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Xu ZH, Dang Y, Dong Y, Dong CY, Liu Y, Chen X, Yao Z, Shi JP. Anti-hepatocellular carcinoma activity of Sorbaria sorbifolia by regulating VEGFR and c-Met/apoptotic pathway. J Ethnopharmacol 2024; 324:117758. [PMID: 38246481 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2024.117758] [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] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2023] [Revised: 12/02/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Sorbaria sorbifolia (SS) is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) that has been employed anti-hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) for over 2000 years; yet, its underlying mechanism is still not fully understood. AIM OF THE STUDY In this study, we evaluated the anti-HCC effect on the freeze-dried powder of the water extract of SS (FDSS) by inhibiting tumor-induced neovascularization, and promoting apoptosis, and elucidated the underlying mechanisms. MATERIALS AND METHODS HCC cell lines (HepG2 and Huh7 cells) and HepG2 xenograft tumors in zebrafish were employed as in vivo and in vitro models, respectively, to evaluate the anti- HCC-indued neovascularization and apoptosis. In HCC cell lines, CCK-8 assay, wound-healing assay, transwell assay, cell circle assay, apoptosis assay, transmission electron microscopy, and co-culture assay were performed in vitro; in HepG2 xenograft tumor-zebrafish, tumor growth inhibition assay, hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining, xenograft tumor-zebrafish apoptosis assay, and HCC-indued neovascularization assay were performed to evaluate the effect of FDSS on biological behavior of tumor, HCC-indued neovascularization, and apoptosis. The expression of VEGFR and c-Met/apoptotic pathway-related proteins was detected by western blotting analysis. Assays for c-Met and VEGFR activation were conducted to assess the impact of FDSS in either agonistic or inhibitory roles on these receptor proteins. RESULTS The findings from our study revealed that FDSS effectively suppresses the proliferation, migration, and invasion of HepG2 and Huh7 cells, as well as inhibiting tumor growth in the HepG2 xenograft zebrafish model by downregulating the expression of p-Met and p-AKT proteins. FDSS decreased the tumor growth associated with promoting apoptosis, including arresting HepG2 and Huh7 cells cycle at G0/G1phase, increasing apoptotic cell numbers and apoptotic bodies in cancer cells, and increasing the apoptotic fluorescence of xenograft tumor zebrafish by downregulating Bcl-2 proteins and upregulating Bax, caspase-9, and caspase-3 levels. We also found that FDSS can inhibit HCC-induced neovascularization and regulate VEGFR. Using an agonist or inhibitor of c-Met and VEGFR in HepG2 cells, we discovered that FDSS can downregulate c-Met and VEGFR protein expression. CONCLUSION FDSS exerts an anti-HCC effect by inhibiting HCC-indued neovascularization and pro-apoptosis through the inhibition of the action of VEGFR and c-Met/apoptotic pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhao-Hua Xu
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Inner Mongolia Medical College, Hohhot, China.
| | - Ying Dang
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Inner Mongolia Medical College, Hohhot, China.
| | - Yu Dong
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Inner Mongolia Medical College, Hohhot, China.
| | - Chong-Yang Dong
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Inner Mongolia Medical College, Hohhot, China.
| | - Yu Liu
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Inner Mongolia Medical College, Hohhot, China.
| | - Xu Chen
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Inner Mongolia Medical College, Hohhot, China.
| | - Zhi Yao
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Inner Mongolia Medical College, Hohhot, China.
| | - Jian-Ping Shi
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Inner Mongolia Medical College, Hohhot, China.
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Chen T, Ruan Y, Ji L, Cai J, Tong M, Xue Y, Zhao H, Cai X, Xu J. S100A6 drives lymphatic metastasis of liver cancer via activation of the RAGE/NF-kB/VEGF-D pathway. Cancer Lett 2024; 587:216709. [PMID: 38350547 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2024.216709] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2023] [Revised: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/15/2024]
Abstract
Patients diagnosed with lymph node (LN) metastatic liver cancer face an exceedingly grim prognosis. In-depth analysis of LN metastatic patients' characteristics and tumor cells' interactions with human lymphatic endothelial cells (HLECs), can provide important biological and therapeutic insights. Here we identify at the single-cell level that S100A6 expression differs between primary tumor and their LN metastasis. Of particular significance, we uncovered the disparity in S100A6 expression between tumors and normal tissues is greater in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) patients, frequently accompanied by LN metastases, than that in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), with rare occurrence of LN metastasis. Furthermore, in the infrequent instances of LN metastasis in HCC, heightened S100A6 expression was observed, suggesting a critical role of S100A6 in the process of LN metastasis. Subsequent experiments further uncovered that S100A6 secreted from tumor cells promotes lymphangiogenesis by upregulating the expression and secretion of vascular endothelial growth factor-D (VEGF-D) in HLECs through the RAGE/NF-kB/VEGF-D pathway while overexpression of S100A6 in tumor cells also augmented their migration and invasion. Taken together, these data reveal the dual effects of S100A6 in promoting LN metastasis in liver cancer, thus highlighting its potential as a promising therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- TianYi Chen
- Key Laboratory of Laparoscopic Technology of Zhejiang Province, Department of General Surgery, Sir Run-Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China; Zhejiang Minimal Invasive Diagnosis and Treatment Technology Research Center of Severe Hepatobiliary Disease, Zhejiang Research and Development Engineering Laboratory of Minimally Invasive Technology and Equipment, Hangzhou, China
| | - YeLing Ruan
- Key Laboratory of Laparoscopic Technology of Zhejiang Province, Department of General Surgery, Sir Run-Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China; Zhejiang Minimal Invasive Diagnosis and Treatment Technology Research Center of Severe Hepatobiliary Disease, Zhejiang Research and Development Engineering Laboratory of Minimally Invasive Technology and Equipment, Hangzhou, China
| | - Lin Ji
- Key Laboratory of Laparoscopic Technology of Zhejiang Province, Department of General Surgery, Sir Run-Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China; Zhejiang Minimal Invasive Diagnosis and Treatment Technology Research Center of Severe Hepatobiliary Disease, Zhejiang Research and Development Engineering Laboratory of Minimally Invasive Technology and Equipment, Hangzhou, China
| | - JingWei Cai
- Key Laboratory of Laparoscopic Technology of Zhejiang Province, Department of General Surgery, Sir Run-Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China; Zhejiang Minimal Invasive Diagnosis and Treatment Technology Research Center of Severe Hepatobiliary Disease, Zhejiang Research and Development Engineering Laboratory of Minimally Invasive Technology and Equipment, Hangzhou, China
| | - Meng Tong
- Key Laboratory of Laparoscopic Technology of Zhejiang Province, Department of General Surgery, Sir Run-Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China; Zhejiang Minimal Invasive Diagnosis and Treatment Technology Research Center of Severe Hepatobiliary Disease, Zhejiang Research and Development Engineering Laboratory of Minimally Invasive Technology and Equipment, Hangzhou, China
| | - YangTao Xue
- Key Laboratory of Laparoscopic Technology of Zhejiang Province, Department of General Surgery, Sir Run-Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China; Zhejiang Minimal Invasive Diagnosis and Treatment Technology Research Center of Severe Hepatobiliary Disease, Zhejiang Research and Development Engineering Laboratory of Minimally Invasive Technology and Equipment, Hangzhou, China
| | - Hu Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Laparoscopic Technology of Zhejiang Province, Department of General Surgery, Sir Run-Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China; Zhejiang Minimal Invasive Diagnosis and Treatment Technology Research Center of Severe Hepatobiliary Disease, Zhejiang Research and Development Engineering Laboratory of Minimally Invasive Technology and Equipment, Hangzhou, China
| | - XiuJun Cai
- Key Laboratory of Laparoscopic Technology of Zhejiang Province, Department of General Surgery, Sir Run-Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China; Zhejiang Minimal Invasive Diagnosis and Treatment Technology Research Center of Severe Hepatobiliary Disease, Zhejiang Research and Development Engineering Laboratory of Minimally Invasive Technology and Equipment, Hangzhou, China; Zhejiang University Cancer Center, Hangzhou, China; Liangzhu Laboratory, Zhejiang University Medical Center, Hangzhou, China.
