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Woitok MM, Zoubek ME, Doleschel D, Bartneck M, Mohamed MR, Kießling F, Lederle W, Trautwein C, Cubero FJ. Lipid-encapsulated siRNA for hepatocyte-directed treatment of advanced liver disease. Cell Death Dis 2020; 11:343. [PMID: 32393755 PMCID: PMC7214425 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-020-2571-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2019] [Revised: 02/17/2020] [Accepted: 02/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Lipid-based RNA nanocarriers have been recently accepted as a novel therapeutic option in humans, thus increasing the therapeutic options for patients. Tailored nanomedicines will enable to treat chronic liver disease (CLD) and end-stage liver cancer, disorders with high mortality and few treatment options. Here, we investigated the curative potential of gene therapy of a key molecule in CLD, the c-Jun N-terminal kinase-2 (Jnk2). Delivery to hepatocytes was achieved using a lipid-based clinically employable siRNA formulation that includes a cationic aminolipid to knockdown Jnk2 (named siJnk2). After assessing the therapeutic potential of siJnk2 treatment, non-invasive imaging demonstrated reduced apoptotic cell death and improved hepatocarcinogenesis was evidenced by improved liver parenchyma as well as ameliorated markers of hepatic damage, reduced fibrogenesis in 1-year-old mice. Strikingly, chronic siJnk2 treatment reduced premalignant nodules, indicative of tumor initiation. Furthermore, siJnk2 treatment led to a significant activation of the immune cell compartment. In conclusion, Jnk2 knockdown in hepatocytes ameliorated hepatitis, fibrogenesis, and initiation of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and hence might be a suitable therapeutic option, to define novel molecular targets for precision medicine in CLD.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Miguel Eugenio Zoubek
- Department of Internal Medicine III, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany.,Department of Toxicology and Pharmacology, School of Nutrition, Toxicology and Metabolism (NUTRIM), Maastricht University Medical Centre Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Dennis Doleschel
- Institute for Experimental and Molecular Imaging, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Matthias Bartneck
- Department of Internal Medicine III, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Mohamed Ramadan Mohamed
- Department of Internal Medicine III, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany.,Department of Therapeutic Chemistry, National Research Centre, 12622, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Fabian Kießling
- Institute for Experimental and Molecular Imaging, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Wiltrud Lederle
- Institute for Experimental and Molecular Imaging, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Christian Trautwein
- Department of Internal Medicine III, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany.
| | - Francisco Javier Cubero
- Department of Internal Medicine III, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany. .,Department of Immunology, Ophthalmology and ENT, Complutense University School of Medicine, Madrid, Spain. .,12 de Octubre Health Research Institute (imas12), Madrid, Spain.
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Cubero FJ, Mohamed MR, Woitok MM, Zhao G, Hatting M, Nevzorova YA, Chen C, Haybaeck J, de Bruin A, Avila MA, Boekschoten MV, Davis RJ, Trautwein C. Loss of c-Jun N-terminal Kinase 1 and 2 Function in Liver Epithelial Cells Triggers Biliary Hyperproliferation Resembling Cholangiocarcinoma. Hepatol Commun 2020; 4:834-851. [PMID: 32490320 PMCID: PMC7262317 DOI: 10.1002/hep4.1495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2019] [Accepted: 02/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Targeted inhibition of the c‐Jun N‐terminal kinases (JNKs) has shown therapeutic potential in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (CCA)‐related tumorigenesis. However, the cell‐type‐specific role and mechanisms triggered by JNK in liver parenchymal cells during CCA remain largely unknown. Here, we aimed to investigate the relevance of JNK1 and JNK2 function in hepatocytes in two different models of experimental carcinogenesis, the dethylnitrosamine (DEN) model and in nuclear factor kappa B essential modulator (NEMO)hepatocyte‐specific knockout (Δhepa) mice, focusing on liver damage, cell death, compensatory proliferation, fibrogenesis, and tumor development. Moreover, regulation of essential genes was assessed by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, immunoblottings, and immunostainings. Additionally, specific Jnk2 inhibition in hepatocytes of NEMOΔhepa/JNK1Δhepa mice was performed using small interfering (si) RNA (siJnk2) nanodelivery. Finally, active signaling pathways were blocked using specific inhibitors. Compound deletion of Jnk1 and Jnk2 in hepatocytes diminished hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in both the DEN model and in NEMOΔhepa mice but in contrast caused massive proliferation of the biliary ducts. Indeed, Jnk1/2 deficiency in hepatocytes of NEMOΔhepa (NEMOΔhepa/JNKΔhepa) animals caused elevated fibrosis, increased apoptosis, increased compensatory proliferation, and elevated inflammatory cytokines expression but reduced HCC. Furthermore, siJnk2 treatment in NEMOΔhepa/JNK1Δhepa mice recapitulated the phenotype of NEMOΔhepa/JNKΔhepa mice. Next, we sought to investigate the impact of molecular pathways in response to compound JNK deficiency in NEMOΔhepa mice. We found that NEMOΔhepa/JNKΔhepa livers exhibited overexpression of the interleukin‐6/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 pathway in addition to epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)‐rapidly accelerated fibrosarcoma (Raf)‐mitogen‐activated protein kinase kinase (MEK)‐extracellular signal‐regulated kinase (ERK) cascade. The functional relevance was tested by administering lapatinib, which is a dual tyrosine kinase inhibitor of erythroblastic oncogene B‐2 (ErbB2) and EGFR signaling, to NEMOΔhepa/JNKΔhepa mice. Lapatinib effectively inhibited cystogenesis, improved transaminases, and effectively blocked EGFR‐Raf‐MEK‐ERK signaling. Conclusion: We define a novel function of JNK1/2 in cholangiocyte hyperproliferation. This opens new therapeutic avenues devised to inhibit pathways of cholangiocarcinogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco Javier Cubero
- Department of Internal Medicine III University Hospital RWTH Aachen Aachen Germany.,Department of Immunology, Ophthalmology, and ENT Complutense University School of Medicine Madrid Spain.,12 de Octubre Health Research Institute Madrid Spain
| | - Mohamed Ramadan Mohamed
- Department of Internal Medicine III University Hospital RWTH Aachen Aachen Germany.,Department of Therapeutic Chemistry National Research Center Giza Egypt
| | - Marius M Woitok
- Department of Internal Medicine III University Hospital RWTH Aachen Aachen Germany
| | - Gang Zhao
- Department of Internal Medicine III University Hospital RWTH Aachen Aachen Germany
| | - Maximilian Hatting
- Department of Internal Medicine III University Hospital RWTH Aachen Aachen Germany
| | - Yulia A Nevzorova
- Department of Internal Medicine III University Hospital RWTH Aachen Aachen Germany.,Department of Genetics, Physiology, and Microbiology Faculty of Biology Complutense University Madrid Spain
| | - Chaobo Chen
- Department of Immunology, Ophthalmology, and ENT Complutense University School of Medicine Madrid Spain
| | - Johannes Haybaeck
- Department of Pathology Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg Germany.,Diagnostic and Research Center for Molecular BioMedicine Institute of Pathology Medical University of Graz Graz Austria.,Department of Pathology, Neuropathology, and Molecular Pathology Medical University of Innsbruck Innsbruck Austria
| | - Alain de Bruin
- Department of Pathobiology Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Dutch Molecular Pathology Center Utrecht University Utrecht the Netherlands.,Department of Pediatrics University Medical Center Groningen University of Groningen Groningen the Netherlands
| | - Matias A Avila
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra Pamplona Spain.,Hepatology Program Center for Applied Medical Research University of Navarra Pamplona Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas Instituto de Salud Carlos III Madrid Spain
| | - Mark V Boekschoten
- Nutrition, Metabolism, and Genomics Group Division of Human Nutrition Wageningen University Wageningen the Netherlands
| | - Roger J Davis
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute University of Massachusetts Medical School Worcester MA
| | - Christian Trautwein
- Department of Internal Medicine III University Hospital RWTH Aachen Aachen Germany
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Win S, Min RW, Chen CQ, Zhang J, Chen Y, Li M, Suzuki A, Abdelmalek MF, Wang Y, Aghajan M, Aung FW, Diehl AM, Davis RJ, Than TA, Kaplowitz N. Expression of mitochondrial membrane-linked SAB determines severity of sex-dependent acute liver injury. J Clin Invest 2019; 129:5278-5293. [PMID: 31487267 PMCID: PMC6877311 DOI: 10.1172/jci128289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2019] [Accepted: 08/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
SH3 domain-binding protein that preferentially associates with Btk (SAB) is an outer-membrane docking protein for JNK-mediated impairment of mitochondrial function. Deletion of Sab in hepatocytes inhibits sustained JNK activation and cell death. The current study demonstrates that an increase in SAB expression enhanced the severity of acetaminophen-induced (APAP-induced) liver injury. Female mice were resistant to liver injury and exhibited markedly decreased hepatic SAB protein expression compared with male mice. The mechanism of SAB repression involved a pathway from ERα to p53 expression that induced miR34a-5p. miR34a-5p targeted the Sab mRNA coding region, thereby repressing SAB expression. Fulvestrant or p53 knockdown decreased miR34a-5p and increased SAB expression in female mice, leading to increased injury from APAP and TNF/galactosamine. In contrast, an ERα agonist increased p53 and miR34a-5p, which decreased SAB expression and hepatotoxicity in male mice. Hepatocyte-specific deletion of miR34a also increased the severity of liver injury in female mice, which was prevented by GalNAc-ASO knockdown of Sab. Similar to mice, premenopausal women expressed elevated levels of hepatic p53 and low levels of SAB, whereas age-matched men expressed low levels of p53 and high levels of SAB, but there was no difference in SAB expression between the sexes in the postmenopausal stage. In conclusion, SAB expression levels determined the severity of JNK-dependent liver injury. Female mice expressed low levels of hepatic SAB protein because of the ERα/p53/miR34a pathway, which repressed SAB expression and accounted for the resistance to liver injury seen in these females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanda Win
- USC Research Center for Liver Disease, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California (USC), Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Robert W.M. Min
- USC Research Center for Liver Disease, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California (USC), Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Christopher Q. Chen
- USC Research Center for Liver Disease, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California (USC), Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Jun Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yibu Chen
- USC Libraries Bioinformatics Service, Norris Medical Library, USC, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Meng Li
- USC Libraries Bioinformatics Service, Norris Medical Library, USC, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Ayako Suzuki
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Manal F. Abdelmalek
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Ying Wang
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | | | - Filbert W.M. Aung
- USC Research Center for Liver Disease, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California (USC), Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Anna Mae Diehl
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Roger J. Davis
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Tin A. Than
- USC Research Center for Liver Disease, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California (USC), Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Neil Kaplowitz
- USC Research Center for Liver Disease, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California (USC), Los Angeles, California, USA
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