopsy Using Cell-Free or Circulating Tumor DNA in the Management of Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Cell Mol Gastroenterol Hepatol 2022; 13:1611-1624. [PMID: 35183803 PMCID: PMC9048068 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcmgh.2022.02.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2021] [Revised: 02/08/2022] [Accepted: 02/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma [HCC]) is a fatal cancer worldwide and often is detected at an advanced stage when treatment options are very limited. This drives the development of techniques and platforms for early detection of HCC. In recent years, liquid biopsy has provided a means of noninvasive detection of cancers. By detecting plasma circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) released from dying cancer cells, the presence of HCC can be detected in a noninvasive manner. In this review, we discuss the molecular characteristics of ctDNA and its various molecular landscapes in HCC. These include the mutational landscape, single-nucleotide variations, copy number variations, methylation landscape, end motif/coordinate preference, hepatitis B virus integration, and mitochondrial DNA mutations. The consistency between the plasma ctDNA and the tumor tissue genomic DNA mutational profile is pivotal for the clinical utility of ctDNA in the clinical management of HCC. With strategic use of genetic information provided from plasma ctDNA profiling and procedure standardization to facilitate implementation in clinical practice, better clinical management would become permissible through more efficient detection and diagnosis of HCC, better prognostication, precision-matched treatment guidance, and more reliable disease monitoring.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Daniel Wai-Hung Ho
- Correspondence Address correspondence to: Daniel Wai-Hung Ho, PhD, Department of Pathology, L704, Laboratory Block, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, 21 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong. fax: (852) 2819-5375.
| | - Irene Oi-Lin Ng
- Irene Oi-Lin Ng, MD, PhD, Department of Pathology, Room 7-13, Block T, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam, Hong Kong. fax: 852-28872-5197.
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A Cell Cycle Progression-Derived Gene Signature to Predict Prognosis and Therapeutic Response in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. DISEASE MARKERS 2021; 2021:1986159. [PMID: 34721731 PMCID: PMC8553501 DOI: 10.1155/2021/1986159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Objective Dysregulation of cell cycle progression (CCP) is one of the hallmarks of cancer. Here, our study is aimed at developing a CCP-derived gene signature for predicting high-risk population of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods Our study retrospectively analyzed the transcriptome profiling and clinical information of HCC patients from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC) projects. Uni- and multivariate cox regression models were conducted for identifying which hallmarks of cancer were risk factors of HCC. CCP-derived gene signature was developed with LASSO method. The predictive efficacy was verified by ROC curves and subgroup analyses. A nomogram was then generated and validated by ROC, calibration, and decisive curves. Immune cell infiltration was estimated with ssGSEA method. Potential small molecular compounds were predicted via CTRP and CMap analyses. The response to chemotherapeutic agents was evaluated based on the GDSC project. Results Among hallmarks of cancer, CCP was identified as a dominant risk factor for HCC prognosis. CCP-derived gene signature displayed the favorable predictive efficacy in HCC prognosis independent of other clinicopathological parameters. A nomogram was generated for optimizing risk stratification and quantifying risk evaluation. CCP-derived signature was in relation to immune cell infiltration, HLA, and immune checkpoint expression. Combining CTRP and CMap analyses, fluvastatin was identified as a promising therapeutic agent against HCC. Furthermore, CCP-derived signature might be applied for predicting the response to doxorubicin and gemcitabine. Conclusion Collectively, CCP-derived gene signature was a promising marker in prediction of survival outcomes and therapeutic responses for HCC patients.