| | - JunJie Xu
- Key Laboratory of Laparoscopic Technology of Zhejiang Province, Department of General Surgery, Sir Run-Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China; Zhejiang Minimal Invasive Diagnosis and Treatment Technology Research Center of Severe Hepatobiliary Disease, Zhejiang Research and Development Engineering Laboratory of Minimally Invasive Technology and Equipment, Hangzhou, China; Zhejiang University Cancer Center, Hangzhou, China; Liangzhu Laboratory, Zhejiang University Medical Center, Hangzhou, China.
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Li X, Su H, Tang W, Shu S, Zhao L, Sun J, Fan H. Targeting LEF1-mediated epithelial-mesenchymal transition reverses lenvatinib resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma. Invest New Drugs 2024; 42:185-195. [PMID: 38372948 DOI: 10.1007/s10637-024-01426-2] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024]
Abstract
Acquired resistance is a significant hindrance to clinical application of lenvatinib in unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Further in-depth investigation of resistance mechanisms can help to develop additional therapeutic strategies to overcome or delay resistance. In our study, two lenvatinib-resistant (LR) HCC cell lines were established by treatment with gradient increasing concentration of lenvatinib, named Hep3B-LR and HepG2-LR. Interestingly, continuous lenvatinib treatment reinforced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), cell migration, and cell invasion. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) enrichment analysis of RNA-sequencing from Hep3B-LR and corresponding parental cells revealed that activation of Wnt signaling pathway was involved in this adaptive process. Active β-catenin and its downstream target lymphoid enhancer binding factor 1 (LEF1) were significantly elevated in LR HCC cells, which promoted lenvatinib resistance through mediating EMT-related genes. Data analysis based on Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and the Cancer Genome Atlas Program (TCGA) databases suggests that LEF1, as a key regulator of EMT, was a novel molecular target linked to lenvatinib resistance and poor prognosis in HCC. Using a small-molecule specific inhibitor ICG001 and knocking down LEF1 showed that targeting LEF1 restored the sensitivity of LR HCC cells to lenvatinib. Our results uncover upregulation of LEF1 confers lenvatinib resistance by facilitating EMT, cell migration, and invasion of LR HCC cells, indicating that LEF1 is a novel therapeutic target for overcoming acquired lenvatinib resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinxiu Li
- Department of Medical Genetics and Developmental Biology, School of Medicine, The Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Diseases, Ministry of Education, Southeast University, 87 Dingjiaqiao Road, Nanjing, 210009, Jiangsu, China
| | - Hongmeng Su
- Department of Medical Genetics and Developmental Biology, School of Medicine, The Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Diseases, Ministry of Education, Southeast University, 87 Dingjiaqiao Road, Nanjing, 210009, Jiangsu, China
| | - Wenqing Tang
- School of Life Science and Technology, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Shihui Shu
- School of Life Science and Technology, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Luyu Zhao
- Department of Medical Genetics and Developmental Biology, School of Medicine, The Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Diseases, Ministry of Education, Southeast University, 87 Dingjiaqiao Road, Nanjing, 210009, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jinghan Sun
- School of Life Science and Technology, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Hong Fan
- Department of Medical Genetics and Developmental Biology, School of Medicine, The Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Diseases, Ministry of Education, Southeast University, 87 Dingjiaqiao Road, Nanjing, 210009, Jiangsu, China.
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Li QZ, Chen YY, Liu QP, Feng ZH, Zhang L, Zhang H. Cucurbitacin B suppresses hepatocellular carcinoma progression through inducing DNA damage-dependent cell cycle arrest. Phytomedicine 2024; 126:155177. [PMID: 38412667 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2023.155177] [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] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2023] [Revised: 10/15/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/29/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The mortality rate of liver cancer ranks third in the world, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a malignant tumor of the digestive tract. Cucurbitacin B (CuB), a natural compound extracted from Cucurbitaceae spp., is the main active component of Chinese patent medicine the Cucurbitacin Tablet, which has been widely used in the treatment of various malignant tumors in clinics, especially HCC. PURPOSE This study explored the role and mechanism of CuB in the suppression of liver cancer progression. METHODS Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) and colony formation assays were used to detect the inhibitory function of CuB in Huh7, Hep3B, and Hepa1/6 hepatoma cells. Calcein-AM/propidium iodide (PI) staining and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) measurement assays were performed to determine cell death. Mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψm) was measured, and flow cytometry was performed to evaluate cell apoptosis and cell cycle. Several techniques, such as proteomics, Western blotting (WB), and ribonucleic acid (RNA) interference, were utilized to explore the potential mechanism. The animal experiment was performed to verify the results of in vitro experiments. RESULTS CuB significantly inhibited the growth of Huh7, Hep3B, and Hepa1/6 cells and triggered the cell cycle arrest in G2/M phage without leading to cell death, especially apoptosis. Knockdown of insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA-binding protein 1 (IGF2BP1), a target of CuB, did not reverse CuB elicited cell cycle arrest. CuB enhanced phosphorylated ataxia telangiectasia mutated (p-ATM) and phosphorylated H2A histone family member X (γ-H2AX) levels. Moreover, CuB increased p53 and p21 levels and decreased cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (CDK1) expression, accompanied by improving phosphorylated checkpoint kinase 1 (p-CHK1) level and suppressing cell division cycle 25C (CDC25C) protein level. Interestingly, these phenomena were partly abolished by a deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) protector methylproamine (MPA). Animal studies showed that CuB also significantly suppressed tumor growth in BALB/c mice bearing Hepa1/6 cells. In tumor tissues, CuB reduced the expression levels of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and γ-H2AX but did not change the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase deoxyuridine triphosphate (dUTP) nick-end labeling (TUNEL) level. CONCLUSION This study demonstrated for the first time that CuB could effectively impede HCC progression by inducing DNA damage-dependent cell cycle arrest without directly triggering cell death, such as necrosis and apoptosis. The effect was achieved through ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM)-dependent p53-p21-CDK1 and checkpoint kinase 1 (CHK1)-CDC25C signaling pathways. These findings indicate that CuB may be used as an anti-HCC drug, when the current findings are confirmed by independent studies and after many more clinical phase 1, 2, 3, and 4 testings have been done.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi-Zhang Li
- Innovative Drug R&D Center, College of Life Sciences, Huaibei Normal University, Huaibei, Anhui 235000, China
| | - Yu-Ying Chen
- Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Qiu-Ping Liu
- Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Zhi-Hui Feng
- Innovative Drug R&D Center, College of Life Sciences, Huaibei Normal University, Huaibei, Anhui 235000, China
| | - Lei Zhang
- Innovative Drug R&D Center, College of Life Sciences, Huaibei Normal University, Huaibei, Anhui 235000, China; Department of Pharmaceutical Botany, School of Pharmacy, Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China.
| | - Hong Zhang
- Innovative Drug R&D Center, College of Life Sciences, Huaibei Normal University, Huaibei, Anhui 235000, China.
