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Kader M, Sun W, Ren BG, Yu YP, Tao J, Foley LM, Liu S, Monga SP, Luo JH. Therapeutic targeting at genome mutations of liver cancer by the insertion of HSV1 thymidine kinase through Cas9-mediated editing. Hepatol Commun 2024; 8:e0412. [PMID: 38497929 PMCID: PMC10948134 DOI: 10.1097/hc9.0000000000000412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Liver cancer is one of the most lethal malignancies for humans. The treatment options for advanced-stage liver cancer remain limited. A new treatment is urgently needed to reduce the mortality of the disease. METHODS In this report, we developed a technology for mutation site insertion of a suicide gene (herpes simplex virus type 1- thymidine kinase) based on type II CRISPR RNA-guided endonuclease Cas9-mediated genome editing to treat liver cancers. RESULTS We applied the strategy to 3 different mutations: S45P mutation of catenin beta 1, chromosome breakpoint of solute carrier family 45 member 2-alpha-methylacyl-CoA racemase gene fusion, and V235G mutation of SAFB-like transcription modulator. The results showed that the herpes simplex virus type 1-thymidine kinase insertion rate at the S45P mutation site of catenin beta 1 reached 77.8%, while the insertion rates at the breakpoint of solute carrier family 45 member 2 - alpha-methylacyl-CoA racemase gene fusion were 95.1%-98.7%, and the insertion at V235G of SAFB-like transcription modulator was 51.4%. When these targeting reagents were applied to treat mouse spontaneous liver cancer induced by catenin beta 1S45P or solute carrier family 45 member 2-alpha-methylacyl-CoA racemase, the mice experienced reduced tumor burden and increased survival rate. Similar results were also obtained for the xenografted liver cancer model: Significant reduction of tumor volume, reduction of metastasis rate, and improved survival were found in mice treated with the targeting reagent, in comparison with the control-treated groups. CONCLUSIONS Our studies suggested that mutation targeting may hold promise as a versatile and effective approach to treating liver cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhamuda Kader
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburg School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Wei Sun
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburg School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Bao-Guo Ren
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburg School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Yan-Ping Yu
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburg School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
- Pittsburgh Liver Research Center at Pittsburgh Liver Institute, Animal Imaging Center, University of Pittsburg School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Junyan Tao
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburg School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Lesley M. Foley
- University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Silvia Liu
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburg School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
- Pittsburgh Liver Research Center at Pittsburgh Liver Institute, Animal Imaging Center, University of Pittsburg School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Satdarshan P. Monga
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburg School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
- Pittsburgh Liver Research Center at Pittsburgh Liver Institute, Animal Imaging Center, University of Pittsburg School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Jian-Hua Luo
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburg School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
- Pittsburgh Liver Research Center at Pittsburgh Liver Institute, Animal Imaging Center, University of Pittsburg School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
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Lehrich BM, Zhang J, Monga SP, Dhanasekaran R. Battle of the biopsies: Role of tissue and liquid biopsy in hepatocellular carcinoma. J Hepatol 2024; 80:515-530. [PMID: 38104635 PMCID: PMC10923008 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2023.11.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2023] [Revised: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
The diagnosis and management of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have improved significantly in recent years. With the introduction of immunotherapy-based combination therapy, there has been a notable expansion in treatment options for patients with unresectable HCC. Simultaneously, innovative molecular tests for early detection and management of HCC are emerging. This progress prompts a key question: as liquid biopsy techniques rise in prominence, will they replace traditional tissue biopsies, or will both techniques remain relevant? Given the ongoing challenges of early HCC detection, including issues with ultrasound sensitivity, accessibility, and patient adherence to surveillance, the evolution of diagnostic techniques is more relevant than ever. Furthermore, the accurate stratification of HCC is limited by the absence of reliable biomarkers which can predict response to therapies. While the advantages of molecular diagnostics are evident, their potential has not yet been fully harnessed, largely because tissue biopsies are not routinely performed for HCC. Liquid biopsies, analysing components such as circulating tumour cells, DNA, and extracellular vesicles, provide a promising alternative, though they are still associated with challenges related to sensitivity, cost, and accessibility. The early results from multi-analyte liquid biopsy panels are promising and suggest they could play a transformative role in HCC detection and management; however, comprehensive clinical validation is still ongoing. In this review, we explore the challenges and potential of both tissue and liquid biopsy, highlighting that these diagnostic methods, while distinct in their approaches, are set to jointly reshape the future of HCC management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brandon M Lehrich
- Department of Pathology and Pittsburgh Liver Institute, University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Josephine Zhang
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Staford, CA, 94303, USA
| | - Satdarshan P Monga
- Department of Pathology and Pittsburgh Liver Institute, University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.
| | - Renumathy Dhanasekaran
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Staford, CA, 94303, USA.
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3
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Wang LJ, Ning M, Nayak T, Kasper MJ, Monga SP, Huang Y, Chen Y, Chiu YC. shinyDeepDR: A user-friendly R Shiny app for predicting anti-cancer drug response using deep learning. Patterns (N Y) 2024; 5:100894. [PMID: 38370127 PMCID: PMC10873157 DOI: 10.1016/j.patter.2023.100894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Revised: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 02/20/2024]
Abstract
Advancing precision oncology requires accurate prediction of treatment response and accessible prediction models. To this end, we present shinyDeepDR, a user-friendly implementation of our innovative deep learning model, DeepDR, for predicting anti-cancer drug sensitivity. The web tool makes DeepDR more accessible to researchers without extensive programming experience. Using shinyDeepDR, users can upload mutation and/or gene expression data from a cancer sample (cell line or tumor) and perform two main functions: "Find Drug," which predicts the sample's response to 265 approved and investigational anti-cancer compounds, and "Find Sample," which searches for cell lines in the Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia (CCLE) and tumors in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) with genomics profiles similar to those of the query sample to study potential effective treatments. shinyDeepDR provides an interactive interface to interpret prediction results and to investigate individual compounds. In conclusion, shinyDeepDR is an intuitive and free-to-use web tool for in silico anti-cancer drug screening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li-Ju Wang
- Cancer Therapeutics Program, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15232, USA
| | - Michael Ning
- Cancer Therapeutics Program, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15232, USA
| | - Tapsya Nayak
- Greehey Children’s Cancer Research Institute, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
| | - Michael J. Kasper
- Cancer Therapeutics Program, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15232, USA
| | - Satdarshan P. Monga
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
- Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - Yufei Huang
- Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
- Cancer Virology Program, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15232, USA
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Swanson School of Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - Yidong Chen
- Greehey Children’s Cancer Research Institute, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
- Department of Population Health Sciences, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
| | - Yu-Chiao Chiu
- Cancer Therapeutics Program, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15232, USA
- Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
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4
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Fan W, Adebowale K, Váncza L, Li Y, Rabbi MF, Kunimoto K, Chen D, Mozes G, Chiu DKC, Li Y, Tao J, Wei Y, Adeniji N, Brunsing RL, Dhanasekaran R, Singhi A, Geller D, Lo SH, Hodgson L, Engleman EG, Charville GW, Charu V, Monga SP, Kim T, Wells RG, Chaudhuri O, Török NJ. Matrix viscoelasticity promotes liver cancer progression in the pre-cirrhotic liver. Nature 2024; 626:635-642. [PMID: 38297127 PMCID: PMC10866704 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06991-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [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: 09/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 02/02/2024]
Abstract
Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a major risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Changes in extracellular matrix (ECM) mechanics contribute to cancer development1,2, and increased stiffness is known to promote HCC progression in cirrhotic conditions3,4. Type 2 diabetes mellitus is characterized by an accumulation of advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) in the ECM; however, how this affects HCC in non-cirrhotic conditions is unclear. Here we find that, in patients and animal models, AGEs promote changes in collagen architecture and enhance ECM viscoelasticity, with greater viscous dissipation and faster stress relaxation, but not changes in stiffness. High AGEs and viscoelasticity combined with oncogenic β-catenin signalling promote HCC induction, whereas inhibiting AGE production, reconstituting the AGE clearance receptor AGER1 or breaking AGE-mediated collagen cross-links reduces viscoelasticity and HCC growth. Matrix analysis and computational modelling demonstrate that lower interconnectivity of AGE-bundled collagen matrix, marked by shorter fibre length and greater heterogeneity, enhances viscoelasticity. Mechanistically, animal studies and 3D cell cultures show that enhanced viscoelasticity promotes HCC cell proliferation and invasion through an integrin-β1-tensin-1-YAP mechanotransductive pathway. These results reveal that AGE-mediated structural changes enhance ECM viscoelasticity, and that viscoelasticity can promote cancer progression in vivo, independent of stiffness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiguo Fan
- Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- VA, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Kolade Adebowale
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Chemistry, Engineering and Medicine for Human Health (ChEM-H), Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Lóránd Váncza
- Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- VA, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Yuan Li
- Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- VA, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Md Foysal Rabbi
- Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Koshi Kunimoto
- Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- VA, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Dongning Chen
- Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- VA, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Gergely Mozes
- Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- VA, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - David Kung-Chun Chiu
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Division of Immunology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Yisi Li
- Department of Automation, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Junyan Tao
- Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Yi Wei
- Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- VA, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Nia Adeniji
- Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- VA, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Ryan L Brunsing
- Department of Radiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Renumathy Dhanasekaran
- Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- VA, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Aatur Singhi
- Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - David Geller
- Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Su Hao Lo
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of California at Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Louis Hodgson
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Edgar G Engleman
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Division of Immunology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | | | - Vivek Charu
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Quantitative Sciences Unit, Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Satdarshan P Monga
- Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Taeyoon Kim
- Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Keio University, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Rebecca G Wells
- Departments of Medicine and Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Ovijit Chaudhuri
- Chemistry, Engineering and Medicine for Human Health (ChEM-H), Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Natalie J Török
- Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
- VA, Palo Alto, CA, USA.
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5
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Liu Z, Annarapu G, Yazdani HO, Wang Q, Liu S, Luo JH, Yu YP, Ren B, Neal MD, Monga SP, Mota Alvidrez RI. Restoring glucose balance: Conditional HMGB1 knockdown mitigates hyperglycemia in a Streptozotocin induced mouse model. Heliyon 2024; 10:e23561. [PMID: 38187339 PMCID: PMC10770459 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e23561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2023] [Revised: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Diabetes mellitus (DM) poses a significant global health burden, with hyperglycemia being a primary contributor to complications and high morbidity associated with this disorder. Existing glucose management strategies have shown suboptimal effectiveness, necessitating alternative approaches. In this study, we explored the role of high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) in hyperglycemia, a protein implicated in initiating inflammation and strongly correlated with DM onset and progression. We hypothesized that HMGB1 knockdown will mitigate hyperglycemia severity and enhance glucose tolerance. To test this hypothesis, we utilized a novel inducible HMGB1 knockout (iHMGB1 KO) mouse model exhibiting systemic HMGB1 knockdown. Hyperglycemic phenotype was induced using low dose streptozotocin (STZ) injections, followed by longitudinal glucose measurements and oral glucose tolerance tests to evaluate the effect of HMGB1 knockdown on glucose metabolism. Our findings showed a substantial reduction in glucose levels and enhanced glucose tolerance in HMGB1 knockdown mice. Additionally, we performed RNA sequencing analyses, which identified potential alternations in genes and molecular pathways within the liver and skeletal muscle tissue that may account for the in vivo phenotypic changes observed in hyperglycemic mice following HMGB1 knockdown. In conclusion, our present study delivers the first direct evidence of a causal relationship between systemic HMGB1 knockdown and hyperglycemia in vivo, an association that had remained unexamined prior to this research. This discovery positions HMGB1 knockdown as a potentially efficacious therapeutic target for addressing hyperglycemia and, by extension, the DM epidemic. Furthermore, we have revealed potential underlying mechanisms, establishing the essential groundwork for subsequent in-depth mechanistic investigations focused on further elucidating and harnessing the promising therapeutic potential of HMGB1 in DM management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeyu Liu
- Trauma and Transfusion Medicine Research Center, Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Gowtham Annarapu
- Vascular Medicine Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Hamza O. Yazdani
- Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Qinge Wang
- Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Silvia Liu
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
- Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Jian-Hua Luo
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
- Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Yan-Ping Yu
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
- Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Baoguo Ren
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
- Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Matthew D. Neal
- Trauma and Transfusion Medicine Research Center, Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Satdarshan P. Monga
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
- Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Roberto Ivan Mota Alvidrez
- Trauma and Transfusion Medicine Research Center, Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
- Vascular Medicine Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
- Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
- McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
- Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
- Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, 87131, USA
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6
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Lehrich BM, Monga SP. Learning human liver biology in humanized mice. Cell Res 2024; 34:9-10. [PMID: 37730939 PMCID: PMC10770126 DOI: 10.1038/s41422-023-00877-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/22/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Brandon M Lehrich
- Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology and Pittsburgh Liver Institute, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Satdarshan P Monga
- Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology and Pittsburgh Liver Institute, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
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7
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Nejak-Bowen K, Monga SP. Wnt-β-catenin in hepatobiliary homeostasis, injury, and repair. Hepatology 2023; 78:1907-1921. [PMID: 37246413 PMCID: PMC10687322 DOI: 10.1097/hep.0000000000000495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Wnt-β-catenin signaling has emerged as an important regulatory pathway in the liver, playing key roles in zonation and mediating contextual hepatobiliary repair after injuries. In this review, we will address the major advances in understanding the role of Wnt signaling in hepatic zonation, regeneration, and cholestasis-induced injury. We will also touch on some important unanswered questions and discuss the relevance of modulating the pathway to provide therapies for complex liver pathologies that remain a continued unmet clinical need.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kari Nejak-Bowen
- Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA USA
- Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA USA
| | - Satdarshan P. Monga
- Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA USA
- Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA USA
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA USA
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8
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Bragg RM, Coffey SR, Cantle JP, Hu S, Singh S, Legg SR, McHugh CA, Toor A, Zeitlin SO, Kwak S, Howland D, Vogt TF, Monga SP, Carroll JB. Huntingtin loss in hepatocytes is associated with altered metabolism, adhesion, and liver zonation. Life Sci Alliance 2023; 6:e202302098. [PMID: 37684045 PMCID: PMC10488683 DOI: 10.26508/lsa.202302098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2023] [Revised: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease arises from a toxic gain of function in the huntingtin (HTT) gene. As a result, many HTT-lowering therapies are being pursued in clinical studies, including those that reduce HTT RNA and protein expression in the liver. To investigate potential impacts, we characterized molecular, cellular, and metabolic impacts of chronic HTT lowering in mouse hepatocytes. Lifelong hepatocyte HTT loss is associated with multiple physiological changes, including increased circulating bile acids, cholesterol and urea, hypoglycemia, and impaired adhesion. HTT loss causes a clear shift in the normal zonal patterns of liver gene expression, such that pericentral gene expression is reduced. These alterations in liver zonation in livers lacking HTT are observed at the transcriptional, histological, and plasma metabolite levels. We have extended these phenotypes physiologically with a metabolic challenge of acetaminophen, for which the HTT loss results in toxicity resistance. Our data reveal an unexpected role for HTT in regulating hepatic zonation, and we find that loss of HTT in hepatocytes mimics the phenotypes caused by impaired hepatic β-catenin function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert M Bragg
