1
|
Song Q, Zhang X, Liu W, Wei H, Liang W, Zhou Y, Ding Y, Ji F, Ho-Kwan Cheung A, Wong N, Yu J. Bifidobacterium pseudolongum-generated acetate suppresses non-alcoholic fatty liver disease-associated hepatocellular carcinoma. J Hepatol 2023; 79:1352-1365. [PMID: 37459922 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2023.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2022] [Revised: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Recent studies have highlighted the role of the gut microbiota and their metabolites in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease-associated hepatocellular carcinoma (NAFLD-HCC). We aimed to identify specific beneficial bacterial species that could be used prophylactically to prevent NAFLD-HCC. METHODS The role of Bifidobacterium pseudolongum was assessed in two mouse models of NAFLD-HCC: diethylnitrosamine + a high-fat/high-cholesterol diet or + a choline-deficient/high-fat diet. Germ-free mice were used for the metabolic study of B. pseudolongum. Stool, portal vein and liver tissues were collected from mice for non-targeted and targeted metabolomic profiles. Two human NAFLD-HCC cell lines (HKCI2 and HKCI10) were co-cultured with B. pseudolongum-conditioned media (B.p CM) or candidate metabolites. RESULTS B. pseudolongum was the top depleted bacterium in mice with NAFLD-HCC. Oral gavage of B. pseudolongum significantly suppressed NAFLD-HCC formation in two mouse models (p < 0.01). Incubation of NAFLD-HCC cells with B.p CM significantly suppressed cell proliferation, inhibited the G1/S phase transition and induced apoptosis. Acetate was identified as the critical metabolite generated from B. pseudolongum in B.p CM, an observation that was confirmed in germ-free mice. Acetate inhibited cell proliferation and induced cell apoptosis in NAFLD-HCC cell lines and suppressed NAFLD-HCC tumor formation in vivo. B. pseudolongum restored heathy gut microbiome composition and improved gut barrier function. Mechanistically, B. pseudolongum-generated acetate reached the liver via the portal vein and bound to GPR43 (G coupled-protein receptor 43) on hepatocytes. GPR43 activation suppressed the IL-6/JAK1/STAT3 signaling pathway, thereby preventing NAFLD-HCC progression. CONCLUSIONS B. pseudolongum protected against NAFLD-HCC by secreting the anti-tumor metabolite acetate, which reached the liver via the portal vein. B. pseudolongum holds potential as a probiotic for the prevention of NAFLD-HCC. IMPACT AND IMPLICATIONS Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease-associated hepatocellular carcinoma (NAFLD-HCC) is an increasing healthcare burden worldwide. There is an urgent need to develop effective agents to prevent NAFLD-HCC progression. Herein, we show that the probiotic Bifidobacterium pseudolongum significantly suppressed NAFLD-HCC progression by secreting acetate, which bound to hepatic GPR43 (G coupled-protein receptor 43) via the gut-liver axis and suppressed the oncogenic IL-6/JAK1/STAT3 signaling pathway. Bifidobacterium pseudolongum holds potential as a novel probiotic for NAFLD-HCC prevention.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Qian Song
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Institute of Digestive Disease, State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, CUHK-Shenzhen Research Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Xiang Zhang
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Institute of Digestive Disease, State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, CUHK-Shenzhen Research Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Weixin Liu
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Institute of Digestive Disease, State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, CUHK-Shenzhen Research Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Hong Wei
- Department of Laboratory Animal Science, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China; Institute of Precision Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Wei Liang
- Institute of Precision Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Yunfei Zhou
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Institute of Digestive Disease, State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, CUHK-Shenzhen Research Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Yanqiang Ding
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Institute of Digestive Disease, State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, CUHK-Shenzhen Research Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Fenfen Ji
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Institute of Digestive Disease, State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, CUHK-Shenzhen Research Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Alvin Ho-Kwan Cheung
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Nathalie Wong
- Department of Surgery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Jun Yu
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Institute of Digestive Disease, State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, CUHK-Shenzhen Research Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Hong Kong SAR, China.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Abstract
BACKGROUND Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a global epidemic involving 20-40% of the general population. NAFLD is rapidly becoming the leading cause of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) worldwide. Knowledge about NAFLD-HCC peculiar features is needed to understand this emerging disease better. OBJECTIVE To review the current literature about the epidemiological, pathogenic and clinical features characterising the NAFLD and distinguishing it from HCC of other etiologies. METHODS A systematic review of the literature (PubMed and Medline) using the following string ("Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease"[Mesh] and "Carcinoma, Hepatocellular"[Mesh]). Particular relevance was given to papers published in the last five years as well as previously published manuscript very relevant to this topic according to the experience of the authors. RESULTS A total of 244 original papers in humans in English literature were analysed. Inherent difficulties in the identification of high-risk subjects and the possibility of occurrence in non-cirrhotic livers are peculiar characteristics of NAFLD-HCC hampering surveillance programs. The consequently delayed diagnosis limits access to surgical procedures and impacts on survival. After correction for tumour burden, however, the survival is not different from that of viral HCC, suggesting that NAFLD-HCC is not intrinsically a more aggressive malignancy. CONCLUSION A great deal of effort is needed to improve the clinical outcome of NAFLD-HCC, especially in terms of prevention, surveillance protocols, and identification of drug modifying the natural history of the underlying liver disease. The outcome of these efforts will significantly impact global HCC-related costs and mortality.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Tovoli