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Zhou X, Wu D, Mi T, Li R, Guo T, Li W. Icaritin activates p53 and inhibits aerobic glycolysis in liver cancer cells. Chem Biol Interact 2024; 392:110926. [PMID: 38431053 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbi.2024.110926] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Revised: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024]
Abstract
Metabolic reprogramming enables cancer cells to generate energy mainly through aerobic glycolysis, which is achieved by increasing the expression levels of glycolysis-related enzymes. Therefore, the development of drugs targeting aerobic glycolysis could be an effective strategy for cancer treatment. Icaritin (ICT) is an active ingredient from the Chinese herbal plant Epimedium with several biological activities, but its anti-cancer mechanism remains inconclusive. Using normal hepatocytes and hepatoma cells, our results showed that ICT suppressed cell proliferation and clonal formation and decreased glucose consumption and lactate production in liver cancer cells. In consistent, the mRNA and protein levels of several aerobic glycolysis-related genes were decreased upon ICT treatment. Furthermore, our results demonstrated that the expression levels of the aerobic glycolysis-related proteins were correlated with the p53 status in hepatoma cells. Using PFT-α or siRNA-p53, our results confirmed that ICT regulated aerobic glycolysis in a p53-dependent manner. In addition, ICT was found to stabilize p53 at the post-translational level which might be mediated by inhibiting MDM2 expression and affecting its interaction with p53. Finally, our results demonstrated that ICT increased the levels of ROS that activated p53 via the p38 MAPK pathway. In conclusion, ICT increased intracellular ROS levels in liver cancer cells, which promoted the stabilization and activation of p53, inhibiting the expression of aerobic glycolysis-related genes and glycolysis, and ultimately leading to the suppression of liver cancer development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangyang Zhou
- College of Basic Medicine, Hebei University, Baoding, Hebei, 071000, China; Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis Mechanism and Control of Inflammatory-autoimmune Diseases in Hebei Province, Hebei University, Baoding, Hebei, 071000, China; State Key Laboratory of New Pharmaceutical Preparations and Excipients, Baoding, Hebei, 071000, China
| | - Di Wu
- College of Basic Medicine, Hebei University, Baoding, Hebei, 071000, China; Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis Mechanism and Control of Inflammatory-autoimmune Diseases in Hebei Province, Hebei University, Baoding, Hebei, 071000, China; State Key Laboratory of New Pharmaceutical Preparations and Excipients, Baoding, Hebei, 071000, China
| | - Tian Mi
- College of Basic Medicine, Hebei University, Baoding, Hebei, 071000, China; Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis Mechanism and Control of Inflammatory-autoimmune Diseases in Hebei Province, Hebei University, Baoding, Hebei, 071000, China; State Key Laboratory of New Pharmaceutical Preparations and Excipients, Baoding, Hebei, 071000, China
| | - Ruohan Li
- College of Basic Medicine, Hebei University, Baoding, Hebei, 071000, China
| | - Tao Guo
- College of Basic Medicine, Hebei University, Baoding, Hebei, 071000, China; Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis Mechanism and Control of Inflammatory-autoimmune Diseases in Hebei Province, Hebei University, Baoding, Hebei, 071000, China; State Key Laboratory of New Pharmaceutical Preparations and Excipients, Baoding, Hebei, 071000, China.
| | - Wenjuan Li
- College of Basic Medicine, Hebei University, Baoding, Hebei, 071000, China; Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis Mechanism and Control of Inflammatory-autoimmune Diseases in Hebei Province, Hebei University, Baoding, Hebei, 071000, China; State Key Laboratory of New Pharmaceutical Preparations and Excipients, Baoding, Hebei, 071000, China.
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Zhang X, Lu X, Shi J, Li Y, Li Y, Tao R, Huang L, Tang Y, Zhu X, Li M, Gao Y, Feng H, Yu Z. Bufalin suppresses hepatocellular carcinogenesis by targeting M2 macrophage-governed Wnt1/β-catenin signaling. Phytomedicine 2024; 126:155395. [PMID: 38340578 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2024.155395] [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] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Revised: 10/28/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The interplay of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) and tumor cells plays a key role in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and provides an important target for HCC therapy. The communication between them is still on the investigation. Bufalin, the active component derived from the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) Chansu, has been evidenced to possess anti-HCC activity by directly suppressing tumor cells, while its immunomodulatory effect on the tumor microenvironment (TME) is unclear. PURPOSE To explore the mechanism of M2 TAM-governed tumor cell proliferation and the inhibitory effect of bufalin on HCC growth by targeting M2 macrophages. METHODS Morphology and marker proteins were detected to evaluate macrophage polarization via microscopy and flow cytometry. Cellular proliferation and malignant transformation of HCC cells cultured with macrophage conditioned medium (CM) or bufalin-primed M2-CM, were assessed by cell viability, colony formation and soft agar assays. Regulations of gene transcription and protein expression and release were determined by RT-qPCR, immunoblotting, immunoprecipitation, ELISA and immunofluorescence. Tumorigenicity upon bufalin treatment was verified in orthotopic and diethylnitrosamine-induced HCC mouse model. RESULTS In this study, we first verified that M2 macrophages secreted Wnt1, which acted as a mediator to trigger β-catenin activation in HCC cells, leading to cellular proliferation. Bufalin suppressed HCC cell proliferation and malignant transformation by inhibiting Wnt1 release in M2 macrophages, and dose-dependently inhibited HCC progression in mice. Mechanistically, bufalin specially targeted to block Wnt1 transcription, thus inactivating β-catenin signaling cascade in HCC cells and leading to tumor regression in HCC mouse model. CONCLUSION These results clearly reveal a novel potential of bufalin to suppress HCC through immunomodulation, and shed light on a new M2 macrophage-based modality of HCC immunotherapy, which additively enhances direct tumor-inhibitory efficacy of bufalin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuemei Zhang
- Department of Hepatopathy, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Xiaona Lu
- Department of Hepatopathy, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Jia Shi
- Department of Hepatopathy, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Yuyao Li
- Department of Hepatopathy, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Yue Li
- Department of Hepatopathy, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Ru Tao
- Department of Nursing, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Lingying Huang
- Department of Hepatopathy, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Yifei Tang
- Department of Hepatopathy, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Xiaojun Zhu
- Department of Hepatopathy, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Man Li
- Laboratoy of Cellular Immunity, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Yueqiu Gao
- Department of Hepatopathy, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China; Institute of Infectious Disease, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China.
| | - Hai Feng
- Institute of Infectious Disease, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China.
| | - Zhuo Yu
- Department of Hepatopathy, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China.
