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Zhang C, Li Q, Xu Q, Dong W, Li C, Deng B, Gong J, Zhang LZ, Jin J. Pulmonary interleukin 1 beta/serum amyloid A3 axis promotes lung metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma by facilitating the pre-metastatic niche formation. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2023; 42:166. [PMID: 37443052 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-023-02748-4] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Increasing evidence suggests a vital role of the pre-metastatic niche in the formation of distant metastasis of many cancers. However, how the pre-metastatic niche is formed and promotes pulmonary metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains unknown. METHODS Orthotopic liver tumor models and RNA-Seq were used to identify dysregulated genes in the pre-metastatic lung. Il1b knockout (Il1b-/-) mice and lentivirus-mediated gene knockdown/overexpression were utilized to demonstrate the role of interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β)/serum amyloid A3 (SAA3) in the pre-metastatic niche formation and pulmonary metastasis. The potential molecular mechanisms were investigated by RNA-Seq, real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR), western blotting, immunohistochemistry (IHC), flow cytometry, luciferase reporter assay, double immunofluorescent staining and H&E staining. RESULTS Accumulation of myeloid cells and upregulation of IL-1β were observed in the pre-metastatic lung of orthotopic liver tumor models. Myeloid cells accumulation and pulmonary metastasis were suppressed in Il1b-/- mice and Il1r1-silencing mice. Mechanistically, SAA3 and matrix metallopeptidase 9 (MMP9) were identified as potential downstream targets of IL-1β. Overexpression of SAA3 in the lungs of Il1b-/- mice restored myeloid cells accumulation and pulmonary metastasis of the orthotopic HCC xenografts. Moreover, alveolar macrophages-derived IL-1β dramatically enhanced SAA3 expression in alveolar epithelial cells in an NF-κB dependent manner and increased MMP9 levels in an autocrine manner. Furthermore, SAA3 recruited myeloid cells to the lung without affecting the expression of MMP9 in myeloid cells. CONCLUSIONS Our study suggests a key role of pulmonary IL-1β and SAA3 in creating a permissive lung pre-metastatic niche by enhancing MMP9 expression and recruiting myeloid cells, respectively, thus promoting pulmonary metastasis of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chong Zhang
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine in Liver Injury and Repair, Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, Guilin, 541001, Guangxi, China
- Guangxi Health Commission Key Laboratory of Basic Research in Sphingolipid Metabolism Related Diseases, Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, Guilin, 541001, Guangxi, China
- Laboratory of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, Guilin, 541001, Guangxi, China
- China-USA Lipids in Health and Disease Research Center, Guilin Medical University, Guilin, 541001, Guangxi, China
| | - Qing Li
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine in Liver Injury and Repair, Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, Guilin, 541001, Guangxi, China
- Guangxi Health Commission Key Laboratory of Basic Research in Sphingolipid Metabolism Related Diseases, Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, Guilin, 541001, Guangxi, China
- Laboratory of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, Guilin, 541001, Guangxi, China
- China-USA Lipids in Health and Disease Research Center, Guilin Medical University, Guilin, 541001, Guangxi, China
| | - Qi Xu
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine in Liver Injury and Repair, Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, Guilin, 541001, Guangxi, China
| | - Wei Dong
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine in Liver Injury and Repair, Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, Guilin, 541001, Guangxi, China
| | - Chunmei Li
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine in Liver Injury and Repair, Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, Guilin, 541001, Guangxi, China
- Guangxi Health Commission Key Laboratory of Basic Research in Sphingolipid Metabolism Related Diseases, Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, Guilin, 541001, Guangxi, China
- Laboratory of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, Guilin, 541001, Guangxi, China
- China-USA Lipids in Health and Disease Research Center, Guilin Medical University, Guilin, 541001, Guangxi, China
| | - Bin Deng
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine in Liver Injury and Repair, Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, Guilin, 541001, Guangxi, China
- Guangxi Health Commission Key Laboratory of Basic Research in Sphingolipid Metabolism Related Diseases, Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, Guilin, 541001, Guangxi, China
- Laboratory of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, Guilin, 541001, Guangxi, China
- China-USA Lipids in Health and Disease Research Center, Guilin Medical University, Guilin, 541001, Guangxi, China
| | - Jiao Gong
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510630, Guangdong, China
| | - Li-Zhen Zhang
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, Guangdong, China.
| | - Junfei Jin
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine in Liver Injury and Repair, Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, Guilin, 541001, Guangxi, China.
- Guangxi Health Commission Key Laboratory of Basic Research in Sphingolipid Metabolism Related Diseases, Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, Guilin, 541001, Guangxi, China.
- Laboratory of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, Guilin, 541001, Guangxi, China.
- China-USA Lipids in Health and Disease Research Center, Guilin Medical University, Guilin, 541001, Guangxi, China.
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