- Behavioral Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychology, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA, USA
| | - Sydney R Coffey
- Behavioral Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychology, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA, USA
| | - Jeffrey P Cantle
- Behavioral Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychology, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA, USA
| | - Shikai Hu
- School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Sucha Singh
- Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Samuel Rw Legg
- Behavioral Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychology, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA, USA
| | - Cassandra A McHugh
- Behavioral Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychology, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA, USA
| | - Amreen Toor
- Behavioral Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychology, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA, USA
| | - Scott O Zeitlin
- https://ror.org/0153tk833 Department of Neuroscience, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | | | | | | | - Satdarshan P Monga
- Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Jeffrey B Carroll
- Behavioral Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychology, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA, USA
- https://ror.org/00cvxb145 Department of Neurology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
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9
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Singh-Varma A, Shah AM, Liu S, Zamora R, Monga SP, Vodovotz Y. Defining spatiotemporal gene modules in liver regeneration using Analytical Dynamic Visual Spatial Omics Representation (ADViSOR). Hepatol Commun 2023; 7:e0289. [PMID: 37889540 PMCID: PMC10615476 DOI: 10.1097/hc9.0000000000000289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The liver is the only organ with the ability to regenerate following surgical or toxicant insults, and partial hepatectomy serves as an experimental model of liver regeneration (LR). Dynamic changes in gene expression occur from the periportal to pericentral regions of the liver following partial hepatectomy; thus, spatial transcriptomics, combined with a novel computational pipeline (ADViSOR [Analytic Dynamic Visual Spatial Omics Representation]), was employed to gain insights into the spatiotemporal molecular underpinnings of LR. METHODS ADViSOR, comprising Time-Interval Principal Component Analysis and sliding dynamic hypergraphs, was applied to spatial transcriptomics data on 100 genes assayed serially through LR, including key components of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway at critical timepoints after partial hepatectomy. RESULTS This computational pipeline identified key functional modules demonstrating cell signaling and cell-cell interactions, inferring shared regulatory mechanisms. Specifically, ADViSOR analysis suggested that macrophage-mediated inflammation is a critical component of early LR and confirmed prior studies showing that Ccnd1, a hepatocyte proliferative gene, is regulated by the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. These findings were subsequently validated through protein localization, which provided further confirmation and novel insights into the spatiotemporal changes in the Wnt/β-catenin pathway during LR. CONCLUSIONS Thus, ADViSOR may yield novel insights in other complex, spatiotemporal contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anya Singh-Varma
- Department of Pathology, Division of Experimental Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
- Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Ashti M. Shah
- Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Silvia Liu
- Department of Pathology, Division of Experimental Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
- Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Ruben Zamora
- Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
- Center for Inflammation and Regeneration Modeling, McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Satdarshan P. Monga
- Department of Pathology, Division of Experimental Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
- Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Yoram Vodovotz
- Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
- Center for Inflammation and Regeneration Modeling, McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
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10
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Schmidt AV, Monga SP, Prochownik EV, Goetzman ES. A Novel Transgenic Mouse Model Implicates Sirt2 as a Promoter of Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:12618. [PMID: 37628798 PMCID: PMC10454864 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241612618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [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: 06/28/2023] [Revised: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the leading causes of cancer deaths globally. Incidence rates are steadily increasing, creating an unmet need for new therapeutic options. Recently, the inhibition of sirtuin-2 (Sirt2) was proposed as a potential treatment for HCC, despite contradictory findings of its role as both a tumor promoter and suppressor in vitro. Sirt2 functions as a lysine deacetylase enzyme. However, little is known about its biological influence, despite its implication in several age-related diseases. This study evaluated Sirt2's role in HCC in vivo using an inducible c-MYC transgene in Sirt2+/+ and Sirt2-/- mice. Sirt2-/- HCC mice had smaller, less proliferative, and more differentiated liver tumors, suggesting that Sirt2 functions as a tumor promoter in this context. Furthermore, Sirt2-/- HCCs had significantly less c-MYC oncoprotein and reduction in c-MYC nuclear localization. The RNA-seq showed that only three genes were significantly dysregulated due to loss of Sirt2, suggesting the underlying mechanism is due to Sirt2-mediated changes in the acetylome, and that the therapeutic inhibition of Sirt2 would not perturb the oncogenic transcriptome. The findings of this study suggest that Sirt2 inhibition could be a promising molecular target for slowing HCC growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra V. Schmidt
- Division of Genetic and Genomic Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| | - Satdarshan P. Monga
- Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
- Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Edward V. Prochownik
- Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| | - Eric S. Goetzman
- Division of Genetic and Genomic Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
- Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
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11
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Kulkarni S, Li Q, Singhi AD, Liu S, Monga SP, Feranchak AP. TMEM16A partners with mTOR to influence pathways of cell survival, proliferation, and migration in cholangiocarcinoma. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol 2023; 325:G122-G134. [PMID: 37219012 PMCID: PMC10390053 DOI: 10.1152/ajpgi.00270.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2022] [Revised: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Expression of transmembrane protein 16 A (TMEM16A), a calcium activated chloride channel, is elevated in some human cancers and impacts tumor cell proliferation, metastasis, and patient outcome. Evidence presented here uncovers a molecular synergy between TMEM16A and mechanistic/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), a serine-threonine kinase that is known to promote cell survival and proliferation in cholangiocarcinoma (CCA), a lethal cancer of the secretory cells of bile ducts. Analysis of gene and protein expression in human CCA tissue and CCA cell line detected elevated TMEM16A expression and Cl- channel activity. The Cl- channel activity of TMEM16A impacted the actin cytoskeleton and the ability of cells to survive, proliferate, and migrate as revealed by pharmacological inhibition studies. The basal activity of mTOR, too, was elevated in the CCA cell line compared with the normal cholangiocytes. Molecular inhibition studies provided further evidence that TMEM16A and mTOR were each able to influence the regulation of the other's activity or expression respectively. Consistent with this reciprocal regulation, combined TMEM16A and mTOR inhibition produced a greater loss of CCA cell survival and migration than their individual inhibition alone. Together these data reveal that the aberrant TMEM16A expression and cooperation with mTOR contribute to a certain advantage in CCA.NEW & NOTEWORTHY This study points to the dysregulation of transmembrane protein 16 A (TMEM16A) expression and activity in cholangiocarcinoma (CCA), the inhibition of which has functional consequences. Dysregulated TMEM16A exerts an influence on the regulation of mechanistic/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) activity. Moreover, the reciprocal regulation of TMEM16A by mTOR demonstrates a novel connection between these two protein families. These findings support a model in which TMEM16A intersects the mTOR pathway to regulate cell cytoskeleton, survival, proliferation, and migration in CCA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sucheta Kulkarni
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
- Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
| | - Qin Li
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
- Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
| | - Aatur D Singhi
- Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
| | - Silvia Liu
- Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
| | - Satdarshan P Monga
- Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
| | - Andrew P Feranchak
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
- Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
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12
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Bragg RM, Coffey SR, Cantle JP, Hu S, Singh S, Legg SR, McHugh CA, Toor A, Zeitlin SO, Kwak S, Howland D, Vogt TF, Monga SP, Carroll JB. Huntingtin loss in hepatocytes is associated with altered metabolism, adhesion, and liver zonation. bioRxiv 2023:2023.06.24.546334. [PMID: 37425835 PMCID: PMC10327156 DOI: 10.1101/2023.06.24.546334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/11/2023]
Abstract
Huntington's disease arises from a toxic gain of function in the huntingtin ( HTT ) gene. As a result, many HTT-lowering therapies are being pursued in clinical studies, including those that reduce HTT RNA and protein expression in the liver. To investigate potential impacts, we characterized molecular, cellular, and metabolic impacts of chronic HTT lowering in mouse hepatocytes. Lifelong hepatocyte HTT loss is associated with multiple physiological changes, including increased circulating bile acids, cholesterol and urea, hypoglycemia, and impaired adhesion. HTT loss causes a clear shift in the normal zonal patterns of liver gene expression, such that pericentral gene expression is reduced. These alterations in liver zonation in livers lacking HTT are observed at the transcriptional, histological and plasma metabolite level. We have extended these phenotypes physiologically with a metabolic challenge of acetaminophen, for which the HTT loss results in toxicity resistance. Our data reveal an unexpected role for HTT in regulating hepatic zonation, and we find that loss of HTT in hepatocytes mimics the phenotypes caused by impaired hepatic β-catenin function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert M. Bragg
- Behavioral Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychology, Western Washington University, Bellingham WA 98225
| | - Sydney R. Coffey
- Behavioral Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychology, Western Washington University, Bellingham WA 98225
| | - Jeffrey P. Cantle
- Behavioral Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychology, Western Washington University, Bellingham WA 98225
| | - Shikai Hu
- School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Sucha Singh
- Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Samuel R.W. Legg
- Behavioral Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychology, Western Washington University, Bellingham WA 98225
| | - Cassandra A. McHugh
- Behavioral Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychology, Western Washington University, Bellingham WA 98225
| | - Amreen Toor
- Behavioral Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychology, Western Washington University, Bellingham WA 98225
| | - Scott O. Zeitlin
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908
| | | | | | | | - Satdarshan P. Monga
- Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA USA; Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA USA
| | - Jeffrey B. Carroll
- Behavioral Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychology, Western Washington University, Bellingham WA 98225
- Department of Neurology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98104-2499
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13
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Gopalkrishnan A, Wang N, Cruz-Rangel S, Kassab AY, Shiva S, Kurukulasuriya C, Monga SP, DeBerardinis RJ, Kiselyov K, Duvvuri U. Lysosomal mitochondrial interaction promotes tumor growth in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. bioRxiv 2023:2023.06.25.546311. [PMID: 37425842 PMCID: PMC10326999 DOI: 10.1101/2023.06.25.546311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/11/2023]
Abstract
Tumor growth and proliferation are regulated by numerous mechanisms. Communication between intracellular organelles has recently been shown to regulate cellular proliferation and fitness. The way lysosomes and mitochondria communicate with each other (lysosomal/mitochondrial interaction) is emerging as a major determinant of tumor proliferation and growth. About 30% of squamous carcinomas (including squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck, SCCHN) overexpress TMEM16A, a calcium-activated chloride channel, which promotes cellular growth and negatively correlates with patient survival. TMEM16A has recently been shown to drive lysosomal biogenesis, but its impact on mitochondrial function is unclear. Here, we show that (1) patients with high TMEM16A SCCHN display increased mitochondrial content specifically complex I; (2) In vitro and in vivo models uniquely depend on mitochondrial complex I activity for growth and survival; (3) β-catenin/NRF2 signaling is a critical linchpin that drives mitochondrial biogenesis, and (4) mitochondrial complex I and lysosomal function are codependent for proliferation. Taken together, our data demonstrate that LMI drives tumor proliferation and facilitates a functional interaction between lysosomes and mitochondria. Therefore, inhibition of LMI may serve as a therapeutic strategy for patients with SCCHN.
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14
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Liu S, He L, Bannister OB, Li J, Schnegelberger RD, Vanderpuye CM, Althouse AD, Schopfer FJ, Wahlang B, Cave MC, Monga SP, Zhang X, Arteel GE, Beier JI. Western diet unmasks transient low-level vinyl chloride-induced tumorigenesis; potential role of the (epi-)transcriptome. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 2023; 468:116514. [PMID: 37061008 PMCID: PMC10164119 DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2023.116514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [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: 02/06/2023] [Revised: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 04/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Vinyl chloride (VC) monomer is a volatile organic compound commonly used in industry. At high exposure levels, VC causes liver cancer and toxicant-associated steatohepatitis. However, lower exposure levels (i.e., sub-regulatory exposure limits) that do not directly damage the liver, enhance injury caused by Western diet (WD). It is still unknown if the long-term impact of transient low-concentration VC enhances the risk of liver cancer development. This is especially a concern given that fatty liver disease is in and of itself a risk factor for the development of liver cancer. METHODS C57Bl/6 J mice were fed WD or control diet (CD) for 1 year. During the first 12 weeks of feeding only, mice were also exposed to VC via inhalation at sub-regulatory limit concentrations (<1 ppm) or air for 6 h/day, 5 days/week. RESULTS Feeding WD for 1 year caused significant hepatic injury, which was exacerbated by VC. Additionally, VC increased the number of tumors which ranged from moderately to poorly differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Transcriptomic analysis demonstrated VC-induced changes in metabolic but also ribosomal processes. Epitranscriptomic analysis showed a VC-induced shift of the modification pattern that has been associated with metabolic disease, mitochondrial dysfunction, and cancer. CONCLUSIONS These data indicate that VC sensitizes the liver to other stressors (e.g., WD), resulting in enhanced tumorigenesis. These data raise concerns about potential interactions between VC exposure and WD. It also emphasizes that current safety restrictions may be insufficient to account for other factors that can influence hepatotoxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Liu
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, United States of America; Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, United States of America.
| | - Liqing He
- Department of Chemistry, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40208, United States of America.
| | - Olivia B Bannister
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition University of Pittsburgh, United States of America.
| | - Jiang Li
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition University of Pittsburgh, United States of America.
| | - Regina D Schnegelberger
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh, United States of America.
| | - Charis-Marie Vanderpuye
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition University of Pittsburgh, United States of America.
| | - Andrew D Althouse
- Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, United States of America.
| | - Francisco J Schopfer
- Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, United States of America; Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh, United States of America.
| | - Banrida Wahlang
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Department of Medicine, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY 40202, United States of America; Superfund Research Center, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40202, United States of America; Hepatobiology and Toxicology Center, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40202, United States of America; Center for Integrative Environmental Health Sciences, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40202, United States of America; University of Louisville Alcohol Research Center, Louisville, KY 40202, United States of America.
| | - Matthew C Cave
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Department of Medicine, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY 40202, United States of America; Superfund Research Center, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40202, United States of America; Hepatobiology and Toxicology Center, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40202, United States of America; Center for Integrative Environmental Health Sciences, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40202, United States of America; University of Louisville Alcohol Research Center, Louisville, KY 40202, United States of America; Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY 40202, United States of America; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY 40202, United States of America; Liver Transplant Program at UofL Health-Jewish Hospital Trager Transplant Center, Louisville, KY 40202, United States of America; The Robley Rex Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Louisville, KY 40206, United States of America.
| | - Satdarshan P Monga
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, United States of America; Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, United States of America; Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition University of Pittsburgh, United States of America.
| | - Xiang Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40208, United States of America; Hepatobiology and Toxicology Center, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40202, United States of America; Center for Integrative Environmental Health Sciences, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40202, United States of America; University of Louisville Alcohol Research Center, Louisville, KY 40202, United States of America.
| | - Gavin E Arteel
- Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, United States of America; Department of Environmental and Occupational Health University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, United States of America.
| | - Juliane I Beier
- Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, United States of America; Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition University of Pittsburgh, United States of America; Department of Environmental and Occupational Health University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, United States of America.
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15
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Liang B, Wang H, Qiao Y, Wang X, Qian M, Song X, Zhou Y, Zhang Y, Shang R, Che L, Chen Y, Huang Z, Wu H, Monga SP, Zeng Y, Calvisi DF, Chen X, Chen X. Differential requirement of Hippo cascade during CTNNB1 or AXIN1 mutation-driven hepatocarcinogenesis. Hepatology 2023; 77:1929-1942. [PMID: 35921500 PMCID: PMC10572102 DOI: 10.1002/hep.32693] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2022] [Revised: 07/27/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Gain-of-function (GOF) mutations of CTNNB1 and loss-of-function (LOF) mutations of AXIN1 are recurrent genetic alterations in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We aim to investigate the functional contribution of Hippo/YAP/TAZ in GOF CTNNB1 or LOF AXIN1 mutant HCCs. APPROACH AND RESULTS The requirement of YAP/TAZ in c-Met/β-Catenin and c-Met/sgAxin1-driven HCC was analyzed using conditional Yap , Taz , and Yap;Taz knockout (KO) mice. Mechanisms of AXIN1 in regulating YAP/TAZ were investigated using AXIN1 mutated HCC cells. Hepatocyte-specific inducible TTR-CreER T2KO system was applied to evaluate the role of Yap;Taz during tumor progression. Cabozantinib and G007-LK combinational treatment were tested in vitro and in vivo . Nuclear YAP/TAZ was strongly induced in c-Met/sgAxin1 mouse HCC cells. Activation of Hippo via overexpression of Lats2 or concomitant deletion of Yap and Taz significantly inhibited c-Met/sgAxin1 driven HCC development, whereas the same approaches had mild effects in c-Met/β-Catenin HCCs. YAP is the major Hippo effector in c-Met/β-Catenin HCCs, and both YAP and TAZ are required for c-Met/sgAxin1-dependent hepatocarcinogenesis. Mechanistically, AXIN1 binds to YAP/TAZ in human HCC cells and regulates YAP/TAZ stability. Genetic deletion of YAP/TAZ suppresses already formed c-Met/sgAxin1 liver tumors, supporting the requirement of YAP/TAZ during tumor progression. Importantly, tankyrase inhibitor G007-LK, which targets Hippo and Wnt pathways, synergizes with cabozantinib, a c-MET inhibitor, leading to tumor regression in the c-Met/sgAxin1 HCC model. CONCLUSIONS Our studies demonstrate that YAP/TAZ are major signaling molecules downstream of LOF AXIN1 mutant HCCs, and targeting YAP/TAZ is an effective treatment against AXIN1 mutant human HCCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Binyong Liang
- Hepatic Surgery Center, Department of Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences and Liver Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Haichuan Wang
- Department of Liver Surgery, Laboratory of Liver Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences and Liver Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Yu Qiao
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences and Liver Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Oncology, Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology, Beijing, China
| | - Xue Wang
- Department of Nutritional Sciences and Toxicology, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Manning Qian
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences and Liver Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- National Clinical Research Center of Kidney Diseases, Jinling Hospital, Nanjing University School of Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Xinhua Song
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences and Liver Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Yi Zhou
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences and Liver Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
| | - Yi Zhang
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences and Liver Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China
| | - Runze Shang
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences and Liver Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of General Surgery, Affiliated Haixia Hospital of Huaqiao University (The 910 Hospital), Quanzhou, China
| | - Li Che
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences and Liver Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Legend Biotech USA, New Jersey, USA
| | - Yifa Chen
- Hepatic Surgery Center, Department of Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Zhiyong Huang
- Hepatic Surgery Center, Department of Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Hong Wu
- Department of Liver Surgery, Laboratory of Liver Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Satdarshan P. Monga
- Department of Pathology and Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Yong Zeng
- Department of Liver Surgery, Laboratory of Liver Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Diego F. Calvisi
- Institute of Pathology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg 93053, Germany
| | - Xiaoping Chen
- Hepatic Surgery Center, Department of Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Xin Chen
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences and Liver Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- University of Hawaii Cancer Center, Hawaii, USA
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Hu S, Cao C, Poddar M, Delgado E, Singh S, Singh-Varma A, Stolz DB, Bell A, Monga SP. Hepatocyte β-catenin loss is compensated by Insulin-mTORC1 activation to promote liver regeneration. Hepatology 2023; 77:1593-1611. [PMID: 35862186 PMCID: PMC9859954 DOI: 10.1002/hep.32680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2022] [Revised: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 07/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Liver regeneration (LR) following partial hepatectomy (PH) occurs via activation of various signaling pathways. Disruption of a single pathway can be compensated by activation of another pathway to continue LR. The Wnt-β-catenin pathway is activated early during LR and conditional hepatocyte loss of β-catenin delays LR. Here, we study mechanism of LR in the absence of hepatocyte-β-catenin. APPROACH AND RESULTS Eight-week-old hepatocyte-specific Ctnnb1 knockout mice (β-catenin ΔHC ) were subjected to PH. These animals exhibited decreased hepatocyte proliferation at 40-120 h and decreased cumulative 14-day BrdU labeling of <40%, but all mice survived, suggesting compensation. Insulin-mediated mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) complex 1 (mTORC1) activation was uniquely identified in the β-catenin ΔHC mice at 72-96 h after PH. Deletion of hepatocyte regulatory-associated protein of mTOR (Raptor), a critical mTORC1 partner, in the β-catenin ΔHC mice led to progressive hepatic injury and mortality by 30 dys. PH on early stage nonmorbid Raptor ΔHC -β-catenin ΔHC mice led to lethality by 12 h. Raptor ΔHC mice showed progressive hepatic injury and spontaneous LR with β-catenin activation but died by 40 days. PH on early stage nonmorbid Raptor ΔHC mice was lethal by 48 h. Temporal inhibition of insulin receptor and mTORC1 in β-catenin ΔHC or controls after PH was achieved by administration of linsitinib at 48 h or rapamycin at 60 h post-PH and completely prevented LR leading to lethality by 12-14 days. CONCLUSIONS Insulin-mTORC1 activation compensates for β-catenin loss to enable LR after PH. mTORC1 signaling in hepatocytes itself is critical to both homeostasis and LR and is only partially compensated by β-catenin activation. Dual inhibition of β-catenin and mTOR may have notable untoward hepatotoxic side effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shikai Hu
- School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA USA
| | - Catherine Cao
- Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA USA
| | - Minakshi Poddar
- Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA USA
| | - Evan Delgado
- Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA USA
- Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA USA
| | - Sucha Singh
- Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA USA
| | - Anya Singh-Varma
- Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA USA
| | - Donna Beer Stolz
- Center for Biologic Imaging, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA USA
| | - Aaron Bell
- Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA USA
- Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA USA
| | - Satdarshan P. Monga
- Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA USA
- Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA USA
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA USA
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17
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Gayden J, Hu S, Joseph PN, Delgado E, Liu S, Bell A, Puig S, Monga SP, Freyberg Z. A Spatial Atlas of Wnt Receptors in Adult Mouse Liver. Am J Pathol 2023; 193:558-566. [PMID: 36773785 PMCID: PMC10155265 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2023.01.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Revised: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2023]
Abstract
Hepatic zonation is critical for most metabolic functions in liver. Wnt signaling plays an important role in establishing and maintaining liver zonation. Yet, the anatomic expression of Wnt signaling components, especially all 10 Frizzled (Fzd) receptors, has not been characterized in adult liver. To address this, the spatial expression of Fzd receptors was quantitatively mapped in adult mouse liver via multiplex fluorescent in situ hybridization. Although all 10 Fzd receptors were expressed within a metabolic unit, Fzd receptors 1, 4, and 6 were the highest expressed. Although most Wnt signaling occurs in zone 3, expression of most Fzd receptors was not zonated. In contrast, Fzd receptor 6 was preferentially expressed in zone 1. Wnt2 and Wnt9b expression was highly zonated and primarily found in zone 3. Therefore, the current results suggest that zonated Wnt/β-catenin signaling at baseline occurs primarily due to Wnt2 and Wnt9b rather than zonation of Fzd mRNA expression. Finally, the study showed that Fzd receptors and Wnts are not uniformly expressed by all hepatic cell types. Instead, there is broad distribution among both hepatocytes and nonparenchymal cells, including endothelial cells. Overall, this establishment of a definitive mRNA expression atlas, especially of Fzd receptors, opens the door to future functional characterization in healthy and diseased liver states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenesis Gayden
- Center for Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Shikai Hu
- Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Paul N Joseph
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Evan Delgado
- Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Silvia Liu
- Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Aaron Bell
- Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Stephanie Puig
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Satdarshan P Monga
- Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
| | - Zachary Freyberg
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Department of Cell Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
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Chaudhary S, Rai R, Pal PB, Tedesco D, Singhi AD, Monga SP, Grakoui A, Iyer SS, Raeman R. Western diet dampens T regulatory cell function to fuel hepatic inflammation in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. bioRxiv 2023:2023.03.23.533977. [PMID: 36993495 PMCID: PMC10055333 DOI: 10.1101/2023.03.23.533977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/31/2023]
Abstract
Background and aims The immunosuppressive T regulatory cells (Tregs) regulate immune responses and maintain immune homeostasis, yet their functions in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) pathogenesis remains controversial. Methods Mice were fed a normal diet (ND) or a western diet (WD) for 16 weeks to induce NAFLD. Diphtheria toxin injection to deplete Tregs in Foxp3 DTR mice or Treg induction therapy in WT mice to augment Treg numbers was initiated at twelve and eight weeks, respectively. Liver tissues from mice and NASH human subjects were analyzed by histology, confocal imaging, and qRT-PCR. Results WD triggered accumulation of adaptive immune cells, including Tregs and effector T cells, within the liver parenchyma. This pattern was also observed in NASH patients, where an increase in intrahepatic Tregs was noted. In the absence of adaptive immune cells in Rag1 KO mice, WD promoted accumulation of intrahepatic neutrophils and macrophages and exacerbated hepatic inflammation and fibrosis. Similarly, targeted Treg depletion exacerbated WD-induced hepatic inflammation and fibrosis. In Treg-depleted mice, hepatic injury was associated with increased accumulation of neutrophils, macrophages, and activated T cells within the liver. Conversely, induction of Tregs using recombinant IL2/αIL2 mAb cocktail reduced hepatic steatosis, inflammation, and fibrosis in WD-fed mice. Analysis of intrahepatic Tregs from WD-fed mice revealed a phenotypic signature of impaired Treg function in NAFLD. Ex vivo functional studies showed that glucose and palmitate, but not fructose, impaired the immunosuppressive ability of Treg cells. Conclusions Our findings indicate that the liver microenvironment in NAFLD impairs ability of Tregs to suppress effector immune cell activation, thus perpetuating chronic inflammation and driving NAFLD progression. These data suggest that targeted approaches aimed at restoring Treg function may represent a potential therapeutic strategy for treating NAFLD. Lay summary In this study, we elucidate the mechanisms contributing to the perpetuation of chronic hepatic inflammation in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). We show that dietary sugar and fatty acids promote chronic hepatic inflammation in NAFLD by impairing immunosuppressive function of regulatory T cells. Finally, our preclinical data suggest that targeted approaches aimed at restoring T regulatory cell function have the potential to treat NAFLD.
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Gupta B, Rai RP, Pal PB, Chaudhary S, Chiaro A, Seaman S, Singhi AD, Monga SP, Iyer SS, Raeman R. Selective targeting of α 4 β 7 /MAdCAM-1 axis suppresses fibrosis progression in chronic liver disease. bioRxiv 2023:2023.02.20.528201. [PMID: 36865167 PMCID: PMC9980010 DOI: 10.1101/2023.02.20.528201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/23/2023]
Abstract
Integrin α 4 β 7 + T cells perpetuate tissue injury in chronic inflammatory diseases, yet their role in promoting fibrosis in chronic liver diseases (CLD) remains poorly delineated. Here, we examined the role of α 4 β 7 + T cells in promoting fibrosis progression in CLD. Analysis of liver tissue from people with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and alcoholic steatohepatitis (ASH) associated cirrhosis revealed increased accumulation of intrahepatic α 4 β 7 + T cells relative to disease controls. Correspondingly, inflammation and fibrosis in a mouse model of CCl 4 -induced liver fibrosis revealed enrichment of intrahepatic α 4 β 7 +CD4 and α 4 β 7 +CD8 T cells. Monoclonal antibody-mediated blockade of α 4 β 7 or its ligand mucosal addressin cell adhesion molecule (MAdCAM)-1 attenuated hepatic inflammation and fibrosis and prevented disease progression in CCl 4 treated mice. Improvement in liver fibrosis was associated with a significant decrease in hepatic infiltration of α 4 β 7 +CD4 and α 4 β 7 +CD8 T cells suggesting that α 4 β 7 /MAdCAM-1 axis regulates both CD4 and CD8 T cell recruitment to the injured liver and α 4 β 7 +CD4 and α 4 β 7 +CD8 T cells promote hepatic fibrosis progression. Analysis of α 4 β 7 + and α 4 β 7 -CD4 T cells revealed that α 4 β 7 + CD4 T cells enriched for markers of activation and proliferation demonstrating an effector phenotype. The findings suggest that α 4 β 7 /MAdCAM-1 axis play a critical role in promoting fibrosis progression in CLD by recruiting CD4 and CD8 T cells to the liver, and mAb-mediated blockade of α 4 β 7 or MAdCAM-1 represents a novel therapeutic strategy to slow CLD progression.
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20
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Hurley EH, Tao J, Liu S, Krutsenko Y, Singh S, Monga SP. Inhibition of Heat Shock Factor 1 Signaling Decreases Hepatoblastoma Growth via Induction of Apoptosis. Am J Pathol 2023; 193:148-160. [PMID: 36336065 PMCID: PMC9887635 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2022.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2022] [Revised: 09/23/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Although rare compared with adult liver cancers, hepatoblastoma (HB) is the most common pediatric liver malignancy, and its incidence is increasing. Currently, the treatment includes surgical resection with or without chemotherapy, and in severe cases, liver transplantation in children. The effort to develop more targeted, HB-specific therapies has been stymied by the lack of fundamental knowledge about HB biology. Heat shock factor 1 (HSF1), a transcription factor, is a canonical inducer of heat shock proteins, which act as chaperone proteins to prevent or undo protein misfolding. Recent work has shown a role for HSF1 in cancer beyond the canonical heat shock response. The current study found increased HSF1 signaling in HB versus normal liver. It showed that less differentiated, more embryonic tumors had higher levels of HSF1 than more differentiated, more fetal-appearing tumors. Most strikingly, HSF1 expression levels correlated with mortality. This study used a mouse model of HB to test the effect of inhibiting HSF1 early in tumor development on cancer growth. HSF1 inhibition resulted in fewer and smaller tumors, suggesting HSF1 is needed for aggressive tumor growth. Moreover, HSF1 inhibition also increased apoptosis in tumor foci. These data suggest that HSF1 may be a viable pharmacologic target for HB treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward H Hurley
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
| | - Junyan Tao
- Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Silvia Liu
- Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Yekaterina Krutsenko
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Sucha Singh
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Satdarshan P Monga
- Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
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21
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Monga SP, Nejak-Bowen K. Ductular Reaction and Liver Regeneration: Fulfilling the Prophecy of Prometheus! Cell Mol Gastroenterol Hepatol 2023; 15:806-808. [PMID: 36436755 PMCID: PMC9950958 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcmgh.2022.11.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Revised: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 11/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Satdarshan P Monga
- Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
| | - Kari Nejak-Bowen
- Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
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22
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Hu S, Liu S, Bian Y, Poddar M, Singh S, Cao C, McGaughey J, Bell A, Blazer LL, Adams JJ, Sidhu SS, Angers S, Monga SP. Single-cell spatial transcriptomics reveals a dynamic control of metabolic zonation and liver regeneration by endothelial cell Wnt2 and Wnt9b. Cell Rep Med 2022; 3:100754. [PMID: 36220068 PMCID: PMC9588996 DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2022.100754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2022] [Revised: 07/04/2022] [Accepted: 09/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The conclusive identity of Wnts regulating liver zonation (LZ) and regeneration (LR) remains unclear despite an undisputed role of β-catenin. Using single-cell analysis, we identified a conserved Wnt2 and Wnt9b expression in endothelial cells (ECs) in zone 3. EC-elimination of Wnt2 and Wnt9b led to both loss of β-catenin targets in zone 3, and re-appearance of zone 1 genes in zone 3, unraveling dynamicity in the LZ process. Impaired LR observed in the knockouts phenocopied models of defective hepatic Wnt signaling. Administration of a tetravalent antibody to activate Wnt signaling rescued LZ and LR in the knockouts and induced zone 3 gene expression and LR in controls. Administration of the agonist also promoted LR in acetaminophen overdose acute liver failure (ALF) fulfilling an unmet clinical need. Overall, we report an unequivocal role of EC-Wnt2 and Wnt9b in LZ and LR and show the role of Wnt activators as regenerative therapy for ALF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shikai Hu
- School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China; Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Silvia Liu
- Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Yu Bian
- Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Minakshi Poddar
- Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Sucha Singh
- Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Catherine Cao
- Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Jackson McGaughey
- Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Aaron Bell
- Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Levi L Blazer
- Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Jarret J Adams
- Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | | | - Stephane Angers
- Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Satdarshan P Monga
- Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
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23
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Hu S, Monga SP. Reply. Hepatology 2022; 77:E86-E87. [PMID: 36054712 DOI: 10.1002/hep.32694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/08/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Shikai Hu
- School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.,Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Satdarshan P Monga
- Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.,Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.,Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
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24
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Hu S, Molina L, Tao J, Liu S, Hassan M, Singh S, Poddar M, Bell A, Sia D, Oertel M, Raeman R, Nejak-Bowen K, Singhi A, Luo J, Monga SP, Ko S. NOTCH-YAP1/TEAD-DNMT1 Axis Drives Hepatocyte Reprogramming Into Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma. Gastroenterology 2022; 163:449-465. [PMID: 35550144 PMCID: PMC9329208 DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2022.05.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2021] [Revised: 04/15/2022] [Accepted: 05/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) is a devastating liver cancer with extremely high intra- and inter-tumoral molecular heterogeneity, partly due to its diverse cellular origins. We investigated clinical relevance and the molecular mechanisms underlying hepatocyte (HC)-driven ICC development. METHODS Expression of ICC driver genes in human diseased livers at risk for ICC development were examined. The sleeping beauty and hydrodynamic tail vein injection based Akt-NICD/YAP1 ICC model was used to investigate pathogenetic roles of SRY-box transcription factor 9 (SOX9) and yes-associated protein 1 (YAP1) in HC-driven ICC. We identified DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) as a YAP1 target, which was validated by loss- and gain-of-function studies, and its mechanism addressed by chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing. RESULTS Co-expression of AKT and Notch intracellular domain (NICD)/YAP1 in HC yielded ICC that represents 13% to 29% of clinical ICC. NICD independently regulates SOX9 and YAP1 and deletion of either, significantly delays ICC development. Yap1 or TEAD inhibition, but not Sox9 deletion, impairs HC-to-biliary epithelial cell (BEC) reprogramming. DNMT1 was discovered as a novel downstream effector of YAP1-TEAD complex that directs HC-to-BEC/ICC fate switch through the repression of HC-specific genes regulated by master regulators for HC differentiation, including hepatocyte nuclear factor 4 alpha, hepatocyte nuclear factor 1 alpha, and CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein alpha/beta. DNMT1 loss prevented NOTCH/YAP1-dependent HC-driven cholangiocarcinogenesis, and DNMT1 re-expression restored ICC development following TEAD repression. Co-expression of DNMT1 with AKT was sufficient to induce tumor development including ICC. DNMT1 was detected in a subset of HCs and dysplastic BECs in cholestatic human livers prone to ICC development. CONCLUSION We identified a novel NOTCH-YAP1/TEAD-DNMT1 axis essential for HC-to-BEC/ICC conversion, which may be relevant in cholestasis-to-ICC pathogenesis in the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shikai Hu
- School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China;,Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA USA
| | - Laura Molina
- Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA USA
| | - Junyan Tao
- Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA USA
| | - Silvia Liu
- Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA USA;,Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA USA
| | - Mohammed Hassan
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA USA
| | - Sucha Singh
- Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA USA
| | - Minakshi Poddar
- Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA USA
| | - Aaron Bell
- Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA USA
| | - Daniela Sia
- Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
| | - Michael Oertel
- Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA USA;,Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA USA
| | - Reben Raeman
- Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA USA;,Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA USA
| | - Kari Nejak-Bowen
- Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA USA;,Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA USA
| | - Aatur Singhi
- Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA USA;,Division of Anatomic Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA USA
| | - Jianhua Luo
- Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA USA;,Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA USA
| | - Satdarshan P. Monga
- Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA USA;,Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA USA;,Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA USA;,Co-Corresponding Authors: Sungjin Ko, D.V.M., Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Pathology and Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine, 200 Lothrop Street S-424 BST, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, Tel: 412-648-8146; Fax: (412) 648-1916; , Satdarshan P. Monga, M.D., FAASLD., Professor of Pathology and Medicine, Director, Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, UPMC Endowed Chair, Vice Chair and Division Chief of Experimental Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine and UPMC, 200 Lothrop Street S-422 BST, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, Tel: (412) 648-9966; Fax: (412) 648-1916;
| | - Sungjin Ko
- Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
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25
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Zhang Y, Xu H, Cui G, Liang B, Chen X, Ko S, Affo S, Song X, Liao Y, Feng J, Wang P, Wang H, Xu M, Wang J, Pes GM, Ribback S, Zeng Y, Singhi A, Schwabe RF, Monga SP, Evert M, Tang L, Calvisi DF, Chen X. β-Catenin Sustains and Is Required for YES-associated Protein Oncogenic Activity in Cholangiocarcinoma. Gastroenterology 2022; 163:481-494. [PMID: 35489428 PMCID: PMC9329198 DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2022.04.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2021] [Revised: 04/05/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS YES-associated protein (YAP) aberrant activation is implicated in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA). Transcriptional enhanced associate domain (TEAD)-mediated transcriptional regulation is the primary signaling event downstream of YAP. The role of Wnt/β-Catenin signaling in cholangiocarcinogenesis remains undetermined. Here, we investigated the possible molecular interplay between YAP and β-Catenin cascades in iCCA. METHODS Activated AKT (Myr-Akt) was coexpressed with YAP (YapS127A) or Tead2VP16 via hydrodynamic tail vein injection into mouse livers. Tumor growth was monitored, and liver tissues were collected and analyzed using histopathologic and molecular analysis. YAP, β-Catenin, and TEAD interaction in iCCAs was investigated through coimmunoprecipitation. Conditional Ctnnb1 knockout mice were used to determine β-Catenin function in murine iCCA models. RNA sequencing was performed to analyze the genes regulated by YAP and/or β-Catenin. Immunostaining of total and nonphosphorylated/activated β-Catenin staining was performed in mouse and human iCCAs. RESULTS We discovered that TEAD factors are required for YAP-dependent iCCA development. However, transcriptional activation of TEADs did not fully recapitulate YAP's activities in promoting cholangiocarcinogenesis. Notably, β-Catenin physically interacted with YAP in human and mouse iCCA. Ctnnb1 ablation strongly suppressed human iCCA cell growth and Yap-dependent cholangiocarcinogenesis. Furthermore, RNA-sequencing analysis revealed that YAP/ transcriptional coactivator with PDZ-binding motif (TAZ) regulate a set of genes significantly overlapping with those controlled by β-Catenin. Importantly, activated/nonphosphorylated β-Catenin was detected in more than 80% of human iCCAs. CONCLUSION YAP induces cholangiocarcinogenesis via TEAD-dependent transcriptional activation and interaction with β-Catenin. β-Catenin binds to YAP in iCCA and is required for YAP full transcriptional activity, revealing the functional crosstalk between YAP and β-Catenin pathways in cholangiocarcinogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China; Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences and Liver Center, University of California, San Francisco, California
| | - Hongwei Xu
- Department of Liver Surgery, Center of Liver Transplantation, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Guofei Cui
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences and Liver Center, University of California, San Francisco, California
| | - Binyong Liang
- Hepatic Surgery Center, Department of Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiangzheng Chen
- Liver Transplantation Division, Department of Liver Surgery, and Laboratory of Liver Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Sungjin Ko
- Department of Pathology and Medicine, and Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Silvia Affo
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Xinhua Song
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Yi Liao
- The Central Laboratory, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital/First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University Health Science Center, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Jianguo Feng
- Department of Anesthesiology, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China; Laboratory of Anesthesiology, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Pan Wang
- Collaborative Innovation Center for Agricultural Product Processing and Nutrition & Health, Beijing Vegetable Research Center, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Science, Beijing, China
| | - Haichuan Wang
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences and Liver Center, University of California, San Francisco, California; Liver Transplantation Division, Department of Liver Surgery, and Laboratory of Liver Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Meng Xu
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Jingxiao Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Giovanni M Pes
- Department of Medical, Surgical, and Experimental Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | - Silvia Ribback
- Institute of Pathology, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Yong Zeng
- Liver Transplantation Division, Department of Liver Surgery, and Laboratory of Liver Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Aatur Singhi
- Department of Pathology and Medicine, and Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | | | - Satdarshan P Monga
- Department of Pathology and Medicine, and Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Matthias Evert
- Institute of Pathology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Liling Tang
- Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China.
| | - Diego F Calvisi
- Institute of Pathology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.
| | - Xin Chen
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences and Liver Center, University of California, San Francisco, California; Cancer Biology Program, University of Hawaii Cancer Center, Honolulu, Hawaii.
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Lee S, Usman TO, Yamauchi J, Chhetri G, Wang X, Coudriet GM, Zhu C, Gao J, McConnell R, Krantz K, Rajasundaram D, Singh S, Piganelli J, Ostrowska A, Soto-Gutierrez A, Monga SP, Singhi AD, Muzumdar RH, Tsung A, Dong HH. Myeloid FoxO1 depletion attenuates hepatic inflammation and prevents nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. J Clin Invest 2022; 132:154333. [PMID: 35700043 PMCID: PMC9282937 DOI: 10.1172/jci154333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 05/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatic inflammation is culpable for the evolution of asymptomatic steatosis to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Hepatic inflammation results from abnormal macrophage activation. We found that FoxO1 links overnutrition to hepatic inflammation by regulating macrophage polarization and activation. FoxO1 was upregulated in hepatic macrophages, correlating with hepatic inflammation, steatosis and fibrosis in mice and patients with NASH. Myeloid cell-conditional FoxO1 knockout skewed macrophage polarization from pro-inflammatory M1 to anti-inflammatory M2 phenotypes, accompanied by the reduction of macrophage infiltration in liver. These effects mitigated overnutrition-induced hepatic inflammation and insulin resistance, contributing to improved hepatic metabolism and increased energy expenditure in myeloid cell FoxO1 knockout mice on HFD. When fed a NASH-inducing diet, myeloid cell FoxO1 knockout mice were protected from developing NASH, culminating in the reduction of hepatic inflammation, steatosis and fibrosis. Mechanistically, FoxO1 counteracts Stat6 to skew macrophage polarization from M2 toward M1 signatures to perpetuate hepatic inflammation in NASH. FoxO1 appears as a pivotal mediator of macrophage activation in response to overnutrition and a therapeutic target for ameliorating hepatic inflammation to stem the disease progression from benign steatosis to NASH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sojin Lee
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, United States of America
| | - Taofeek O Usman
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, United States of America
| | - Jun Yamauchi
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, United States of America
| | - Goma Chhetri
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, United States of America
| | - Xingchun Wang
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, United States of America
| | - Gina M Coudriet
- Department of Surgery, Children's Hospital, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, United States of America
| | - Cuiling Zhu
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, United States of America
| | - Jingyang Gao
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, United States of America
| | - Riley McConnell
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, United States of America
| | - Kyler Krantz
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, United States of America
| | - Dhivyaa Rajasundaram
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, United States of America
| | - Sucha Singh
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, United States of America
| | - Jon Piganelli
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, United States of America
| | - Alina Ostrowska
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, United States of America
| | - Alejandro Soto-Gutierrez
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, United States of America
| | - Satdarshan P Monga
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, United States of America
| | - Aatur D Singhi
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, United States of America
| | - Radhika H Muzumdar
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, United States of America
| | - Allan Tsung
- Department of Surgery, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, United States of America
| | - H Henry Dong
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, United States of America
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Lefever DE, Miedel MT, Pei F, DiStefano JK, Debiasio R, Shun TY, Saydmohammed M, Chikina M, Vernetti LA, Soto-Gutierrez A, Monga SP, Bataller R, Behari J, Yechoor VK, Bahar I, Gough A, Stern AM, Taylor DL. A Quantitative Systems Pharmacology Platform Reveals NAFLD Pathophysiological States and Targeting Strategies. Metabolites 2022; 12:528. [PMID: 35736460 PMCID: PMC9227696 DOI: 10.3390/metabo12060528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2022] [Revised: 05/28/2022] [Accepted: 06/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has a high global prevalence with a heterogeneous and complex pathophysiology that presents barriers to traditional targeted therapeutic approaches. We describe an integrated quantitative systems pharmacology (QSP) platform that comprehensively and unbiasedly defines disease states, in contrast to just individual genes or pathways, that promote NAFLD progression. The QSP platform can be used to predict drugs that normalize these disease states and experimentally test predictions in a human liver acinus microphysiology system (LAMPS) that recapitulates key aspects of NAFLD. Analysis of a 182 patient-derived hepatic RNA-sequencing dataset generated 12 gene signatures mirroring these states. Screening against the LINCS L1000 database led to the identification of drugs predicted to revert these signatures and corresponding disease states. A proof-of-concept study in LAMPS demonstrated mitigation of steatosis, inflammation, and fibrosis, especially with drug combinations. Mechanistically, several structurally diverse drugs were predicted to interact with a subnetwork of nuclear receptors, including pregnane X receptor (PXR; NR1I2), that has evolved to respond to both xenobiotic and endogenous ligands and is intrinsic to NAFLD-associated transcription dysregulation. In conjunction with iPSC-derived cells, this platform has the potential for developing personalized NAFLD therapeutic strategies, informing disease mechanisms, and defining optimal cohorts of patients for clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel E. Lefever
- Drug Discovery Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA; (D.E.L.); (M.T.M.); (R.D.); (T.Y.S.); (M.S.); (L.A.V.); (A.S.-G.); (S.P.M.); (V.K.Y.); (I.B.); (A.G.)
| | - Mark T. Miedel
- Drug Discovery Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA; (D.E.L.); (M.T.M.); (R.D.); (T.Y.S.); (M.S.); (L.A.V.); (A.S.-G.); (S.P.M.); (V.K.Y.); (I.B.); (A.G.)
- Department of Computational and Systems Biology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA; (F.P.); (M.C.)
| | - Fen Pei
- Department of Computational and Systems Biology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA; (F.P.); (M.C.)
| | - Johanna K. DiStefano
- Diabetes and Fibrotic Disease Unit, Translational Genomics Research Institute TGen, Phoenix, AZ 85004, USA;
| | - Richard Debiasio
- Drug Discovery Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA; (D.E.L.); (M.T.M.); (R.D.); (T.Y.S.); (M.S.); (L.A.V.); (A.S.-G.); (S.P.M.); (V.K.Y.); (I.B.); (A.G.)
| | - Tong Ying Shun
- Drug Discovery Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA; (D.E.L.); (M.T.M.); (R.D.); (T.Y.S.); (M.S.); (L.A.V.); (A.S.-G.); (S.P.M.); (V.K.Y.); (I.B.); (A.G.)
| | - Manush Saydmohammed
- Drug Discovery Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA; (D.E.L.); (M.T.M.); (R.D.); (T.Y.S.); (M.S.); (L.A.V.); (A.S.-G.); (S.P.M.); (V.K.Y.); (I.B.); (A.G.)
| | - Maria Chikina
- Department of Computational and Systems Biology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA; (F.P.); (M.C.)
- Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - Lawrence A. Vernetti
- Drug Discovery Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA; (D.E.L.); (M.T.M.); (R.D.); (T.Y.S.); (M.S.); (L.A.V.); (A.S.-G.); (S.P.M.); (V.K.Y.); (I.B.); (A.G.)
- Department of Computational and Systems Biology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA; (F.P.); (M.C.)
| | - Alejandro Soto-Gutierrez
- Drug Discovery Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA; (D.E.L.); (M.T.M.); (R.D.); (T.Y.S.); (M.S.); (L.A.V.); (A.S.-G.); (S.P.M.); (V.K.Y.); (I.B.); (A.G.)
- Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
- McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15203, USA
| | - Satdarshan P. Monga
- Drug Discovery Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA; (D.E.L.); (M.T.M.); (R.D.); (T.Y.S.); (M.S.); (L.A.V.); (A.S.-G.); (S.P.M.); (V.K.Y.); (I.B.); (A.G.)
- Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - Ramon Bataller
- Division of Gastroenterology Hepatology and Nutrition, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA; (R.B.); (J.B.)
| | - Jaideep Behari
- Division of Gastroenterology Hepatology and Nutrition, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA; (R.B.); (J.B.)
- UPMC Liver Clinic, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Vijay K. Yechoor
- Drug Discovery Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA; (D.E.L.); (M.T.M.); (R.D.); (T.Y.S.); (M.S.); (L.A.V.); (A.S.-G.); (S.P.M.); (V.K.Y.); (I.B.); (A.G.)
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15203, USA
| | - Ivet Bahar
- Drug Discovery Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA; (D.E.L.); (M.T.M.); (R.D.); (T.Y.S.); (M.S.); (L.A.V.); (A.S.-G.); (S.P.M.); (V.K.Y.); (I.B.); (A.G.)
- Department of Computational and Systems Biology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA; (F.P.); (M.C.)
| | - Albert Gough
- Drug Discovery Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA; (D.E.L.); (M.T.M.); (R.D.); (T.Y.S.); (M.S.); (L.A.V.); (A.S.-G.); (S.P.M.); (V.K.Y.); (I.B.); (A.G.)
- Department of Computational and Systems Biology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA; (F.P.); (M.C.)
| | - Andrew M. Stern
- Drug Discovery Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA; (D.E.L.); (M.T.M.); (R.D.); (T.Y.S.); (M.S.); (L.A.V.); (A.S.-G.); (S.P.M.); (V.K.Y.); (I.B.); (A.G.)
- Department of Computational and Systems Biology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA; (F.P.); (M.C.)
| | - D. Lansing Taylor
- Drug Discovery Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA; (D.E.L.); (M.T.M.); (R.D.); (T.Y.S.); (M.S.); (L.A.V.); (A.S.-G.); (S.P.M.); (V.K.Y.); (I.B.); (A.G.)
- Department of Computational and Systems Biology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA; (F.P.); (M.C.)
- Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
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Hurley E, Tao J, Liu SS, Krutsenko Y, Monga SP. HSF1 Signaling Inhibits Apoptosis in Hepatoblastoma. FASEB J 2022. [DOI: 10.1096/fasebj.2022.36.s1.r4190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
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Molina LM, Gabdulkhakova A, Zhu J, Liu S, Poddar M, Singh S, Ma X, Singhi A, Ko S, Monga SP. In the Absence of YAP, TAZ Contributes to Hepatocyte Adaptation in Chronic Cholestasis in Females. FASEB J 2022. [DOI: 10.1096/fasebj.2022.36.s1.r3167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Laura M. Molina
- PathologyUniversity of Pittsburgh School of MedicinePittsburghPA
| | | | - Junjie Zhu
- Pharmaceutical Sciences and Center for PharmacogeneticsUniversity of Pittsburgh School of PharmacyPittsburghPA
| | - Silvia Liu
- PathologyUniversity of Pittsburgh School of MedicinePittsburghPA
- Pittsburgh Liver Research CenterUniversity of Pittsburgh School of MedicinePittsburghPA
| | - Minakshi Poddar
- PathologyUniversity of Pittsburgh School of MedicinePittsburghPA
| | - Sucha Singh
- PathologyUniversity of Pittsburgh School of MedicinePittsburghPA
| | - Xiaochao Ma
- Pharmaceutical Sciences and Center for PharmacogeneticsUniversity of Pittsburgh School of PharmacyPittsburghPA
| | - Aatur Singhi
- PathologyUniversity of Pittsburgh School of MedicinePittsburghPA
- Pittsburgh Liver Research CenterUniversity of Pittsburgh School of MedicinePittsburghPA
| | - Sungjin Ko
- PathologyUniversity of Pittsburgh School of MedicinePittsburghPA
- Pittsburgh Liver Research CenterUniversity of Pittsburgh School of MedicinePittsburghPA
| | - Satdarshan P. Monga
- PathologyUniversity of Pittsburgh School of MedicinePittsburghPA
- Pittsburgh Liver Research CenterUniversity of Pittsburgh School of MedicinePittsburghPA
- Medicine, Gastroenterology/Hepatology/NutritionUniversity of Pittsburgh School of MedicinePittsburghPA
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Krutsenko Y, Tao J, Singh M, Monga SP. Investigating the therapeutic efficacy of a novel mTORC1 inhibitor, RMC‐6272, on liver tumors with b‐catenin activation. FASEB J 2022. [DOI: 10.1096/fasebj.2022.36.s1.r4865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Junyan Tao
- Department of PathologyUniversity of PittsburghPittsburghPA
| | - Mallika Singh
- Department of BiologyRevolution Medicines, Inc.Redwood CityCA
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Delgado ER, Tao J, Bell AW, McGaughey J, Ganesh J, Poddar M, Singh S, Monga SP. Investigating Susceptibility of ꞵ‐catenin‐mutated Hepatocellular Carcinoma to Checkpoint Inhibitors. FASEB J 2022. [DOI: 10.1096/fasebj.2022.36.s1.r2950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Junyan Tao
- Experimental PathologyUniversity of PittsburghPittsburghPA
- University of PittsburghPittsburghPA
| | - Aaron W. Bell
- Experimental PathologyUniversity of PittsburghPittsburghPA
- University of PittsburghPittsburghPA
| | | | - Jai Ganesh
- Experimental PathologyUniversity of PittsburghPittsburghPA
| | | | - Sucha Singh
- Experimental PathologyUniversity of PittsburghPittsburghPA
| | - Satdarshan P. Monga
- Experimental PathologyUniversity of PittsburghPittsburghPA
- University of PittsburghPittsburghPA
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32
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Hu S, Molina L, Tao J, Liu S, Hassan M, Singh S, Poddar M, Nejak‐Bowen K, Oertel M, Raeman R, Singhi A, Bell A, Monga SP, Ko S. Therapeutic implication of SOX9 and YAP1 co‐repression in advanced intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. FASEB J 2022. [DOI: 10.1096/fasebj.2022.36.s1.r3050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Shikai Hu
- University of PittsburghPittsburghPA
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33
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Delgado ER, Tao J, Bell AW, Hu S, Poddar M, Singh S, Monga SP. Understanding Molecular Heterogeneity in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. FASEB J 2022. [DOI: 10.1096/fasebj.2022.36.s1.r5218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Junyan Tao
- Experimental PathologyUniversity of PittsburghPittsburghPA
- University of PittsburghPittsburghPA
| | - Aaron W. Bell
- Experimental PathologyUniversity of PittsburghPittsburghPA
- University of PittsburghPittsburghPA
| | - Shikai Hu
- MedicineTsinghua UniversityBeijing
- Experimental PathologyTsinghua UniversityBeijing
| | | | - Sucha Singh
- Experimental PathologyUniversity of PittsburghPittsburghPA
| | - Satdarshan P. Monga
- Experimental PathologyUniversity of PittsburghPittsburghPA
- University of PittsburghPittsburghPA
- MedicineUniversity of PittsburghPittsburghPA
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Monga SP, Cao C, Hu S, Singh S, Poddar M, McGaughey J. Spatial transcriptomics reveals differences among genetic models of disruption in the Wnt‐beta‐catenin signaling in hepatocytes. FASEB J 2022. [DOI: 10.1096/fasebj.2022.36.s1.r3757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Satdarshan P. Monga
- Division of Experimental PathologyUniversity of Pittsburgh School of MedicinePittsburghPA
- Division of Experimental PathologyUniversity of Pittsburgh Medical CenterPittsburghPA
| | - Catherine Cao
- Department of Pathology and Pittsburgh Liver Research CenterUniversity of Pittsburgh School of MedicinePittsburghPA
| | - Shikai Hu
- Department of Pathology and Pittsburgh Liver Research CenterUniversity of Pittsburgh School of MedicinePittsburghPA
| | - Sucha Singh
- Department of Pathology and Pittsburgh Liver Research CenterUniversity of Pittsburgh School of MedicinePittsburghPA
| | - Minakshi Poddar
- Department of Pathology and Pittsburgh Liver Research CenterUniversity of Pittsburgh School of MedicinePittsburghPA
| | - Jackson McGaughey
- Department of Pathology and Pittsburgh Liver Research CenterUniversity of Pittsburgh School of MedicinePittsburghPA
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Monga SP, Ko S, Hu S, Singh S, Poddar M. Single‐cell spatial transcriptomics analysis of a regenerating liver. FASEB J 2022. [DOI: 10.1096/fasebj.2022.36.s1.r3631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Satdarshan P. Monga
- Department of Pathology and Pittsburgh Liver Research CenterUniversity of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and University of Pittsburgh Medical CenterPittsburghPA
| | - Sungjin Ko
- Department of Pathology and Pittsburgh Liver Research CenterUniversity of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and University of Pittsburgh Medical CenterPittsburghPA
| | - Shikai Hu
- Department of Pathology and Pittsburgh Liver Research CenterUniversity of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and University of Pittsburgh Medical CenterPittsburghPA
| | - Sucha Singh
- Department of Pathology and Pittsburgh Liver Research CenterUniversity of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and University of Pittsburgh Medical CenterPittsburghPA
| | - Minakshi Poddar
- Department of Pathology and Pittsburgh Liver Research CenterUniversity of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and University of Pittsburgh Medical CenterPittsburghPA
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36
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Xie Y, Sun R, Gao L, Guan J, Wang J, Bell A, Zhu J, Zhang M, Xu M, Lu P, Cai X, Ren S, Xu P, Monga SP, Ma X, Yang D, Liu Y, Lu B, Xie W. Chronic Activation of LXRα Sensitizes Mice to Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Hepatol Commun 2022; 6:1123-1139. [PMID: 34981658 PMCID: PMC9035576 DOI: 10.1002/hep4.1880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2021] [Revised: 10/27/2021] [Accepted: 11/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The oxysterol receptor liver X receptor (LXR) is a nuclear receptor best known for its function in the regulation of lipid and cholesterol metabolism. LXRs, both the α and β isoforms, have been suggested as potential therapeutic targets for several cancer types. However, there was a lack of report on whether and how LXRα plays a role in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In the current study, we found that systemic activation of LXRα in the VP-LXRα knock-in (LXRαKI) mice or hepatocyte-specific activation of LXRα in the VP-LXRα transgenic mice sensitized mice to liver tumorigenesis induced by the combined treatment of diethylnitrosamine (DEN) and 3,3',5,5'-tetrachloro-1,4-bis (pyridyloxy) benzene (TCPOBOP). Mechanistically, the LXRα-responsive up-regulation of interleukin-6 (IL-6)/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) signaling pathway and the complement system, and down-regulation of bile acid metabolism, may have contributed to increased tumorigenesis. Accumulations of secondary bile acids and oxysterols were found in both the serum and liver tissue of LXRα activated mice. We also observed an induction of monocytic myeloid-derived suppressor cells accompanied by down-regulation of dendritic cells and cytotoxic T cells in DEN/TCPOBOP-induced liver tumors, indicating that chronic activation of LXRα may have led to the activation of innate immune suppression. The HCC sensitizing effect of LXRα activation was also observed in the c-MYC driven HCC model. Conclusion: Our results indicated that chronic activation of LXRα promotes HCC, at least in part, by promoting innate immune suppressor as a result of accumulation of oxysterols, as well as up-regulation of the IL-6/Janus kinase/STAT3 signaling and complement pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Xie
- Center for Pharmacogenetics and Department of Pharmaceutical SciencesUniversity of PittsburghPittsburghPAUSA
| | - Runzi Sun
- Department of ImmunologyUniversity of PittsburghPittsburghPAUSA
| | - Li Gao
- Center for Pharmacogenetics and Department of Pharmaceutical SciencesUniversity of PittsburghPittsburghPAUSA
- Department of GastroenterologyPeking University People’s HospitalBeijingChina
| | - Jibin Guan
- Center for Pharmacogenetics and Department of Pharmaceutical SciencesUniversity of PittsburghPittsburghPAUSA
| | - Jingyuan Wang
- Center for Pharmacogenetics and Department of Pharmaceutical SciencesUniversity of PittsburghPittsburghPAUSA
| | - Aaron Bell
- Division of Experimental PathologyDepartment of PathologyUniversity of PittsburghPittsburghPAUSA
| | - Junjie Zhu
- Center for Pharmacogenetics and Department of Pharmaceutical SciencesUniversity of PittsburghPittsburghPAUSA
| | - Min Zhang
- Center for Pharmacogenetics and Department of Pharmaceutical SciencesUniversity of PittsburghPittsburghPAUSA
| | - Meishu Xu
- Center for Pharmacogenetics and Department of Pharmaceutical SciencesUniversity of PittsburghPittsburghPAUSA
| | - Peipei Lu
- Center for Pharmacogenetics and Department of Pharmaceutical SciencesUniversity of PittsburghPittsburghPAUSA
| | - Xinran Cai
- Center for Pharmacogenetics and Department of Pharmaceutical SciencesUniversity of PittsburghPittsburghPAUSA
| | - Songrong Ren
- Center for Pharmacogenetics and Department of Pharmaceutical SciencesUniversity of PittsburghPittsburghPAUSA
| | - Pengfei Xu
- Center for Pharmacogenetics and Department of Pharmaceutical SciencesUniversity of PittsburghPittsburghPAUSA
| | - Satdarshan P. Monga
- Division of Experimental PathologyDepartment of PathologyUniversity of PittsburghPittsburghPAUSA
- Pittsburgh Liver Research CenterUniversity of Pittsburgh Medical Center and University of Pittsburgh School of MedicinePittsburghPAUSA
| | - Xiaochao Ma
- Center for Pharmacogenetics and Department of Pharmaceutical SciencesUniversity of PittsburghPittsburghPAUSA
| | - Da Yang
- Center for Pharmacogenetics and Department of Pharmaceutical SciencesUniversity of PittsburghPittsburghPAUSA
| | - Yulan Liu
- Department of GastroenterologyPeking University People’s HospitalBeijingChina
| | - Binfeng Lu
- Department of ImmunologyUniversity of PittsburghPittsburghPAUSA
| | - Wen Xie
- Center for Pharmacogenetics and Department of Pharmaceutical SciencesUniversity of PittsburghPittsburghPAUSA
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical BiologyUniversity of PittsburghPittsburghPAUSA
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Xu P, Xi Y, Wang P, Luka Z, Xu M, Tung HC, Wang J, Ren S, Feng D, Gao B, Singhi AD, Monga SP, York JD, Ma X, Huang Z, Xie W. Inhibition of p53 Sulfoconjugation Prevents Oxidative Hepatotoxicity and Acute Liver Failure. Gastroenterology 2022; 162:1226-1241. [PMID: 34954226 PMCID: PMC8934304 DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2021.12.260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2021] [Revised: 12/16/2021] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Sulfoconjugation of small molecules or protein peptides is a key mechanism to ensure biochemical and functional homeostasis in mammals. The PAPS synthase 2 (PAPSS2) is the primary enzyme to synthesize the universal sulfonate donor 3'-phosphoadenosine 5'-phosphosulfate (PAPS). Acetaminophen (APAP) overdose is the leading cause of acute liver failure (ALF), in which oxidative stress is a key pathogenic event, whereas sulfation of APAP contributes to its detoxification. The goal of this study was to determine whether and how PAPSS2 plays a role in APAP-induced ALF. METHODS Gene expression was analyzed in APAP-induced ALF in patients and mice. Liver-specific Papss2-knockout mice using Alb-Cre (Papss2ΔHC) or AAV8-TBG-Cre (Papss2iΔHC) were created and subjected to APAP-induced ALF. Primary human and mouse hepatocytes were used for in vitro mechanistic analysis. RESULTS The hepatic expression of PAPSS2 was decreased in APAP-induced ALF in patients and mice. Surprisingly, Papss2ΔHC mice were protected from APAP-induced hepatotoxicity despite having a decreased APAP sulfation, which was accompanied by increased hepatic antioxidative capacity through the activation of the p53-p2-Nrf2 axis. Treatment with a sulfation inhibitor also ameliorated APAP-induced hepatotoxicity. Gene knockdown experiments showed that the hepatoprotective effect of Papss2ΔHC was Nrf2, p53, and p21 dependent. Mechanistically, we identified p53 as a novel substrate of sulfation. Papss2 ablation led to p53 protein accumulation by preventing p53 sulfation, which disrupts p53-MDM2 interaction and p53 ubiquitination and increases p53 protein stability. CONCLUSIONS We have uncovered a previously unrecognized and p53-mediated role of PAPSS2 in controlling oxidative response. Inhibition of p53 sulfation may be explored for the clinical management of APAP overdose.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengfei Xu
- Center for Pharmacogenetics and Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Yue Xi
- Center for Pharmacogenetics and Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania,School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Pengcheng Wang
- Center for Pharmacogenetics and Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Zigmund Luka
- Department of Biochemistry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Meishu Xu
- Center for Pharmacogenetics and Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Hung-Chun Tung
- Center for Pharmacogenetics and Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Jingyuan Wang
- Center for Pharmacogenetics and Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Songrong Ren
- Center for Pharmacogenetics and Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Dechun Feng
- Laboratory of Liver Diseases, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Bin Gao
- Laboratory of Liver Diseases, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Aatur D. Singhi
- Department of Pathology and Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Satdarshan P. Monga
- Department of Pathology and Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - John D. York
- Department of Biochemistry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Xiaochao Ma
- Center for Pharmacogenetics and Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Zhiying Huang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wen Xie
- Center for Pharmacogenetics and Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
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Ko S, Kim M, Molina L, Sirica AE, Monga SP. YAP1 activation and Hippo pathway signaling in the pathogenesis and treatment of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. Adv Cancer Res 2022; 156:283-317. [PMID: 35961703 PMCID: PMC9972177 DOI: 10.1016/bs.acr.2022.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [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] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA), the second most common primary liver cancer, is a highly lethal epithelial cell malignancy exhibiting features of cholangiocyte differentiation. iCCAs can potentially develop from multiple cell types of origin within liver, including immature or mature cholangiocytes, hepatic stem cells/progenitor cells, and from transdifferentiation of hepatocytes. Understanding the molecular mechanisms and genetic drivers that diversely drive specific cell lineage pathways leading to iCCA has important biological and clinical implications. In this context, activation of the YAP1-TEAD dependent transcription, driven by Hippo-dependent or -independent diverse mechanisms that lead to the stabilization of YAP1 is crucially important to biliary fate commitment in hepatobiliary cancer. In preclinical models, YAP1 activation in hepatocytes or cholangiocytes is sufficient to drive their malignant transformation into iCCA. Moreover, nuclear YAP1/TAZ is highly prevalent in human iCCA irrespective of the varied etiology, and significantly correlates with poor prognosis in iCCA patients. Based on the ubiquitous expression and diverse physiologic roles for YAP1/TAZ in the liver, recent studies have further revealed distinct functions of active YAP1/TAZ in regulating tumor metabolism, as well as the tumor immune microenvironment. In the current review, we discuss our current understanding of the various roles of the Hippo-YAP1 signaling in iCCA pathogenesis, with a specific focus on the roles played by the Hippo-YAP1 pathway in modulating biliary commitment and oncogenicity, iCCA metabolism, and immune microenvironment. We also discuss the therapeutic potential of targeting the YAP1/TAZ-TEAD transcriptional machinery in iCCA, its current limitations, and what future studies are needed to facilitate clinical translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sungjin Ko
- Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States; Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, Pittsburgh, PA, United States.
| | - Minwook Kim
- Department of Developmental Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Laura Molina
- Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States; Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Alphonse E Sirica
- Department of Pathology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, United States
| | - Satdarshan P Monga
- Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States; Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, Pittsburgh, PA, United States; Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, University of Pittsburgh and UPMC, Pittsburgh, PA, United States.
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Molina LM, Krutsenko Y, Jenkins NE, Smith MC, Tao J, Wheeler TB, Watkins SC, Watson AM, Monga SP. LiverClear: A versatile protocol for mouse liver tissue clearing. STAR Protoc 2022; 3:101178. [PMID: 35243370 PMCID: PMC8857608 DOI: 10.1016/j.xpro.2022.101178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Although there are numerous tissue clearing protocols, most are inadequate for clearing liver tissue. Here we present a flexible protocol for mouse liver tissue; we combine strategies from several previously published protocols for delipidation, decolorization, staining, and refractive index matching. LiverClear is sufficiently versatile to allow clearing of healthy and diseased mouse liver followed by immunofluorescence staining and imaging to visualize intact 3D structures such as bile ducts and hepatocyte canaliculi. We also adapted this protocol for clearing human livers. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Molina et al. (2021).
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura M. Molina
- Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA,Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, UPMC, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Yekaterina Krutsenko
- Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, UPMC, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Nathaniel E.C. Jenkins
- Center for Biologic Imaging, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Megan C. Smith
- Center for Biologic Imaging, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Junyan Tao
- Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, UPMC, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA,Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, UPMC, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Travis B. Wheeler
- Center for Biologic Imaging, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Simon C. Watkins
- Center for Biologic Imaging, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA,Department of Cell Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Alan M. Watson
- Center for Biologic Imaging, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA,Department of Cell Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA,Corresponding author
| | - Satdarshan P. Monga
- Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, UPMC, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA,Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, UPMC, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA,Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Department of Medicine, UPMC, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA,Corresponding author
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40
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Airik M, McCourt B, Ozturk TT, Huynh AB, Zhang X, Tometich JT, Topaloglu R, Ozen H, Orhan D, Nejak-Bowen K, Monga SP, Hand TW, Ozaltin F, Airik R. Mitigation of portal fibrosis and cholestatic liver disease in ANKS6-deficient livers by macrophage depletion. FASEB J 2022; 36:e22157. [PMID: 35032404 PMCID: PMC8852242 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202101387r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2021] [Revised: 12/19/2021] [Accepted: 12/27/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Congenital hepatic fibrosis (CHF) is a developmental liver disease that is caused by mutations in genes that encode ciliary proteins and is characterized by bile duct dysplasia and portal fibrosis. Recent work has demonstrated that mutations in ANKS6 can cause CHF due to its role in bile duct development. Here, we report a novel ANKS6 mutation, which was identified in an infant presenting with neonatal jaundice due to underlying biliary abnormalities and liver fibrosis. Molecular analysis revealed that ANKS6 liver pathology is associated with the infiltration of inflammatory macrophages to the periportal fibrotic tissue and ductal epithelium. To further investigate the role of macrophages in CHF pathophysiology, we generated a novel liver-specific Anks6 knockout mouse model. The mutant mice develop biliary abnormalities and rapidly progressing periportal fibrosis reminiscent of human CHF. The development of portal fibrosis in Anks6 KO mice coincided with the accumulation of inflammatory monocytes and macrophages in the mutant liver. Gene expression and flow cytometric analysis demonstrated the preponderance of M1- over M2-like macrophages at the onset of fibrosis. A critical role for macrophages in promoting peribiliary fibrosis was demonstrated by depleting the macrophages with clodronate liposomes which effectively reduced inflammatory gene expression and fibrosis, and ameliorated tissue histology and biliary function in Anks6 KO livers. Together, this study demonstrates that macrophages play an important role in the initiation of liver fibrosis in ANKS6-deficient livers and their therapeutic elimination may provide an avenue to mitigate CHF in patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Merlin Airik
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Blake McCourt
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Tugba Tastemel Ozturk
- Division of Pediatric Nephrology, Department of Pediatrics, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Amy B Huynh
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Xiaoyi Zhang
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Department of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Justin T Tometich
- R.K. Mellon Institute for Pediatric Research, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Disease, UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, 15224
| | - Rezan Topaloglu
- Division of Pediatric Nephrology, Department of Pediatrics, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Hasan Ozen
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Pediatrics, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Diclehan Orhan
- Pediatric Pathology Unit, Department of Pediatrics, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Kari Nejak-Bowen
- Department of Pathology and Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Satdarshan P Monga
- Department of Pathology and Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Timothy W Hand
- R.K. Mellon Institute for Pediatric Research, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Disease, UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, 15224
| | - Fatih Ozaltin
- Division of Pediatric Nephrology, Department of Pediatrics, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey,Nephrogenetics Laboratory, Division of Pediatric Nephrology, Department of Pediatrics, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Rannar Airik
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA,Department of Developmental Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA,Corresponding Author: Name: Rannar Airik, PhD, Address: UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, 4401 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, USA, , Tel.: +1 (412) 692-6229, Fax.: +1 (412) 692-7816
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Abstract
Yes-associated protein 1 (YAP1) is a transcriptional coactivator that activates transcriptional enhanced associate domain transcription factors upon inactivation of the Hippo signaling pathway, to regulate biological processes like proliferation, survival, and differentiation. YAP1 is most prominently expressed in biliary epithelial cells (BECs) in normal adult livers and during development. In the current review, we will discuss the multiple roles of YAP1 in the development and morphogenesis of bile ducts inside and outside the liver, as well as in orchestrating the cholangiocyte repair response to biliary injury. We will review how biliary repair can occur through the process of hepatocyte-to-BEC transdifferentiation and how YAP1 is pertinent to this process. We will also discuss the liver's capacity for metabolic reprogramming as an adaptive mechanism in extreme cholestasis, such as when intrahepatic bile ducts are absent due to YAP1 loss from hepatic progenitors. Finally, we will discuss the roles of YAP1 in the context of pediatric pathologies afflicting bile ducts, such as Alagille syndrome and biliary atresia. In conclusion, we will comprehensively discuss the spatiotemporal roles of YAP1 in biliary development and repair after biliary injury while describing key interactions with other well-known developmental pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Molina
- Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
| | - Kari Nejak-Bowen
- Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine,Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Satdarshan P. Monga
- Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine,Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania,Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, University of Pittsburgh and UPMC, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
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42
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Goel C, Monga SP, Nejak-Bowen K. Role and Regulation of Wnt/β-Catenin in Hepatic Perivenous Zonation and Physiological Homeostasis. Am J Pathol 2022; 192:4-17. [PMID: 34924168 PMCID: PMC8747012 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2021.09.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2021] [Revised: 09/02/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Metabolic heterogeneity or functional zonation is a key characteristic of the liver that allows different metabolic pathways to be spatially regulated within the hepatic system and together contribute to whole body homeostasis. These metabolic pathways are segregated along the portocentral axis of the liver lobule into three hepatic zones: periportal, intermediate or midzonal, and perivenous. The liver performs complementary or opposing metabolic functions within different hepatic zones while synergistic functions are regulated by overlapping zones, thereby maintaining the overall physiological stability. The Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway is well known for its role in liver growth, development, and regeneration. In addition, the Wnt/β-catenin pathway plays a fundamental and dominant role in hepatic zonation and signals to orchestrate various functions of liver metabolism and pathophysiology. The β-catenin protein is the central player in the Wnt/β-catenin signaling cascade, and its activation is crucial for metabolic patterning of the liver. However, dysregulation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling is also implicated in different liver pathologies, including those associated with metabolic syndrome. β-Catenin is preferentially localized in the central region of the hepatic lobule surrounding the central vein and regulates multiple functions of this region. This review outlines the role of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in controlling the different metabolic processes surrounding the central vein and its relation to liver homeostasis and dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chhavi Goel
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Satdarshan P. Monga
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania,Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania,Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Kari Nejak-Bowen
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania,Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania,Address correspondence to Kari Nejak-Bowen, Ph.D., Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine, 200 Lothrop Street, S405A Biomedical Science Tower, Pittsburgh, PA 15261.
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43
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Hu S, Russell JO, Liu S, Cao C, McGaughey J, Rai R, Kosar K, Tao J, Hurley E, Poddar M, Singh S, Bell A, Shin D, Raeman R, Singhi AD, Nejak-Bowen K, Ko S, Monga SP. β-Catenin-NF-κB-CFTR interactions in cholangiocytes regulate inflammation and fibrosis during ductular reaction. eLife 2021; 10:71310. [PMID: 34609282 PMCID: PMC8555990 DOI: 10.7554/elife.71310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2021] [Accepted: 10/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Expansion of biliary epithelial cells (BECs) during ductular reaction (DR) is observed in liver diseases including cystic fibrosis (CF), and associated with inflammation and fibrosis, albeit without complete understanding of underlying mechanism. Using two different genetic mouse knockouts of β-catenin, one with β-catenin loss is hepatocytes and BECs (KO1), and another with loss in only hepatocytes (KO2), we demonstrate disparate long-term repair after an initial injury by 2-week choline-deficient ethionine-supplemented diet. KO2 show gradual liver repopulation with BEC-derived β-catenin-positive hepatocytes and resolution of injury. KO1 showed persistent loss of β-catenin, NF-κB activation in BECs, progressive DR and fibrosis, reminiscent of CF histology. We identify interactions of β-catenin, NFκB, and CF transmembranous conductance regulator (CFTR) in BECs. Loss of CFTR or β-catenin led to NF-κB activation, DR, and inflammation. Thus, we report a novel β-catenin-NFκB-CFTR interactome in BECs, and its disruption may contribute to hepatic pathology of CF. The liver has an incredible capacity to repair itself or ‘regenerate’ – that is, it has the ability to replace damaged tissue with new tissue. In order to do this, the organ relies on hepatocytes (the cells that form the liver) and bile duct cells (the cells that form the biliary ducts) dividing and transforming into each other to repair and replace damaged tissue, in case the insult is dire. During long-lasting or chronic liver injury, bile duct cells undergo a process called ‘ductular reaction’, which causes the cells to multiply and produce proteins that stimulate inflammation, and can lead to liver scarring (fibrosis). Ductular reaction is a hallmark of severe liver disease, and different diseases exhibit ductular reactions with distinct features. For example, in cystic fibrosis, a unique type of ductular reaction occurs at late stages, accompanied by both inflammation and fibrosis. Despite the role that ductular reaction plays in liver disease, it is not well understood how it works at the molecular level. Hu et al. set out to investigate how a protein called β-catenin – which can cause many types of cells to proliferate – is involved in ductular reaction. They used three types of mice for their experiments: wild-type mice, which were not genetically modified; and two strains of genetically modified mice. One of these mutant mice did not produce β-catenin in biliary duct cells, while the other lacked β-catenin both in biliary duct cells and in hepatocytes. After a short liver injury – which Hu et al. caused by feeding the mice a specific diet – the wild-type mice were able to regenerate and repair the liver without exhibiting any ductular reaction. The mutant mice that lacked β-catenin in hepatocytes showed a temporary ductular reaction, and ultimately repaired their livers by turning bile duct cells into hepatocytes. On the other hand, the mutant mice lacking β-catenin in both hepatocytes and bile duct cells displayed sustained ductular reactions, inflammation and fibrosis, which looked like that seen in patients with liver disease associated to cystic fibrosis. Further probing showed that β-catenin interacts with a protein called CTFR, which is involved in cystic fibrosis. When bile duct cells lack either of these proteins, another protein called NF-B gets activated, which causes the ductular reaction, leading to inflammation and fibrosis. The findings of Hu et al. shed light on the role of β-catenin in ductular reaction. Further, the results show a previously unknown interaction between β-catenin, CTFR and NF-B, which could lead to better treatments for cystic fibrosis in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shikai Hu
- School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.,Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, United States
| | - Jacquelyn O Russell
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, United States
| | - Silvia Liu
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, United States.,Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, United States
| | - Catherine Cao
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, United States
| | - Jackson McGaughey
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, United States
| | - Ravi Rai
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, United States
| | - Karis Kosar
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, United States
| | - Junyan Tao
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, United States
| | - Edward Hurley
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, United States
| | - Minakshi Poddar
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, United States
| | - Sucha Singh
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, United States
| | - Aaron Bell
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, United States
| | - Donghun Shin
- Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, United States.,Department of Developmental Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, United States
| | - Reben Raeman
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, United States.,Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, United States
| | - Aatur D Singhi
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, United States.,Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, United States
| | - Kari Nejak-Bowen
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, United States.,Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, United States
| | - Sungjin Ko
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, United States.,Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, United States
| | - Satdarshan P Monga
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, United States.,Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, United States.,Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, United States
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44
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Sandler RS, Davidson NO, Monga SP, Rockey DC. Silvio O. Conte Digestive Disease Research Core Centers-Connecting People, Creating Opportunities, Developing Careers. Gastroenterology 2021; 161:1085-1089. [PMID: 34175277 PMCID: PMC8463423 DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2021.06.054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2021] [Revised: 06/04/2021] [Accepted: 06/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Robert S. Sandler
- Center for Gastrointestinal Biology and Disease, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC
| | - Nicholas O. Davidson
- Washington University Digestive Diseases Research Center Washington University, St. Louis, MO
| | | | - Don C. Rockey
- Medical University of South Carolina Digestive Disease Research Core Center. Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC
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45
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Tao J, Krutsenko Y, Moghe A, Singh S, Poddar M, Bell A, Oertel M, Singhi AD, Geller D, Chen X, Lujambio A, Liu S, Monga SP. Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 and β-Catenin Coactivation in Hepatocellular Cancer: Biological and Therapeutic Implications. Hepatology 2021; 74:741-759. [PMID: 33529367 PMCID: PMC8326305 DOI: 10.1002/hep.31730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2020] [Revised: 12/08/2020] [Accepted: 01/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS HCC remains a major unmet clinical need. Although activating catenin beta-1 (CTNNB1) mutations are observed in prominent subsets of HCC cases, these by themselves are insufficient for hepatocarcinogenesis. Coexpression of mutant CTNNB1 with clinically relevant co-occurrence has yielded HCCs. Here, we identify cooperation between β-catenin and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) signaling in HCC. APPROACH AND RESULTS Public HCC data sets were assessed for concomitant presence of CTNNB1 mutations and either mutations in nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor-2 (NFE2L2) or Kelch like-ECH-associated protein 1 (KEAP1), or Nrf2 activation by gene signature. HCC development in mice and similarity to human HCC subsets was assessed following coexpression of T41A-CTNNB1 with either wild-type (WT)-, G31A-, or T80K-NFE2L2. Based on mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 activation in CTNNB1-mutated HCCs, response of preclinical HCC to mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitor was investigated. Overall, 9% of HCC cases showed concomitant CTNNB1 mutations and Nrf2 activation, subsets of which were attributable to mutations in NFE2L2/KEAP1. Coexpression of mutated CTNNB1 with mutant NFE2L2, but not WT-NFE2L2, led to HCC development and mortality by 12-14 weeks. These HCCs were positive for β-catenin targets, like glutamine synthetase and cyclin-D1, and Nrf2 targets, like NAD(P)H quinone dehydrogenase 1 and peroxiredoxin 1. RNA-sequencing and pathway analysis showed high concordance of preclinical HCC to human HCC subset showing activation of unique (iron homeostasis and glioblastoma multiforme signaling) and expected (glutamine metabolism) pathways. NFE2L2-CTNNB1 HCC mice were treated with mTOR inhibitor everolimus (5-mg/kg diet ad libitum), which led to >50% decrease in tumor burden. CONCLUSIONS Coactivation of β-catenin and Nrf2 is evident in 9% of all human HCCs. Coexpression of mutant NFE2L2 and mutant CTNNB1 led to clinically relevant HCC development in mice, which responded to mTOR inhibitors. Thus, this model has both biological and therapeutic implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junyan Tao
- Department of PathologyUniversity of PittsburghSchool of Medicine and University of Pittsburgh Medical CenterPittsburghPA.,Pittsburgh Liver Research CenterUniversity of PittsburghSchool of Medicine and University of Pittsburgh Medical CenterPittsburghPA
| | - Yekaterina Krutsenko
- Department of PathologyUniversity of PittsburghSchool of Medicine and University of Pittsburgh Medical CenterPittsburghPA.,Pittsburgh Liver Research CenterUniversity of PittsburghSchool of Medicine and University of Pittsburgh Medical CenterPittsburghPA
| | - Akshata Moghe
- Pittsburgh Liver Research CenterUniversity of PittsburghSchool of Medicine and University of Pittsburgh Medical CenterPittsburghPA.,Department of MedicineUniversity of PittsburghSchool of Medicine and University of Pittsburgh Medical CenterPittsburghPA
| | - Sucha Singh
- Department of PathologyUniversity of PittsburghSchool of Medicine and University of Pittsburgh Medical CenterPittsburghPA.,Pittsburgh Liver Research CenterUniversity of PittsburghSchool of Medicine and University of Pittsburgh Medical CenterPittsburghPA
| | - Minakshi Poddar
- Department of PathologyUniversity of PittsburghSchool of Medicine and University of Pittsburgh Medical CenterPittsburghPA.,Pittsburgh Liver Research CenterUniversity of PittsburghSchool of Medicine and University of Pittsburgh Medical CenterPittsburghPA
| | - Aaron Bell
- Department of PathologyUniversity of PittsburghSchool of Medicine and University of Pittsburgh Medical CenterPittsburghPA.,Pittsburgh Liver Research CenterUniversity of PittsburghSchool of Medicine and University of Pittsburgh Medical CenterPittsburghPA
| | - Michael Oertel
- Department of PathologyUniversity of PittsburghSchool of Medicine and University of Pittsburgh Medical CenterPittsburghPA.,Pittsburgh Liver Research CenterUniversity of PittsburghSchool of Medicine and University of Pittsburgh Medical CenterPittsburghPA
| | - Aatur D Singhi
- Department of PathologyUniversity of PittsburghSchool of Medicine and University of Pittsburgh Medical CenterPittsburghPA.,Pittsburgh Liver Research CenterUniversity of PittsburghSchool of Medicine and University of Pittsburgh Medical CenterPittsburghPA
| | - David Geller
- Pittsburgh Liver Research CenterUniversity of PittsburghSchool of Medicine and University of Pittsburgh Medical CenterPittsburghPA.,Department of SurgeryUniversity of PittsburghSchool of Medicine and University of Pittsburgh Medical CenterPittsburghPA
| | - Xin Chen
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences and Liver CenterUniversity CaliforniaSan FranciscoCA
| | - Amaia Lujambio
- Department of Oncological SciencesTisch Cancer InstitutePrecision Immunology Institute, and Liver Cancer ProgramIcahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiNew YorkNY
| | - Silvia Liu
- Department of PathologyUniversity of PittsburghSchool of Medicine and University of Pittsburgh Medical CenterPittsburghPA.,Pittsburgh Liver Research CenterUniversity of PittsburghSchool of Medicine and University of Pittsburgh Medical CenterPittsburghPA
| | - Satdarshan P Monga
- Department of PathologyUniversity of PittsburghSchool of Medicine and University of Pittsburgh Medical CenterPittsburghPA.,Pittsburgh Liver Research CenterUniversity of PittsburghSchool of Medicine and University of Pittsburgh Medical CenterPittsburghPA.,Department of MedicineUniversity of PittsburghSchool of Medicine and University of Pittsburgh Medical CenterPittsburghPA
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46
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Liang B, Zhou Y, Qian M, Xu M, Wang J, Zhang Y, Song X, Wang H, Lin S, Ren C, Monga SP, Wang B, Evert M, Chen Y, Chen X, Huang Z, Calvisi DF, Chen X. TBX3 functions as a tumor suppressor downstream of activated CTNNB1 mutants during hepatocarcinogenesis. J Hepatol 2021; 75:120-131. [PMID: 33577921 PMCID: PMC8217095 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2021.01.044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Revised: 01/08/2021] [Accepted: 01/26/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Gain of function (GOF) mutations in the CTNNB1 gene are one of the most frequent genetic events in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). T-box transcription factor 3 (TBX3) is a liver-specific target of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway and thought to be an oncogene mediating activated β-catenin-driven HCC formation. METHODS We evaluated the expression pattern of TBX3 in human HCC specimens. Tbx3 was conditionally knocked out in murine HCC models by hydrodynamic tail vein injection of Cre together with c-Met and ΔN90-β-catenin (c-Met/β-catenin) in Tbx3flox/flox mice. TBX3 was overexpressed in human HCC cell lines to investigate the functions of TBX3 in vitro. RESULTS A bimodal expression pattern of TBX3 in human HCC samples was detected: high expression of TBX3 in GOF CTNNB1 HCC and downregulation of TBX3 in non-CTNNB1 mutant tumors. High expression of TBX3 was associated with increased differentiation and decreased expression signatures of tumor growth. Using Tbx3flox/flox mice, we found that ablation of Tbx3 significantly accelerates c-Met/β-catenin-driven HCC formation. Moreover, Tbx3(-) HCC demonstrated increased YAP/TAZ activity. The accelerated tumor growth induced by loss of TBX3 in c-Met/β-catenin mouse HCC was successfully prevented by overexpression of LATS2, which inhibited YAP/TAZ activity. In human HCC cell lines, overexpression of TBX3 inhibited HCC cell growth as well as YAP/TAZ activation. A negative correlation between TBX3 and YAP/TAZ target genes was observed in human HCC samples. Mechanistically, phospholipase D1 (PLD1), a known positive regulator of YAP/TAZ, was identified as a novel transcriptional target repressed by TBX3. CONCLUSION Our study suggests that TBX3 is induced by GOF CTNNB1 mutants and suppresses HCC growth by inactivating PLD1, thus leading to the inhibition of YAP/TAZ oncogenes. LAY SUMMARY TBX3 is a liver-specific target of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway and thought to be an oncogene in promoting liver cancer development. Herein, we demonstrate that TBX3 is in fact a tumor suppressor gene that restricts liver tumor growth. Strategies which increase TBX3 expression and/or activities may be effective for HCC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Binyong Liang
- Hepatic Surgery Center, Department of Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China; Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences and Liver Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Yi Zhou
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences and Liver Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA; Department of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Manning Qian
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences and Liver Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA; College of Clinical Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Meng Xu
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences and Liver Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA; Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Jingxiao Wang
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences and Liver Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA; School of Life Sciences, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Yi Zhang
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences and Liver Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA; Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xinhua Song
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences and Liver Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Haichuan Wang
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences and Liver Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA; Liver Transplantation Division, Department of Liver Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China; Laboratory of Liver Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Shumei Lin
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Chuanli Ren
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Clinical Medical College of Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Satdarshan P Monga
- Department of Pathology and Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Bruce Wang
- Department of Medicine and Liver Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Matthias Evert
- Institute of Pathology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Yifa Chen
- Hepatic Surgery Center, Department of Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiaoping Chen
- Hepatic Surgery Center, Department of Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Zhiyong Huang
- Hepatic Surgery Center, Department of Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
| | - Diego F Calvisi
- Institute of Pathology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.
| | - Xin Chen
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences and Liver Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
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Molina LM, Zhu J, Li Q, Pradhan-Sundd T, Krutsenko Y, Sayed K, Jenkins N, Vats R, Bhushan B, Ko S, Hu S, Poddar M, Singh S, Tao J, Sundd P, Singhi A, Watkins S, Ma X, Benos PV, Feranchak A, Michalopoulos G, Nejak-Bowen K, Watson A, Bell A, Monga SP. Compensatory hepatic adaptation accompanies permanent absence of intrahepatic biliary network due to YAP1 loss in liver progenitors. Cell Rep 2021; 36:109310. [PMID: 34233187 PMCID: PMC8280534 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2020] [Revised: 04/14/2021] [Accepted: 06/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Yes-associated protein 1 (YAP1) regulates cell plasticity during liver injury, regeneration, and cancer, but its role in liver development is unknown. We detect YAP1 activity in biliary cells and in cells at the hepatobiliary bifurcation in single-cell RNA sequencing analysis of developing livers. Deletion of Yap1 in hepatoblasts does not impair Notch-driven SOX9+ ductal plate formation but does prevent the formation of the abutting second layer of SOX9+ ductal cells, blocking the formation of a patent intrahepatic biliary tree. Intriguingly, these mice survive for 8 months with severe cholestatic injury and without hepatocyte-to-biliary transdifferentiation. Ductular reaction in the perihilar region suggests extrahepatic biliary proliferation, likely seeking the missing intrahepatic biliary network. Long-term survival of these mice occurs through hepatocyte adaptation via reduced metabolic and synthetic function, including altered bile acid metabolism and transport. Overall, we show YAP1 as a key regulator of bile duct development while highlighting a profound adaptive capability of hepatocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura M Molina
- Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Junjie Zhu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Center for Pharmacogenetics, University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Qin Li
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Department of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and UPMC, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Tirthadipa Pradhan-Sundd
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and UPMC, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh and UPMC, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Yekaterina Krutsenko
- Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Khaled Sayed
- Department of Computational and Systems Biology, University of Pittsburgh, 3420 Forbes Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA; Biomedical Engineering and Systems, Faculty of Engineering, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt
| | - Nathaniel Jenkins
- Center for Biologic Imaging, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Ravi Vats
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and UPMC, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Department of Bioengineering, School of Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Bharat Bhushan
- Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh and UPMC, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Sungjin Ko
- Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh and UPMC, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Shikai Hu
- Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Minakshi Poddar
- Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Sucha Singh
- Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Junyan Tao
- Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh and UPMC, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Prithu Sundd
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and UPMC, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Aatur Singhi
- Division of Anatomic Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and UPMC, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Simon Watkins
- Center for Biologic Imaging, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Department of Cell Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Xiaochao Ma
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Center for Pharmacogenetics, University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Panayiotis V Benos
- Department of Computational and Systems Biology, University of Pittsburgh, 3420 Forbes Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Andrew Feranchak
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Department of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and UPMC, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh and UPMC, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - George Michalopoulos
- Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh and UPMC, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Kari Nejak-Bowen
- Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh and UPMC, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Alan Watson
- Center for Biologic Imaging, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Department of Cell Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Aaron Bell
- Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh and UPMC, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Satdarshan P Monga
- Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh and UPMC, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and UPMC, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
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Abstract
The liver is uniquely bestowed with an ability to regenerate following a surgical or toxicant insult. One of the most researched models to demonstrate the regenerative potential of this organ is the partial hepatectomy model, where two thirds of the liver is surgically resected. The remnant liver replenishes the lost mass within 1014 days in mice. The distinctive ability of the liver to regenerate has allowed living donor and split liver transplantation. One signaling pathway shown to be activated during the process of regeneration to contribute toward the mass and functional recovery of the liver is the Wnt/-catenin pathway. Very early after any insult to the liver, the cellmolecule circuitry of the Wnt/-catenin pathway is set into motion with the release of specific Wnt ligands from sinusoidal endothelial cells and macrophages, which, in a paracrine manner, engage Frizzled and LDL-related protein-5/6 coreceptors on hepatocytes to stabilize -catenin inducing its nuclear translocation. Nuclear -catenin interacts with T-cell factor family of transcription factors to induce target genes including cyclin D1 for proliferation, and others for regulating hepatocyte function. Working in collaboration with other signaling pathways, Wnt/-catenin signaling contributes to the restoration process without any compromise of function at any stage. Also, stimulation of this pathway through innovative means induces liver regeneration when this process is exhausted or compromised and thus has applications in the treatment of end-stage liver disease and in the field of liver transplantation. Thus, Wnt/-catenin signaling pathway is highly relevant in the discipline of hepatic regenerative medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shikai Hu
- *School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- †Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Satdarshan P. Monga
- †Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- ‡Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- §Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
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49
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Bhushan B, Molina L, Koral K, Stoops JW, Mars WM, Banerjee S, Orr A, Paranjpe S, Monga SP, Locker J, Michalopoulos GK. Yes-Associated Protein Is Crucial for Constitutive Androstane Receptor-Driven Hepatocyte Proliferation But Not for Induction of Drug Metabolism Genes in Mice. Hepatology 2021; 73:2005-2022. [PMID: 32794202 PMCID: PMC7885729 DOI: 10.1002/hep.31521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2020] [Revised: 07/14/2020] [Accepted: 07/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Constitutive androstane receptor (CAR) agonists, such as 1,4-bis [2-(3,5-dichloropyridyloxy)] benzene (TCPOBOP), are known to cause robust hepatocyte proliferation and hepatomegaly in mice along with induction of drug metabolism genes without any associated liver injury. Yes-associated protein (Yap) is a key transcription regulator that tightly controls organ size, including that of liver. Our and other previous studies suggested increased nuclear localization and activation of Yap after TCPOBOP treatment in mice and the potential role of Yap in CAR-driven proliferative response. Here, we investigated a direct role of Yap in CAR-driven hepatomegaly and hepatocyte proliferation using hepatocyte-specific Yap-knockout (KO) mice. APPROACH AND RESULTS Adeno-associated virus 8-thyroxine binding globulin promoter-Cre recombinase vector was injected to Yap-floxed mice for achieving hepatocyte-specific Yap deletion followed by TCPOBOP treatment. Yap deletion did not decrease protein expression of CAR or CAR-driven induction of drug metabolism genes (including cytochrome P450 [Cyp] 2b10, Cyp2c55, and UDP-glucuronosyltransferase 1a1 [Ugt1a1]). However, Yap deletion substantially reduced TCPOBOP-induced hepatocyte proliferation. TCPOBOP-driven cell cycle activation was disrupted in Yap-KO mice because of delayed (and decreased) induction of cyclin D1 and higher expression of p21, resulting in decreased phosphorylation of retinoblastoma protein. Furthermore, the induction of other cyclins, which are sequentially involved in progression through cell cycle (including cyclin E1, A2, and B1), and important mitotic regulators (such as Aurora B kinase and polo-like kinase 1) was remarkably reduced in Yap-KO mice. Microarray analysis revealed that 26% of TCPOBOP-responsive genes that were mainly related to proliferation, but not to drug metabolism, were altered by Yap deletion. Yap regulated these proliferation genes through alerting expression of Myc and forkhead box protein M1, two critical transcriptional regulators of CAR-mediated hepatocyte proliferation. CONCLUSIONS Our study revealed an important role of Yap signaling in CAR-driven hepatocyte proliferation; however, CAR-driven induction of drug metabolism genes was independent of Yap.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bharat Bhushan
- Department of Pathology and Pittsburgh Liver Research CenterSchool of MedicineUniversity of PittsburghPittsburghPAUSA
| | - Laura Molina
- Department of Pathology and Pittsburgh Liver Research CenterSchool of MedicineUniversity of PittsburghPittsburghPAUSA
| | - Kelly Koral
- Department of Pathology and Pittsburgh Liver Research CenterSchool of MedicineUniversity of PittsburghPittsburghPAUSA
| | - John W. Stoops
- Department of Pathology and Pittsburgh Liver Research CenterSchool of MedicineUniversity of PittsburghPittsburghPAUSA
| | - Wendy M. Mars
- Department of Pathology and Pittsburgh Liver Research CenterSchool of MedicineUniversity of PittsburghPittsburghPAUSA
| | - Swati Banerjee
- Department of Pathology and Pittsburgh Liver Research CenterSchool of MedicineUniversity of PittsburghPittsburghPAUSA
| | - Anne Orr
- Department of Pathology and Pittsburgh Liver Research CenterSchool of MedicineUniversity of PittsburghPittsburghPAUSA
| | - Shirish Paranjpe
- Department of Pathology and Pittsburgh Liver Research CenterSchool of MedicineUniversity of PittsburghPittsburghPAUSA
| | - Satdarshan P. Monga
- Department of Pathology and Pittsburgh Liver Research CenterSchool of MedicineUniversity of PittsburghPittsburghPAUSA
| | - Joseph Locker
- Department of Pathology and Pittsburgh Liver Research CenterSchool of MedicineUniversity of PittsburghPittsburghPAUSA
| | - George K. Michalopoulos
- Department of Pathology and Pittsburgh Liver Research CenterSchool of MedicineUniversity of PittsburghPittsburghPAUSA
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50
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Delgado ER, Erickson HL, Tao J, Monga SP, Duncan AW, Anakk S. Scaffolding Protein IQGAP1 Is Dispensable, but Its Overexpression Promotes Hepatocellular Carcinoma via YAP1 Signaling. Mol Cell Biol 2021; 41:e00596-20. [PMID: 33526450 PMCID: PMC8088129 DOI: 10.1128/mcb.00596-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [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: 11/17/2020] [Revised: 12/21/2020] [Accepted: 01/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
IQ motif-containing GTPase-activating protein 1 (IQGAP1) is a ubiquitously expressed scaffolding protein that is overexpressed in a number of cancers, including liver cancer, and is associated with protumorigenic processes, such as cell proliferation, motility, and adhesion. IQGAP1 can integrate multiple signaling pathways and could be an effective antitumor target. Therefore, we examined the role of IQGAP1 in tumor initiation and promotion during liver carcinogenesis. We found that ectopic overexpression of IQGAP1 in the liver is not sufficient to initiate tumorigenesis. Moreover, we report that the tumor burden and cell proliferation in the diethylnitrosamine-induced liver carcinogenesis model in Iqgap1-/- mice may be driven by MET signaling. In contrast, IQGAP1 overexpression enhanced YAP activation and subsequent NUAK2 expression to accelerate and promote hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in a clinically relevant model expressing activated (S45Y) β-catenin and MET. Here, increasing IQGAP1 expression in vivo does not alter β-catenin or MET activation; instead, it promotes YAP activity. Overall, we demonstrate that although IQGAP1 expression is not required for HCC development, the gain of IQGAP1 function promotes the rapid onset and increased liver carcinogenesis. Our results show that an adequate amount of IQGAP1 scaffold is necessary to maintain the quiescent status of the liver.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evan R Delgado
- Department of Pathology, McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Hanna L Erickson
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA
| | - Junyan Tao
- Department of Pathology, McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Satdarshan P Monga
- Department of Pathology, McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Andrew W Duncan
- Department of Pathology, McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Sayeepriyadarshini Anakk
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA
- Cancer Center at Illinois, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA
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