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Chen Y, Jiang Z, Yan Z, Liu J, Lai Y, Li L, Lin X, Lin J. A codelivery system loaded with PDL1-siRNA and sorafenib enhances the therapeutic effect of sorafenib on hepatocellular carcinoma via TAT-poly-SS-lysine modified chitosan. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 263:130162. [PMID: 38365149 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.130162] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2023] [Revised: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 02/11/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024]
Abstract
Sorafenib (SF) is a first-line drug for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in clinical practice. However, acquired drug resistance tremendously limits the clinical efficacy of sorafenib in treating HCC, which has attracted great attention. PDL1 plays a crucial role in the drug resistance of HCC. Here, a codelivery system based on poly-SS-lysine modified chitosan (TAT-C-SS-P) was established and was applied to deliver sorafenib and PDL1-siRNA for synergetic HCC therapy. The successful synthesis of TAT-C-SS-P was confirmed by 1H NMR. Additionally, sorafenib and PDL1-siRNA were successfully transported into the cells as the decreased expression of VEGF and PD-L1 by administrated with TAT-C-SS-P@SF@ PDL1-siRNA. Simultaneously, the expression of pro-apoptosis proteins cyt-c and Bax was prominently augmented, whereas the expression of anti-apoptosis protein Bcl-2 was decreased. The reduced expression of PDL1 resulted in the downregulation of P-GP and MRP1, which contributed to more sorafenib aggregation in tumor cells. Moreover, TAT-C-SS-P@PDL1-siRNA@SF efficiently promotes apoptosis of HepG2-SI cells, as the apoptosis rate rised to 73 %. A sorafenib-insensitive model was established to evaluate in vivo antitumor effect of TAT-C-SS-P@PDL1-siRNA@SF. TAT-C-SS-P@PDL1-siRNA@SF showed a tumor inhibition rate of 90.2 ± 3.5 % and no significant decrease in body weight. Taken together, our study provided compelling evidence that TAT-C-SS-P@PDL1-siRNA@SF has great potential application in the treatment of HCC clinically.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanan Chen
- Dongguan Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine and New Pharmaceutical Development, The First Dongguan Affiliated Hospital, School of Pharmacy, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan 523808, China
| | - Zhonghao Jiang
- Dongguan Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine and New Pharmaceutical Development, The First Dongguan Affiliated Hospital, School of Pharmacy, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan 523808, China
| | - Zhuo Yan
- Dongguan Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine and New Pharmaceutical Development, The First Dongguan Affiliated Hospital, School of Pharmacy, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan 523808, China
| | - Jierong Liu
- Dongguan Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine and New Pharmaceutical Development, The First Dongguan Affiliated Hospital, School of Pharmacy, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan 523808, China
| | - Yilin Lai
- Dongguan Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine and New Pharmaceutical Development, The First Dongguan Affiliated Hospital, School of Pharmacy, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan 523808, China
| | - Li Li
- Dongguan Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine and New Pharmaceutical Development, The First Dongguan Affiliated Hospital, School of Pharmacy, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan 523808, China.
| | - Xiao Lin
- Dongguan Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine and New Pharmaceutical Development, The First Dongguan Affiliated Hospital, School of Pharmacy, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan 523808, China.
| | - Jiantao Lin
- Dongguan Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine and New Pharmaceutical Development, The First Dongguan Affiliated Hospital, School of Pharmacy, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan 523808, China.
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Chen S, Liao C, Hu H, Liao J, Chen Z, Li S, Zeng X, Peng B, Shen S, Li D, Li S, Lai J, Peng S, Xie Y, Kuang M. Hypoxia-driven tumor stromal remodeling and immunosuppressive microenvironment in scirrhous HCC. Hepatology 2024; 79:780-797. [PMID: 37725755 DOI: 10.1097/hep.0000000000000599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [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: 02/19/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Scirrhous HCC (SHCC) is one of the unique subtypes of HCC, characterized by abundant fibrous stroma in the tumor microenvironment. However, the molecular traits of SHCC remain unclear, which is essential to develop specialized therapeutic approaches for SHCC. APPROACH AND RESULTS We presented an integrative analysis containing single-cell RNA-sequencing, whole-exome sequencing, and bulk RNA-sequencing in SHCC and usual HCC samples from 134 patients to delineate genomic features, transcriptomic profiles, and stromal immune microenvironment of SHCC. Multiplexed immunofluorescence staining, flow cytometry, and functional experiments were performed for validation. Here, we identified SHCC presented with less genomic heterogeneity while possessing a unique transcriptomic profile different from usual HCC. Insulin-like growth factor 2 was significantly upregulated in SHCC tumor cells compared to usual HCC, and could serve as a potential diagnostic biomarker for SHCC. Significant tumor stromal remodeling and hypoxia were observed in SHCC with enrichment of matrix cancer-associated fibroblasts and upregulation of hypoxic pathways. Insulin-like growth factor 2 was identified as a key mediator in shaping the hypoxic stromal microenvironment of SHCC. Under this microenvironment, SHCC exhibited an immunosuppressive niche correlated to enhanced VEGFA signaling activity, where CD4 + T cells and CD8 + T cells were dysfunctional. Furthermore, we found that another hypoxic-related molecule SPP1 from SHCC tumor cells suppressed the function of dendritic cells via the SPP1-CD44 axis, which also probably hindered the activation of T cells. CONCLUSION We uncovered the genomic characteristics of SHCC, and revealed a hypoxia-driven tumor stroma remodeling and immunosuppressive microenvironment in SHCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuling Chen
- Institute of Precision Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
- Center of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
- Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Ultrasound, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Changyi Liao
- Cancer Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Huanjing Hu
- Institute of Precision Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Junbin Liao
- Center of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Zebin Chen
- Center of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Shuang Li
- Center of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Xuezhen Zeng
- Center of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Bo Peng
- Center of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Shunli Shen
- Center of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Dongming Li
- Center of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Shaoqiang Li
- Center of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Jiaming Lai
- Center of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Sui Peng
- Institute of Precision Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
- Clinical Trials Unit, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Yubin Xie
- Institute of Precision Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Ming Kuang
- Center of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
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9
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Mezzacappa C, Wang Z, Lu L, Risch H, Taddei T, Yu H. Detection of hepatocellular carcinoma methylation markers in salivary DNA. Biosci Rep 2024; 44:BSR20232063. [PMID: 38457142 PMCID: PMC10958141 DOI: 10.1042/bsr20232063] [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: 12/06/2023] [Revised: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alterations to DNA methylation have been identified in both hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tumor and circulating DNA from affected individuals. These markers have potential utility in HCC screening. Adherence to HCC screening is poor and acceptable HCC screening tests are needed. METHODS A feasibility study was performed on a subset of case patients and control subjects from a prior study of risk factors for HCC. Case patients (n=12) included adults aged 47-85 years with a first diagnosis of HCC between 2011 and 2016 and without viral hepatitis. Control subjects (n=12) were matched on age, sex, and state of residence. Participants provided saliva samples for DNA genotyping. Log fold change in salivary DNA methylation at 1359 CpG sites representing 25 candidate genes previously associated with HCC was compared across case patients and control subjects. RESULTS The quantity of DNA ranged from 9.65 to 257.79 μg. The purity of DNA isolates was good, with mean OD260/280 ratio of 1.78 (SD: 0.14). Of 25 candidate genes, 16 had at ≥1 CpG site with detectable differences in methylation across HCC case patients and control subjects. Sites differentially methylated in HCC case patients included genes encoding tumor suppressors (PRDM2, RUNX3, p15/16, and RASSF1/5), regulators of cell cycle progression (DAPK1 and TP73), and DNA repair (MGMT and GSTP1). No associations met the significance threshold 3.7 × 10-5 required for multiple comparisons. CONCLUSIONS Salivary DNA may be a feasible alternative to blood samples in the era of novel DNA-based screening tests for HCC. The ease of saliva-based testing supports further investigation of its potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine Mezzacappa
- Department of Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Zhanwei Wang
- University of Hawai’i Cancer Consortium, Honolulu, HI, United States
| | - Lingeng Lu
- Department of Chronic Disease Epidemiology, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Harvey Risch
- Department of Chronic Disease Epidemiology, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Tamar Taddei
- Department of Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States
- VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, CT, United States
| | - Herbert Yu
- University of Hawai’i Cancer Consortium, Honolulu, HI, United States
- Department of Chronic Disease Epidemiology, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, United States
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10
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Tian X, Liu F, Wang Z, Zhang J, Liu Q, Zhang Y, Zhang D, Huang C, Zhao J, Jiang S. Modified Biejia Jianwan decoction restrains PD-L1-mediated immune evasion through the HIF-1α/STAT3/NF-κB signaling pathway. J Ethnopharmacol 2024; 322:117577. [PMID: 38104877 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2023.117577] [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] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Revised: 11/26/2023] [Accepted: 12/09/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Modified Biejia Jianwan (M-BJJW), a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) decoction, has exhibited great potential in treating hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, its underlying functional mechanism still remains unknown. AIM OF THE STUDY The study aimed to explore the anti-hepatocarcinogenic effects of M-BJJW, specifically its influence on PD-L1-mediated immune evasion in hypoxic conditions, and elucidate the related molecular mechanisms in HCC. MATERIALS AND METHODS To investigate the therapeutic efficacy and mechanisms underlying M-BJJW's effects on HCC, we employed a diethylnitrosamine (DEN)-induced rat model maintained for 120 days. Following model establishment, flow cytometry was utilized to assess the distribution of immune cell populations in peripheral blood, spleens, and tumor tissues after M-BJJW administration. Simultaneously, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) were conducted to analyze cytokine profiles in serum samples. Immunohistochemistry was employed to determine the expression levels of crucial proteins within tumor tissues. Furthermore, HCC cells exposed to CoCl2 underwent Western blot analysis to validate the expression levels of HIF-1α, PD-L1, STAT3, and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) p65. The modulatory effects of STAT3 and NF-κB p65 were investigated using specific inhibitors and activators in wild-type cell lines. High-performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (HPLC/MS) was utilized to identify the chemical constituents present in M-BJJW-medicated serum. The immunomodulatory properties and the anti-tumor activities of M-BJJW were evaluated by co-culturing with peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and the CCK-8 assay. Additionally, we assessed M-BJJW's impact on hypoxia-induced alterations in HCC cell lines using immunofluorescence and Western blot assessments. RESULTS M-BJJW exhibited substantial therapeutic advantages by effectively alleviating pathological deterioration within the HCC microenvironment. In the DEN-induced rat model, M-BJJW administration notably reduced tumor growth. Flow cytometry analyses revealed an increased proportion of Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) accompanied by a simultaneous decrease in regulatory T cells (Tregs). ELISA data supported a marked decrease in pro-inflammatory cytokines, including interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-10 (IL-10), and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α). Immunohistochemistry confirmed the suppressive effect of M-BJJW on the expression of HIF-1α and PD-L1. Notably, western blotting unveiled the role of HIF-1α in regulating PD-L1 expression via the STAT3 and NF-κB signaling pathways in HCC cell lines, which was validated using activators and inhibitors of STAT3 and NF-κB. The CCK-8 assay and co-culture techniques demonstrated the anti-tumor activity of M-BJJW. Immunofluorescence and western blotting further confirmed that M-BJJW-containing serum dose-dependently inhibited HIF-1α, PD-L1, p-STAT3, and p-p65 in hypoxic HCC cell lines. CONCLUSIONS M-BJJW demonstrates significant therapeutic potential against HCC by influencing the hypoxic microenvironment, thereby regulating the immunosuppressive milieu. Specifically, M-BJJW modulates the HIF-1α/STAT3/NF-κB signaling pathway, leading to reduced PD-L1 expression and an elevated ratio of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs), while concurrently decreasing T regulatory cells (Tregs) and immunosuppressive factors. These synergistic effects aid in countering PD-L1-mediated immune evasion, presenting compelling pharmacological evidence supporting the clinical application of M-BJJW as a therapeutic approach for HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinchen Tian
- Clinical Medical Laboratory Center, Jining No.1 People's Hospital, Shandong First Medical University, Jining, China
| | - Fen Liu
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Zijian Wang
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Jiaqi Zhang
- Clinical Medical Laboratory Center, Jining No.1 People's Hospital, Shandong First Medical University, Jining, China
| | - Qingbin Liu
- Clinical Medical Laboratory Center, Jining No.1 People's Hospital, Shandong First Medical University, Jining, China
| | - Yiming Zhang
- Clinical Medical Laboratory Center, Jining No.1 People's Hospital, Shandong First Medical University, Jining, China
| | - Dengtian Zhang
- Clinical Medical Laboratory Center, Jining No.1 People's Hospital, Shandong First Medical University, Jining, China
| | - Chen Huang
- Clinical Medical Laboratory Center, Jining No.1 People's Hospital, Shandong First Medical University, Jining, China
| | - Jing Zhao
- Clinical Medical Laboratory Center, Jining No.1 People's Hospital, Shandong First Medical University, Jining, China.
| | - Shulong Jiang
- Clinical Medical Laboratory Center, Jining No.1 People's Hospital, Shandong First Medical University, Jining, China; First Clinical Medical School, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
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11
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Zhang S, Cai X, Khan GJ, Cheng J, He J, Zhai K, Mao Y. Exploring the molecular mechanism of Artemisia rupestris L. for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma via PI3K/AKT pathway. J Ethnopharmacol 2024; 322:117572. [PMID: 38097024 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2023.117572] [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] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2023] [Revised: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/26/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common gastrointestinal malignancy in China. Most tumors develop from chronic inflammation. Artemisia rupestris L. (ARL) has been found to have a significant effect on viral influenza and hepatitis, but the mechanism of action of ARL against liver cancer is unclear. AIM OF THE STUDY The study objective was to explore the mechanism of action of ARL for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) by ethanol extract and in vitro experimental design. MATERIALS AND METHODS Interactions between ARL and cellular target proteins against HCC were analyzed through network pharmacology and network topology with the utilization of the DAVID database. The rate of HepG2 cells' growth inhibition was assessed using the MTT assay in vitro cellular assay; hoechst33342 detects apoptosis of cells; the ability of HepG2 cells to migrate and invade was assessed using the transwell assay and the cell scratch experiment; and the levels of protein expression in HepG2 cells were assessed using the western blot assay. RESULTS Network pharmacology prediction results demonstrated that 22 active ingredients were tested, 176 possible action targets were discovered, and the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway was found to be the most pertinent action pathway for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. In vitro results showed that it can effectively restrict HepG2 cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and invasion as well as the regulation of protein expressions. CONCLUSION Conclusively, Quercetin, Linarin, and Kaempferol were found most essential active ingredients from ARL that regulate the antitumor effects against HCC through the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. The study provides a fundamental basis for further comprehensive evaluation of ARL to treat tumor diseases in general and its therapeutic potential against hepatocellular carcinoma in particular.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sirong Zhang
- College of Pharmacy, Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, 830011, China.
| | - Xiaocui Cai
- Xinjiang Institute of Materia Medica, Key Laboratory of Xinjiang Uygur Medicine, Urumqi, 830004, China
| | - Ghulam Jilany Khan
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Central Punjab, Lahore, 54000, Pakistan
| | - Jiangnan Cheng
- Xinjiang Institute of Materia Medica, Key Laboratory of Xinjiang Uygur Medicine, Urumqi, 830004, China
| | - Jinhua He
- Xinjiang Institute of Materia Medica, Key Laboratory of Xinjiang Uygur Medicine, Urumqi, 830004, China; Xinjiang Hospital, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, 393 Aletai Road, Urumqi, 830091, China.
| | - Kefeng Zhai
- School of Biological and Food Engineering, Engineering Research Center for Development and High Value Utilization of Genuine Medicinal Materials in North Anhui Province, Suzhou University, Suzhou, Anhui, 234000, China.
| | - Yan Mao
- Xinjiang Institute of Materia Medica, Key Laboratory of Xinjiang Uygur Medicine, Urumqi, 830004, China.
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12
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Ramirez CFA, Taranto D, Ando-Kuri M, de Groot MHP, Tsouri E, Huang Z, de Groot D, Kluin RJC, Kloosterman DJ, Verheij J, Xu J, Vegna S, Akkari L. Cancer cell genetics shaping of the tumor microenvironment reveals myeloid cell-centric exploitable vulnerabilities in hepatocellular carcinoma. Nat Commun 2024; 15:2581. [PMID: 38519484 PMCID: PMC10959959 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46835-2] [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: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Myeloid cells are abundant and plastic immune cell subsets in the liver, to which pro-tumorigenic, inflammatory and immunosuppressive roles have been assigned in the course of tumorigenesis. Yet several aspects underlying their dynamic alterations in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression remain elusive, including the impact of distinct genetic mutations in shaping a cancer-permissive tumor microenvironment (TME). Here, in newly generated, clinically-relevant somatic female HCC mouse models, we identify cancer genetics' specific and stage-dependent alterations of the liver TME associated with distinct histopathological and malignant HCC features. Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)-activated, NrasG12D-driven tumors exhibit a mixed phenotype of prominent inflammation and immunosuppression in a T cell-excluded TME. Mechanistically, we report a NrasG12D cancer cell-driven, MEK-ERK1/2-SP1-dependent GM-CSF secretion enabling the accumulation of immunosuppressive and proinflammatory monocyte-derived Ly6Clow cells. GM-CSF blockade curbs the accumulation of these cells, reduces inflammation, induces cancer cell death and prolongs animal survival. Furthermore, GM-CSF neutralization synergizes with a vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitor to restrain HCC outgrowth. These findings underscore the profound alterations of the myeloid TME consequential to MAPK pathway activation intensity and the potential of GM-CSF inhibition as a myeloid-centric therapy tailored to subsets of HCC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christel F A Ramirez
- Division of Tumor Biology and Immunology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Oncode Institute, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Daniel Taranto
- Division of Tumor Biology and Immunology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Oncode Institute, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Masami Ando-Kuri
- Division of Tumor Biology and Immunology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Oncode Institute, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Marnix H P de Groot
- Division of Tumor Biology and Immunology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Efi Tsouri
- Division of Tumor Biology and Immunology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Oncode Institute, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Zhijie Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, PR China
| | - Daniel de Groot
- Division of Tumor Biology and Immunology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Roelof J C Kluin
- Genomics Core facility, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Daan J Kloosterman
- Division of Tumor Biology and Immunology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Oncode Institute, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Joanne Verheij
- Department of Pathology, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Jing Xu
- Division of Tumor Biology and Immunology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Oncode Institute, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, PR China
| | - Serena Vegna
- Division of Tumor Biology and Immunology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
- Oncode Institute, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Leila Akkari
- Division of Tumor Biology and Immunology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
- Oncode Institute, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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13
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Wang C, Zhao Z, Zhao Y, Zhao J, Xia L, Xia Q. Macroscopic inhibition of DNA damage repair pathways by targeting AP-2α with LEI110 eradicates hepatocellular carcinoma. Commun Biol 2024; 7:342. [PMID: 38503825 PMCID: PMC10951303 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-05939-7] [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: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024] Open
Abstract
DNA damage repair (DDR) genes are known to be closely associated with the progression of Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Here we report a unique cluster of "deletion-up" genes in HCC, which are accordantly overexpressed in HCC patients and predict the unfavorable prognosis. Binding motif analysis and further validation with ChIP-qPCR unveil that the AP-2α directly modulate the transcription of critical DNA repair genes including TOP2A, NUDT1, POLD1, and PARP1, which facilitates the sanitation of oxidized DNA lesions. Structural analysis and the following validation identify LEI110 as a potent AP-2α inhibitor. Together, we demonstrate that LEI110 stabilizes AP-2α and sensitizes HCC cells toward DNA-damaging reagents. Altogether, we identify AP-2α as a crucial transcription modulator in HCC and propose small-molecule inhibitors targeting AP-2α are a promising novel class of anticancer agents. Our study provides insights into the concept of macroscopic inhibition of DNA damage repair-related genes in cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenchen Wang
- Department of Liver Surgery, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Transplantation and Immunology, Shanghai, China.
- Shanghai Institute of Transplantation, Shanghai, China.
| | - Zhenjun Zhao
- Department of Liver Surgery, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Transplantation and Immunology, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Institute of Transplantation, Shanghai, China
| | - Yudong Zhao
- Department of Liver Surgery, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Transplantation and Immunology, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Institute of Transplantation, Shanghai, China
| | - Jie Zhao
- Department of Liver Surgery, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Transplantation and Immunology, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Institute of Transplantation, Shanghai, China
| | - Lei Xia
- Department of Liver Surgery, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Transplantation and Immunology, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Institute of Transplantation, Shanghai, China
| | - Qiang Xia
- Department of Liver Surgery, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Transplantation and Immunology, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Institute of Transplantation, Shanghai, China
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14
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García-Carrillo R, Molina-Pelayo FA, Zarate-Lopez D, Cabrera-Aguilar A, Ortega-Domínguez B, Domínguez-López M, Chiquete-Félix N, Dagnino-Acosta A, Velasco-Loyden G, Chávez E, Castro-Sánchez L, de Sánchez VC. An adenosine derivative promotes mitochondrial supercomplexes reorganization and restoration of mitochondria structure and bioenergetics in a diethylnitrosamine-induced hepatocellular carcinoma model. Sci Rep 2024; 14:6348. [PMID: 38491051 PMCID: PMC10943223 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-56306-9] [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: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression is associated with dysfunctional mitochondria and bioenergetics impairment. However, no data about the relationship between mitochondrial supercomplexes (hmwSC) formation and ATP production rates in HCC are available. Our group has developed an adenosine derivative, IFC-305, which improves mitochondrial function, and it has been proposed as a therapeutic candidate for HCC. We aimed to determine the role of IFC-305 on both mitochondrial structure and bioenergetics in a sequential cirrhosis-HCC model in rats. Our results showed that IFC-305 administration decreased the number and size of liver tumors, reduced the expression of tumoral markers, and reestablished the typical architecture of the hepatic parenchyma. The livers of treated rats showed a reduction of mitochondria number, recovery of the mtDNA/nDNA ratio, and mitochondrial length. Also, IFC-305 increased cardiolipin and phosphatidylcholine levels and promoted hmwSC reorganization with changes in the expression levels of hmwSC assembly-related genes. IFC-305 in HCC modified the expression of several genes encoding elements of electron transport chain complexes and increased the ATP levels by recovering the complex I, III, and V activity. We propose that IFC-305 restores the mitochondrial bioenergetics in HCC by normalizing the quantity, morphology, and function of mitochondria, possibly as part of its hepatic restorative effect.
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Grants
- Ciencia de Frontera-2019 project 501204 Consejo Nacional de Humanidades, Ciencias y Tecnologías (CONAHCYT)
- Ciencia de Frontera-2019 project 501204 Consejo Nacional de Humanidades, Ciencias y Tecnologías (CONAHCYT)
- Ciencia de Frontera-2019 project 501204 Consejo Nacional de Humanidades, Ciencias y Tecnologías (CONAHCYT)
- Ciencia de Frontera-2019 project 501204 Consejo Nacional de Humanidades, Ciencias y Tecnologías (CONAHCYT)
- Ciencia de Frontera-2019 project 501204 Consejo Nacional de Humanidades, Ciencias y Tecnologías (CONAHCYT)
- Ciencia de Frontera-2019 project 501204 Consejo Nacional de Humanidades, Ciencias y Tecnologías (CONAHCYT)
- FOP02-2022-02 project 321696 Consejo Nacional de Humanidades, Ciencias y Tecnologías (CONAHCYT)
- Ciencia de Frontera-2019 project 501204 Consejo Nacional de Humanidades, Ciencias y Tecnologías (CONAHCYT)
- Ciencia de Frontera-2019 project 501204 Consejo Nacional de Humanidades, Ciencias y Tecnologías (CONAHCYT)
- Ciencia de Frontera-2019 project 501204 Consejo Nacional de Humanidades, Ciencias y Tecnologías (CONAHCYT)
- Ciencia de Frontera-2019 project 501204 Consejo Nacional de Humanidades, Ciencias y Tecnologías (CONAHCYT)
- PAPIIT-UNAM project IN214419 Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
- PAPIIT-UNAM project IN214419 Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
- PAPIIT-UNAM project IN214419 Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
- PAPIIT-UNAM project IN214419 Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
- PAPIIT-UNAM project IN214419 Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
- PAPIIT-UNAM project IN214419 Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosendo García-Carrillo
- Centro Universitario de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad de Colima, 28045, Colima, México
| | | | - David Zarate-Lopez
- Centro Universitario de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad de Colima, 28045, Colima, México
| | - Alejandro Cabrera-Aguilar
- Departamento de Biología Celular y Desarrollo, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 04510, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Bibiana Ortega-Domínguez
- Departamento de Biología Celular y Desarrollo, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 04510, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Mariana Domínguez-López
- Departamento de Biología Celular y Desarrollo, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 04510, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Natalia Chiquete-Félix
- Departamento de Genética Molecular, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 04510, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Adan Dagnino-Acosta
- Centro Universitario de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad de Colima, 28045, Colima, México
- CONAHCYT-Universidad de Colima, 28045, Colima, México
| | - Gabriela Velasco-Loyden
- Departamento de Biología Celular y Desarrollo, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 04510, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Enrique Chávez
- Departamento de Biología Celular y Desarrollo, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 04510, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Luis Castro-Sánchez
- Centro Universitario de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad de Colima, 28045, Colima, México.
- CONAHCYT-Universidad de Colima, 28045, Colima, México.
| | - Victoria Chagoya de Sánchez
- Departamento de Biología Celular y Desarrollo, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 04510, Ciudad de México, México.
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Wu X, Zeng M, Wei Y, Lu R, Huang Z, Huang L, Huang Y, Lu Y, Li W, Wei H, Pu J. METTL3 and METTL14-mediated N 6-methyladenosine modification of SREBF2-AS1 facilitates hepatocellular carcinoma progression and sorafenib resistance through DNA demethylation of SREBF2. Sci Rep 2024; 14:6155. [PMID: 38486042 PMCID: PMC10940719 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-55932-7] [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] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024] Open
Abstract
As the most prevalent epitranscriptomic modification, N6-methyladenosine (m6A) shows important roles in a variety of diseases through regulating the processing, stability and translation of target RNAs. However, the potential contributions of m6A to RNA functions are unclear. Here, we identified a functional and prognosis-related m6A-modified RNA SREBF2-AS1 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The expression of SREBF2-AS1 and SREBF2 in HCC tissues and cells was measured by RT-qPCR. m6A modification level of SREBF2-AS1 was measured by methylated RNA immunoprecipitation assay. The roles of SREBF2-AS1 in HCC progression and sorafenib resistance were investigated by proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and cell viability assays. The regulatory mechanisms of SREBF2-AS1 on SREBF2 were investigated by Chromatin isolation by RNA purification, RNA immunoprecipitation, CUT&RUN, and bisulfite DNA sequencing assays. Our findings showed that the expression of SREBF2-AS1 was increased in HCC tissues and cells, and positively correlated with poor survival of HCC patients. m6A modification level of SREBF2-AS1 was also increased in HCC and positively correlated with poor prognosis of HCC patients. METTL3 and METTL14-induced m6A modification upregulated SREBF2-AS1 expression through increasing SREBF2-AS1 transcript stability. Functional assays showed that only m6A-modified, but not non-modified SREBF2-AS1 promoted HCC progression and sorafenib resistance. Mechanistic investigations revealed that m6A-modified SREBF2-AS1 bound and recruited m6A reader FXR1 and DNA 5-methylcytosine dioxygenase TET1 to SREBF2 promoter, leading to DNA demethylation at SREBF2 promoter and the upregulation of SREBF2 transcription. Functional rescue assays showed that SREBF2 was the critical mediator of the oncogenic roles of SREBF2-AS1 in HCC. Together, this study showed that m6A-modified SREBF2-AS1 exerted oncogenic roles in HCC through inducing DNA demethylation and transcriptional activation of SREBF2, and suggested m6A-modified SREBF2-AS1 as a prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xianjian Wu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities, No. 18 Zhongshan Two Road, Baise, 533000, China
| | - Min Zeng
- Graduate College of Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities, Baise, China
| | - Yunyu Wei
- Graduate College of Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities, Baise, China
| | - Rongzhou Lu
- Graduate College of Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities, Baise, China
| | - Zheng Huang
- Graduate College of Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities, Baise, China
| | - Lizheng Huang
- Graduate College of Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities, Baise, China
| | - Yanyan Huang
- Graduate College of Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities, Baise, China
| | - Yuan Lu
- Graduate College of Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities, Baise, China
| | - Wenchuan Li
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities, No. 18 Zhongshan Two Road, Baise, 533000, China
| | - Huamei Wei
- Clinical Pathological Diagnosis and Research Center, Affiliated Hospital of Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities, Baise, China
| | - Jian Pu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities, No. 18 Zhongshan Two Road, Baise, 533000, China.
- Guangxi Clinical Medical Research Center of Hepatobiliary Diseases, Baise, China.
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16
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Song M, Wang L, Jiang S, Liang J, Li W, Rao W, Du Q, Liu G, Meng H, Tang L, Li Z, Yang Y, Zhang L, Zhang B. Pathogenic Th17 cell-mediated liver fibrosis contributes to resistance to PD-L1 antibody immunotherapy in hepatocellular carcinoma. Int Immunopharmacol 2024; 129:111601. [PMID: 38350354 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2024.111601] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Revised: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/15/2024]
Abstract
Understanding the mechanisms of resistance of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) to targeted therapies and immune checkpoint blockade is critical for the development of new combination therapies and improving patient survival. Here, we found that in HCC, anti-programmed cell death 1 ligand 1 (PD-L1) therapy reduces liver cancer growth, but the tumors eventually become resistant to continued therapy. Experimental analyses shows that the infiltration of pathogenic T helper 17 (pTh17) cells increases in drug-resistant HCC, and pTh17 cells secrete interleukin-17A (IL-17A), which promotes the expression of PD-L1 on the surface of HCC cells and produces resistance to anti-PD-L1 therapy. Anti-IL-17A combined with PD-L1 blockade significantly increased the infiltration of cytotoxic CD8+ T cells expressing high levels of interferon-γ and reduced treatment resistance in HCC. These results support the combination of anti-PD-L1 and anti-IL-17A as a novel strategy to induce effective T cell-mediated anti-tumor immune responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meiying Song
- Department of Immunology, Medical College of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong 266071, PR China
| | - Luoyang Wang
- Department of Immunology, Medical College of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong 266071, PR China
| | - Suli Jiang
- Department of Immunology, Medical College of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong 266071, PR China
| | - Jie Liang
- Department of Immunology, Medical College of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong 266071, PR China
| | - Wei Li
- Department of Immunology, Medical College of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong 266071, PR China
| | - Wei Rao
- Division of Hepatology, Liver Disease Center, Organ Transplantation Center, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong 266071, PR China
| | - Qiaochu Du
- Department of Immunology, Medical College of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong 266071, PR China
| | - Guixian Liu
- Department of Immunology, Medical College of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong 266071, PR China
| | - Haining Meng
- School of Emergency Medicine, Medical College of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong 266071, PR China
| | - Lei Tang
- Department of Special Medicine, School of Basic Medical College, Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong 266071, PR China
| | - Zhifei Li
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Medical College of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong 266071, PR China
| | - Yanyan Yang
- Department of Immunology, Medical College of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong 266071, PR China
| | - Li Zhang
- Department of Immunology, Medical College of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong 266071, PR China
| | - Bei Zhang
- Department of Immunology, Medical College of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong 266071, PR China.
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Meng W, Lu X, Wang G, Xiao Q, Gao J. ZNF692 drives malignant development of hepatocellular carcinoma cells by promoting ALDOA-dependent glycolysis. Funct Integr Genomics 2024; 24:53. [PMID: 38453820 PMCID: PMC10920453 DOI: 10.1007/s10142-024-01326-x] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2023] [Revised: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the malignancies with the worst prognosis worldwide, in the occurrence and development of which glycolysis plays a central role. This study uncovered a mechanism by which ZNF692 regulates ALDOA-dependent glycolysis in HCC cells. RT-qPCR and western blotting were used to detect the expression of ZNF692, KAT5, and ALDOA in HCC cell lines and a normal liver cell line. The influences of transfection-induced alterations in the expression of ZNF692, KAT5, and ALDOA on the functions of HepG2 cells were detected by performing MTT, flow cytometry, Transwell, cell scratch, and colony formation assays, and the levels of glucose and lactate were determined using assay kits. ChIP and luciferase reporter assays were conducted to validate the binding of ZNF692 to the KAT5 promoter, and co-IP assays to detect the interaction between KAT5 and ALDOA and the acetylation of ALDOA. ZNF692, KAT5, and ALDOA were highly expressed in human HCC samples and cell lines, and their expression levels were positively correlated in HCC. ZNF692, ALDOA, or KAT5 knockdown inhibited glycolysis, proliferation, invasion, and migration and promoted apoptosis in HepG2 cells. ZNF692 bound to the KAT5 promoter and promoted its activity. ALDOA acetylation levels were elevated in HCC cell lines. KAT5 bound to ALDOA and catalyzed ALDOA acetylation. ALDOA or KAT5 overexpression in the same time of ZNF692 knockdown, compared to ZNF692 knockdown only, stimulated glycolysis, proliferation, invasion, and migration and reduced apoptosis in HepG2 cells. ZNF692 promotes the acetylation modification and protein expression of ALDOA by catalyzing KAT5 transcription, thereby accelerating glycolysis to drive HCC cell development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiwei Meng
- Department of Laboratory, Shenzhen Baoan Shiyan People's Hospital, No. 11, Jixiang Road, Shiyan Street, Baoan District, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518108, P.R. China
| | - Xiaojuan Lu
- Department of Laboratory, Shenzhen Baoan Shiyan People's Hospital, No. 11, Jixiang Road, Shiyan Street, Baoan District, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518108, P.R. China
| | - Guanglei Wang
- Department of Laboratory, Shenzhen Baoan Shiyan People's Hospital, No. 11, Jixiang Road, Shiyan Street, