Traditional Chinese medicine Kuan-Sin-Yin decoction inhibits cell mobility via downregulation of CCL2, CEACAM1 and PIK3R3 in hepatocellular carcinoma cells

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Kuan-Sin-Yin (KSY) is a traditional Chinese medical decoction, designed based on the classic Si-Jun-Zi-Tang decoction and used clinically to improve the synergic effects of energy promotion, liver function and cancer related symptom and quality of life. However, the anti-hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) function of KSY is unclear.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study aimed to investigate the anti-mobility activity of KSY on HCC cells and elucidate its molecular mechanism.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Two malignancy hepatocellular carcinoma cells, Mahlavu and SK-Hep-1, were used for the test of cell proliferation via alarm blue assay. The wound healing and Transwell assays were used to determine the anti-mobility activity of KSY in HCC cells. Cell morphology was analyzed via confocal microscopy. The genomic profile of KSY-treated HCC cells was analyzed by microarray. The potential signaling pathways and bio-functions of KSY-mediated genes were analyzed by ingenuity pathway analysis (IPA). Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was used to detect the messenger RNA (mRNA) level of indicated gene.

RESULTS

KSY did not affect cell viability of HCC cells but significantly inhibited cell migration and invasion in those HCC Mahlavu and SK-Hep-1 cells. In parallel, KSY induced changes in morphology of HCC cells via re-modulating actin cytoskeleton. KSY upregulated 1270 genes but reduced 1534 genes in Mahlavu cells. KSY regulated various gene networks which controlled cell migration, invasion and movement. Specifically, KSY reduced expression of chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 2 (CCL2), which is correlated to cell mobility, and concomitantly downregulated mRNA levels of phosphoinositide-3-kinase regulatory subunit 3 (PIK3R3) and CEA cell adhesion molecule 1 (CEACAM1).

CONCLUSION

These findings indicated that regulation of CCL2-mediated PIK3R3 and CEACAM1 may be involved in KSY inhibited cell mobility. Moreover, KSY may be a potential a Chinese decoction for reducing cell mobility.

Chemokine (C-C motif) Ligand 2 Is Regulated Through the EGFR/Src Pathway in HER2-positive Breast Cancer Cells

BACKGROUND/AIM

Chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 2 (CCL2) influences growth and metastasis and is associated with poor prognosis in various cancers. However, the regulatory mechanism of CCL2 induction by human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) is not fully understood in breast cancer. Thus, we investigated how CCL2 expression is regulated in HER2-positive (HER2+) breast cancer.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A human cytokine array was performed to investigate the differential expression of cytokines by HER2 overexpression. Quantitative reverse transcription PCR, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and western blot were performed to detect the levels of mRNA and protein expression. Cell cycle and proliferation were analyzed by flow cytometry. Cell invasion was analyzed by Boyden chamber assay.

RESULTS

Our results showed that HER2 overexpression augmented CCL2 expression. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and Src activities were increased in the HER2-overexpressed breast cancer cells. Interestingly, HER2-induced CCL2 expression could not be down-regulated by trastuzumab, while neratinib or saracatinib led to a decrease in the expression of CCL2 in HER2+ breast cancer cells.

CONCLUSION

CCL2 expression is regulated through the EGFR/Src-dependent signaling in HER2+ breast cancer.

Association of CCL2 Gene Variants with Osteoarthritis

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

The chemokine (C-C motif) Ligand 2 (CCL2)/CCR2 signaling was associated with macrophage accumulation, synovitis and cartilage damage in a mouse osteoarthritis (OA) model.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Here a case-control study in a Chinese Han population was conducted to investigate the possible association between the CCL2 gene polymorphism and risk of OA. DNA was extracted from 367 primary knee OA patients and 303 healthy controls. Then CCL2 gene polymorphisms were determined using a standard polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism. Plasma CCL2 levels were measured by using sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

RESULTS

It was found the CCL2 gene rs1024611 and rs4586 polymorphisms significantly increased the risk of OA. Stratified analyses showed the risk of OA might be increased by rs1024611 polymorphism in males and non-drinkers, and was increased by rs4586 polymorphism among smokers and drinkers. The CC genotype of rs4586 polymorphism was significantly correlated with the increased CCL2 level compared to TT genotype.

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, CCL2 gene polymorphisms (rs1024611 and rs4586) confer susceptibility to OA and may be potential markers for early diagnosis of OA.

Chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 2 gene ablation protects low-density lipoprotein and paraoxonase-1 double deficient mice from liver injury, oxidative stress and inflammation

The risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease increases with obesity. Vulnerability to oxidative stress and/or inflammation represents a crucial step in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease progression through abnormal metabolic responses. In this study, we investigated the role of CCL2 gene ablation in mice that were double deficient in low density lipoprotein receptor and in paraoxonase-1. Mass spectrometry methods were used to assess the liver metabolic response in mice fed either regular chow or a high-fat diet. Dietary fat caused liver steatosis, oxidative stress and the accumulation of pro-inflammatory macrophages in the livers of double deficient mice. We observed alterations in energy metabolism-related pathways and in metabolites associated with the methionine cycle and the glutathione reduction pathway. This metabolic response was associated with impaired autophagy. Conversely, when we established CCL2 deficiency, histologic features of fatty liver disease were abrogated, hepatic liver oxidative stress decreased, and anti-inflammatory macrophage marker expression levels increased. These changes were associated with the normalization of metabolic disturbances and increased lysosome-associated membrane protein 2, expression, which suggests enhanced chaperone-mediated autophagy. This study demonstrates that CCL2 is a key molecule for the development of metabolic and histological alterations in the liver of mice sensitive to the development of hyperlipidemia and hepatic steatosis, a finding with potential to identify new therapeutic targets in liver diseases.

Human telomerase reverse transcriptase recruits the β-catenin/TCF-4 complex to transactivate chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 2 expression in colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Various molecular mechanisms are involved in the pathogenesis of colorectal cancer (CRC), one of the leading fatal diseases. Although human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) is critical in promoting CRC development, its regulatory mechanism is still elusive. Chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 2 (CCL2) is important to CRC pathogenesis, but the upstream regulation of CCL2 requires further investigation. Therefore, we aim to investigate the crosstalk mechanism between hTERT and CCL2 and its involvement in the pathogenesis of CRC.

METHODS

The expression relationship between hTERT and CCL2 was verified in CRC and adjacent tissues by immunohistochemistry. Lentiviruses or plasmids were used to regulate hTERT and CCL2 expression. The roles of hTERT and CCL2 in cell growth and migration were studied using CCK8 and transwell assays. The interaction between hTERT and CCL2 was detected by a luciferase reporter assay, immunofluorescence and ChIP assays. The β-catenin/TCF-4 complex was confirmed by COIP.

RESULTS

Both hTERT and CCL2 expression levels were markedly increased in CRC tissues compared to the adjacent stroma. Moreover, myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) were found in tumor areas with higher expression levels of hTERT and CCL2. hTERT promoted HCT116 cell migration and invasion by increasing CCL2 expression. Mechanistically, ectopic hTERT facilitated the nuclear translocation of canonical β-catenin and the formation of a complex with downstream effector TCF-4, which eventually activated the CCL2 promoter.

CONCLUSIONS

hTERT may promote CRC by recruiting β-catenin/TCF-4 complex to transactivate CCL2 expression, which is a novel crosstalk mechanism likely involved in the pathogenesis of CRC.

CCL2-driven inflammation increases mammary gland stromal density and cancer susceptibility in a transgenic mouse model

Background

Macrophages play diverse roles in mammary gland development and breast cancer. CC-chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2) is an inflammatory cytokine that recruits macrophages to sites of injury. Although CCL2 has been detected in human and mouse mammary epithelium, its role in regulating mammary gland development and cancer risk has not been explored.

Methods

Transgenic mice were generated wherein CCL2 is driven by the mammary epithelial cell-specific mouse mammary tumour virus 206 (MMTV) promoter. Estrous cycles were tracked in adult transgenic and non-transgenic FVB mice, and mammary glands collected at the four different stages of the cycle. Dissected mammary glands were assessed for cyclical morphological changes, proliferation and apoptosis of epithelium, macrophage abundance and collagen deposition, and mRNA encoding matrix remodelling enzymes. Another cohort of control and transgenic mice received carcinogen 7,12-Dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA) and tumour development was monitored weekly. CCL2 protein was also quantified in paired samples of human breast tissue with high and low mammographic density.

Results

Overexpression of CCL2 in the mammary epithelium resulted in an increased number of macrophages, increased density of stroma and collagen and elevated mRNA encoding matrix remodelling enzymes lysyl oxidase (LOX) and tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinases (TIMP)3 compared to non-transgenic controls. Transgenic mice also exhibited increased susceptibility to development of DMBA-induced mammary tumours. In a paired sample cohort of human breast tissue, abundance of epithelial-cell-associated CCL2 was higher in breast tissue of high mammographic density compared to tissue of low mammographic density.

Conclusions

Constitutive expression of CCL2 by the mouse mammary epithelium induces a state of low level chronic inflammation that increases stromal density and elevates cancer risk. We propose that CCL2-driven inflammation contributes to the increased risk of breast cancer observed in women with high mammographic density.

MiR-124 down-regulation is critical for cancer associated fibroblasts-enhanced tumor growth of oral carcinoma

Cancer associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are known to be involved in initiation, progression and metastasis of various cancers. However, the molecular mechanism of how CAFs affects the biological function of oral cancer (OC) has not been fully-addressed. In this study, we demonstrated that miR-124 was downregulated in oral CAFs and oral cancer cells (OCCs) when compared with matched normal fibroblasts (NFs). Hypermethylation in the promoter region of miR-124 genes was accounted for its downregulation. Interestingly, CAFs but not NFs exerted promotion effect on OCCs cell proliferation, migration and tumor growth in CAFs/NFs-OCCs co-culture. Furthermore, we identified Chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 2 (CCL2) and Interleukin 8 (IL-8) as two direct targets of miR-124. Over-expression of miR-124 in CAFs-OCCs co-culture abrogated CAFs-promoted OCCs cell growth and migration, and this inhibitory effect can be rescued by addition of CCL2 and IL-8. Finally, we showed that restoration of miR-124 expression by lentiviral infection or formulated miR-124 injection inhibited oral tumor growth in vivo suggesting miR-124 rescue could be a potential rationale for therapeutic applications in oral cancer in the future.

Biochemical indices of oxidative stress and inflammation in the evaluation of peripheral artery disease

BACKGROUND

The aims of this study were: (1) to investigate changes in indices of oxidative stress and inflammation in the evaluation of peripheral artery disease (PAD); (2) to compare the diagnostic efficacy of these parameters with that of classical clinical laboratory routine parameters.

DESIGN AND METHODS

We studied 115 patients with PAD and 300 healthy volunteers.

RESULTS

PAD patients had significantly increased circulating concentrations of F2-isoprostanes, protein carbonyls, chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 2 (CCL2), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), β-2-microglobulin (B2M), and decreased paraoxonase-1 (PON1) levels. When patients were classified according to the Fontaine score, we observed important increases in plasma F2-isoprostanes and CCL2 that appeared in milder stages of the disease, and remained so at similar levels in more advanced stages; almost no overlapping with the control group was noted. Receiver operating characteristics analysis comparing patients and controls revealed that the areas under the curve for F2-isoprostanes and CCL2 approached unity [0.999 (0.998-1.000) and 0.993 (0.985-1.000)], respectively, and significantly higher to those of the other measured parameters.

CONCLUSION

Our data suggest that F2-isoprostanes and CCL2 measurements may be useful tools for the diagnosis of PAD.

Induction of chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 2 by sphingosine-1-phosphate signaling in neuroblastoma

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE

Neuroblastoma (NB) is the most common extracranial solid tumor of childhood. Preliminary data derived from a human angiogenesis array in NB showed that the bioactive lipid sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) induced the secretion of several angiogenesis-related proteins including the important inflammatory factor chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 2 (CCL2). In the present study, we investigated the mechanism of S1P-induced CCL2 expression in NB.

METHODS

Quantitative real-time PCR and CCL2 ELISA were conducted to detect the mRNA expression and protein secretion of CCL2 in NB cells. Gain and loss of function studies were performed by using specific S1PR antagonists, adenoviral transduction and siRNA transfection. Macrophage F4/80 receptor in NB xenografts was detected by quantitative real-time PCR and immunohistochemistry staining.

RESULTS

S1P induced CCL2 mRNA expression and protein secretion in a time- and concentration-dependent manner in NB cells. Blockade of S1P2 signaling using the selective S1P2 antagonist JTE-013 inhibited S1P-induced CCL2 expression. Overexpression of S1P2 by adenoviral transduction increased CCL2 secretion while knockdown of S1P2 by siRNA transfection decreased S1P-induced CCL2 secretion in NB cells. Macrophage infiltration, as detected by F4/80 staining, was significantly decreased in JTE-013-treated NB xenografts.

CONCLUSIONS

Taken together, our data for the first time demonstrate that S1P induced the macrophage-recruiting factor CCL2 expression in NB cells via S1P2, providing new insights into the complicated functions of S1P2 in cancer.

Transforming growth factor-β and toll-like receptor-4 polymorphisms are not associated with fibrosis in haemochromatosis

AIM: To investigate the role of genetic polymorphisms in the progression of hepatic fibrosis in hereditary haemochromatosis.

METHODS: A cohort of 245 well-characterised C282Y homozygous patients with haemochromatosis was studied, with all subjects having liver biopsy data and DNA available for testing. This study assessed the association of eight single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in a total of six genes including toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β), oxoguanine DNA glycosylase, monocyte chemoattractant protein 1, chemokine C-C motif receptor 2 and interleukin-10 with liver disease severity. Genotyping was performed using high resolution melt analysis and sequencing. The results were analysed in relation to the stage of hepatic fibrosis in multivariate analysis incorporating other cofactors including alcohol consumption and hepatic iron concentration.

RESULTS: There were significant associations between the cofactors of male gender (P = 0.0001), increasing age (P = 0.006), alcohol consumption (P = 0.0001), steatosis (P = 0.03), hepatic iron concentration (P < 0.0001) and the presence of hepatic fibrosis. Of the candidate gene polymorphisms studied, none showed a significant association with hepatic fibrosis in univariate or multivariate analysis incorporating cofactors. We also specifically studied patients with hepatic iron loading above threshold levels for cirrhosis and compared the genetic polymorphisms between those with no fibrosis vs cirrhosis however there was no significant effect from any of the candidate genes studied. Importantly, in this large, well characterised cohort of patients there was no association between SNPs for TGF-β or TLR4 and the presence of fibrosis, cirrhosis or increasing fibrosis stage in multivariate analysis.

CONCLUSION: In our large, well characterised group of haemochromatosis subjects we did not demonstrate any relationship between candidate gene polymorphisms and hepatic fibrosis or cirrhosis.