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Silvia Ferri
- Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria S. Orsola-Malpighi Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Fabio Piscaglia
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Ezzaidi N, Zhang X, Coker OO, Yu J. New insights and therapeutic implication of gut microbiota in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and its associated liver cancer. Cancer Lett 2019; 459:186-191. [PMID: 31185249 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2019.114425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [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: 01/31/2019] [Revised: 05/21/2019] [Accepted: 06/04/2019] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
Abstract
The gastrointestinal tract represents one of the largest interfaces between the host and environmental factors. It contains a vast and complex community of microbes, forming what is collectively known as the microbiota. This gut microbiota plays a pivotal role in the maintenance of health, and 'dysbiosis' of the gut microbiota, commonly considered as perturbation of microbiota diversity and composition, has been associated with intestinal and extra-intestinal diseases, including non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and its associated hepatocellular carcinoma (NAFLD-HCC). In this review, we highlight microbiota dysbiosis and the microbiota-host interactions that link to the pathogenesis of NAFLD and NAFLD-HCC. We discuss the potential therapeutic implications of the gut microbiota in the progression of NAFLD-HCC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Niama Ezzaidi
- Institute of Digestive Disease and the Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; MChem Chemistry and Drug Discovery, University of Sussex, UK
| | - Xiang Zhang
- Institute of Digestive Disease and the Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Olabisi Oluwabukola Coker
- Institute of Digestive Disease and the Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Jun Yu
- Institute of Digestive Disease and the Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Xu W, Zhang X, Wu JL, Fu L, Liu K, Liu D, Chen GG, Lai PBS, Wong N, Yu J. O-GlcNAc transferase promotes fatty liver-associated liver cancer through inducing palmitic acid and activating endoplasmic reticulum stress. J Hepatol 2017; 67:310-320. [PMID: 28347804 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2017.03.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.6] [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: 09/19/2016] [Revised: 02/18/2017] [Accepted: 03/15/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT) is a unique glycosyltransferase involved in metabolic reprogramming. We investigated the functional role of OGT in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease-associated hepatocellular carcinoma (NAFLD-HCC). METHODS The biological function of OGT in NAFLD-HCC was determined by gain- or loss- of OGT functional assays in vitro and in nude mice. OGT target factors and pathways were identified by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS), promoter luciferase assay, DNA binding activity assay and Western blot. RESULTS OGT was upregulated in 12 out of 18 (66.7%) NAFLD-HCC tumor tissues by transcriptome sequencing, which was confirmed in additional NAFLD-HCC tumor tissues and cell lines. Biofunctional investigation demonstrated that OGT significantly increased cell growth (p<0.001), clonogenicity (p<0.01), migration and invasion (p<0.05) ability in vitro, and promoted xenograft tumor growth as well as lung metastasis in nude mice. The oncogenic effect of OGT was investigated, we found that OGT significantly induced palmitic acid production identified by LC-MS, which enhanced the protein expression of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress masters of glucose-regulated protein 78 and inositol-requiring enzyme 1α. Consequently, OGT significantly activated JNK/c-jun/AP-1 cascade by increasing protein expression of p-JNK, p-c-Jun and activation of AP-1; and induced NF-κB pathway through enhancing the protein levels of p-IKKα/ p-IKKβ, p-p65, p-p50 and the NF-κB DNA binding activity. Notably, OGT inhibition by its antagonist (ST045849) suppressed cell proliferation in vitro (p<0.001) and in xenograft mice models (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS OGT plays an oncogenic role in NAFLD-associated HCC through regulating palmitic acid and inducing ER stress, consequently activating oncogenic JNK/c-jun/AP-1 and NF-κB cascades. LAY SUMMARY OGT, a unique glycosyltransferase enzyme, was identified to be upregulated in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease-associated hepatocellular carcinoma tissues by transcriptome sequencing. Here, we found that OGT plays a role in cancer by promoting tumor growth and metastasis in both cell models and animal models. This effect is mediated by the induction of palmitic acid.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Weiqi Xu
- Institute of Digestive Disease and Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, CUHK Shenzhen Research Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Xiang Zhang
- Institute of Digestive Disease and Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, CUHK Shenzhen Research Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Jian-Lin Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macau, China
| | - Li Fu
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine of Tumor and Cancer Research Centre, School of Medicine, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Ken Liu
- Faculty of Medicine, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Dabin Liu
- Institute of Digestive Disease and Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, CUHK Shenzhen Research Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - George Gong Chen
- Department of Surgery, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Paul Bo-San Lai
- Department of Surgery, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Nathalie Wong
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Jun Yu
- Institute of Digestive Disease and Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, CUHK Shenzhen Research Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
| |
Collapse
|