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Yang S, Pang L, Dai W, Wu S, Ren T, Duan Y, Zheng Y, Bi S, Zhang X, Kong J. Role of Forkhead Box O Proteins in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Biology and Progression (Review). Front Oncol 2021; 11:667730. [PMID: 34123834 PMCID: PMC8190381 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.667730] [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: 02/14/2021] [Accepted: 04/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common type of malignant tumor of the digestive system, is associated with high morbidity and mortality. The main treatment for HCC is surgical resection. Advanced disease, recurrence, and metastasis are the main factors affecting prognosis. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy are not sufficiently efficacious for the treatment of primary and metastatic HCC; therefore, optimizing targeted therapy is essential for improving outcomes. Forkhead box O (FOXO) proteins are widely expressed in cells and function to integrate a variety of growth factors, oxidative stress signals, and other stimulatory signals, thereby inducing the specific expression of downstream signal factors and regulation of the cell cycle, senescence, apoptosis, oxidative stress, HCC development, and chemotherapy sensitivity. Accordingly, FOXO proteins are considered multifunctional targets of cancer treatment. The current review discusses the roles of FOXO proteins, particularly FOXO1, FOXO3, FOXO4, and FOXO6, in HCC and establishes a theoretical basis for the potential targeted therapy of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaojie Yang
- Department of General Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Liwei Pang
- Department of General Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Wanlin Dai
- Innovation Institute of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Shuodong Wu
- Department of General Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Tengqi Ren
- Department of General Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Yunlong Duan
- Department of General Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Yuting Zheng
- Department of General Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Shiyuan Bi
- Department of General Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Xiaolin Zhang
- Department of General Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Jing Kong
- Department of General Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
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Ebina-Shibuya R, West EE, Spolski R, Li P, Oh J, Kazemian M, Gromer D, Swanson P, Du N, McGavern DB, Leonard WJ. Thymic stromal lymphopoietin limits primary and recall CD8 + T-cell anti-viral responses. eLife 2021; 10:e61912. [PMID: 33439121 PMCID: PMC7806261 DOI: 10.7554/elife.61912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2020] [Accepted: 12/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) is a cytokine that acts directly on CD4+ T cells and dendritic cells to promote progression of asthma, atopic dermatitis, and allergic inflammation. However, a direct role for TSLP in CD8+ T-cell primary responses remains controversial and its role in memory CD8+ T cell responses to secondary viral infection is unknown. Here, we investigate the role of TSLP in both primary and recall responses in mice using two different viral systems. Interestingly, TSLP limited the primary CD8+ T-cell response to influenza but did not affect T cell function nor significantly alter the number of memory CD8+ T cells generated after influenza infection. However, TSLP inhibited memory CD8+ T-cell responses to secondary viral infection with influenza or acute systemic LCMV infection. These data reveal a previously unappreciated role for TSLP on recall CD8+ T-cell responses in response to viral infection, findings with potential translational implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Risa Ebina-Shibuya
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Immunology Center, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute National Institutes of HealthBethesdaUnited States
| | - Erin E West
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Immunology Center, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute National Institutes of HealthBethesdaUnited States
| | - Rosanne Spolski
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Immunology Center, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute National Institutes of HealthBethesdaUnited States
| | - Peng Li
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Immunology Center, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute National Institutes of HealthBethesdaUnited States
| | - Jangsuk Oh
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Immunology Center, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute National Institutes of HealthBethesdaUnited States
| | - Majid Kazemian
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Immunology Center, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute National Institutes of HealthBethesdaUnited States
| | - Daniel Gromer
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Immunology Center, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute National Institutes of HealthBethesdaUnited States
| | - Phillip Swanson
- Viral Immunology & Intravital Imaging Section, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of HealthBethesdaUnited States
| | - Ning Du
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Immunology Center, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute National Institutes of HealthBethesdaUnited States
| | - Dorian B McGavern
- Viral Immunology & Intravital Imaging Section, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of HealthBethesdaUnited States
| | - Warren J Leonard
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Immunology Center, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute National Institutes of HealthBethesdaUnited States
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Chen B, Pan Y, Xu X, Wu F, Zheng X, Chen SY, Zhao YT, Huang Z, Cheng SH, Liu JX, Wang WH, Li YX. Inhibition of EPS8L3 suppresses liver cancer progression and enhances efficacy of sorafenib treatment. Biomed Pharmacother 2020; 128:110284. [PMID: 32480224 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2020.110284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2020] [Revised: 05/10/2020] [Accepted: 05/16/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Liver cancer is a devastating disease that has second highest cancer mortality rate worldwide. Although surgical resection or liver transplantation sometimes cures early stage liver cancer, few therapeutic options are available for advanced-stage liver cancer, highlighting the importance of a better understanding of the disease to find novel therapeutic targets. METHODS Firstly, clinical features of EPS8L3 on liver cancer RNA-seq dataset of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database was analyzed, including gene expression levels in tumor tissues in comparison with the normal tissues as well as the patients' OS. To confirm the candidate genes, we used short hairpin RNA (shRNA) to knock down the gene and quantify the cell proliferation, apoptosis, and migration. Then micro-array analysis was did to investigate the intracellular mechanisms of EPS8L3. Moreover, to gain further insights into the translational value of the findings, we treated the liver cancer cells with Sorafenib after knocking down the candidate gene, in order to interrogate the combinatorial inhibitory effects on cell metabolism. RESULTS As a result, by comparing gene expression profiles of normal liver and cancerous tissues, we find that epidermal growth factor receptor kinase substrate 8-like protein 3 (EPS8L3), a gene with unknown function, is upregulated in liver cancer, and is associated with poor prognosis. Further gene set analyses on liver cancer cells revealed that EPS8L3 is pertinent to cell division and proliferation. Indeed, knocking down EPS8L3 inhibits cell proliferation and migration, and triggers apoptosis in vitro. Additionally, when inoculated into mice, EPS8L3 knocked down cells exhibit slower growth rate. Moreover, EPS8L3 expression can substantially increase the efficacy of low dosage of Sorafenib treatment. Furthermore, the results of immunohistochemical staining of 90 paired liver cancer and adjacent normal samples demonstrated high expression of EPS8L3 yields poor prognosis in Chinese liver cancer patients. CONCLUSIONS Collectively, our results suggest that EPS8L3 has pivotal oncogenic functions in liver cancer and we propose that EPS8L3 could be a potential therapeutic target to treat liver cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology and Department of Radiation Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (CAMS) and Peking Union Medical College (PUMC), Beijing, PR China
| | - Yan Pan
- Key Laboratory of Radiological Protection and Nuclear Emergency, National Institute for Radiological Protection, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, PR China
| | - Xin Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology and Department of Radiation Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (CAMS) and Peking Union Medical College (PUMC), Beijing, PR China
| | - Fan Wu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (CAMS) and Peking Union Medical College (PUMC), Beijing, PR China
| | - Xuan Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology and Department of Radiation Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (CAMS) and Peking Union Medical College (PUMC), Beijing, PR China
| | - Si-Ye Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology and Department of Radiation Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (CAMS) and Peking Union Medical College (PUMC), Beijing, PR China
| | - Yu-Ting Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology and Department of Radiation Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (CAMS) and Peking Union Medical College (PUMC), Beijing, PR China
| | - Zhou Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology and Department of Radiation Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (CAMS) and Peking Union Medical College (PUMC), Beijing, PR China
| | - Shu-Hui Cheng
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology and Department of Radiation Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (CAMS) and Peking Union Medical College (PUMC), Beijing, PR China
| | - Jian-Xiang Liu
- Key Laboratory of Radiological Protection and Nuclear Emergency, National Institute for Radiological Protection, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, PR China
| | - Wei-Hu Wang
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Radiation Oncology, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, PR China.
| | - Ye-Xiong Li
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology and Department of Radiation Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (CAMS) and Peking Union Medical College (PUMC), Beijing, PR China.
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Li P, Hu T, Wang H, Tang Y, Ma Y, Wang X, Xu Y, Chen G. Upregulation of EPS8L3 is associated with tumorigenesis and poor prognosis in patients with liver cancer. Mol Med Rep 2019; 20:2493-2499. [PMID: 31322213 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2019.10471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2018] [Accepted: 05/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Epidermal growth factor receptor kinase substrate 8 (EPS8) plays critical roles in a variety of solid tumors. However, the biologic functions and clinical significance of EPS8‑like 3 (EPS8L3), an EPS8‑related protein, in liver cancer remain unclear. To measure EPS8L3 expression in liver cancer cell lines, reverse transcription‑quantitative PCR and western blot analyses were performed. The correlation between 338 patients with liver cancer and various clinicopathological factors obtained from the Oncomine database were evaluated using the χ2 test. Survival of patients with different expression of EPS8L3 was determined using Kaplan‑Meier survival analysis with a log rank test, and Cox regression analysis was performed to estimate the prognostic significance of EPS8L3 expression. Additionally, cell proliferation and migration were determined using Cell Counting Kit‑8 and wound healing assays. The results revealed that EPS8L3 expression was significantly upregulated in liver cancer tissues and cell lines (P<0.01), and that the expression of EPS8L3 was closely associated with grade (P=0.024) and mortality (P=0.011). Furthermore, survival analysis suggested patients with high EPS8L3 expression exhibited shorter survival compared with those with low EPS8L3 expression. Cox regression analysis indicated that EPS8L3 could be regarded as a prognostic biomarker in patients with liver cancer (hazard ratio, 1.58; 95% confidence interval, 1.085‑2.301; P=0.017). Additionally, in vitro assays revealed that EPS8L3 depletion significantly inhibited liver cancer cell proliferation and migration, and reduced the levels of phosphorylated PI3K and AKT in the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Collectively, the results of the present study, for the first time to the best of our knowledge, demonstrated that EPS8L3 serves as an oncogene in liver cancer development; therefore, EPS8L3 may be a valuable prognostic predictor for patients with liver cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Li
- Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Beihua University, Jilin 132001, P.R. China
| | - Ting Hu
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital to Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, Jilin 130021, P.R. China
| | - Hongsheng Wang
- Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Beihua University, Jilin 132001, P.R. China
| | - Ying Tang
- Department of Nursing, Affiliated Hospital of Beihua University, Jilin 132001, P.R. China
| | - Yue Ma
- Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Beihua University, Jilin 132001, P.R. China
| | - Xiaodong Wang
- Medical Department, Huailai County Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhangjiakou, Hebei 075400, P.R. China
| | - Yansong Xu
- Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Beihua University, Jilin 132001, P.R. China
| | - Guangyu Chen
- Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Beihua University, Jilin 132001, P.R. China
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11
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Jiang J, Chen Y, Dong T, Yue M, Zhang Y, An T, Zhang J, Liu P, Yang X. Polydatin inhibits hepatocellular carcinoma via the AKT/STAT3-FOXO1 signaling pathway. Oncol Lett 2019; 17:4505-4513. [PMID: 30944640 PMCID: PMC6444395 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2019.10123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2018] [Accepted: 01/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Polydatin, extracted from Polygonum cuspidatum, is known for its anti-platelet aggregation and anti-inflammatory effects. However, studies on the association of polydatin with cancer are limited, particularly with regards to epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-associated migration and invasion of cancer cells. The purpose of the present study was to reveal the potential anticancer effects of polydatin on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells, particularly its effects on EMT. MTT assay was used to determine cell viability. Migration and invasion were evaluated through wound healing and transwell assays. Colony formation efficiency assay was conducted to detect proliferation. Flow cytometric analyses of apoptosis and cell cycle progression were performed following cells staining with Annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)/propidium iodide (PI) and PI alone, respectively. Western blotting was used to investigate relevant molecular mechanisms. The results indicated that polydatin inhibited proliferation via G2/M arrest, suppressed migration and invasion of HCC cells, and promoted their apoptosis. In addition, phosphorylated (p)-protein kinase B (AKT), p-Janus kinase 1 and p-signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) levels were decreased as polydatin concentrations increased, and forkhead box protein O1 (FOXO1) expression was upregulated. Furthermore, the expression levels of various markers of EMT were reversed following treatment with polydatin. In conclusion, the present study validated that polydatin may inhibit proliferation via G2/M arrest, and suppressed EMT-associated migration and invasion of HCC cells. The results also suggested that polydatin may promote HCC cell apoptosis by blocking the AKT/STAT3-FOXO1 signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Jiang
- Department of Abdominal Ultrasonography, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150001, P.R. China
| | - Yaodong Chen
- Department of Abdominal Ultrasonography, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150001, P.R. China
| | - Tianxiu Dong
- Department of Abdominal Ultrasonography, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150001, P.R. China
| | - Minlu Yue
- Department of Abdominal Ultrasonography, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150001, P.R. China
| | - Yu Zhang
- Department of Abdominal Ultrasonography, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150001, P.R. China
| | - Tingting An
- Department of Abdominal Ultrasonography, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150001, P.R. China
| | - Jiuwei Zhang
- Department of Abdominal Ultrasonography, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150001, P.R. China
| | - Pengfei Liu
- Department of Magnetic Resonance Imaging, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150001, P.R. China
| | - Xiuhua Yang
- Department of Abdominal Ultrasonography, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150001, P.R. China
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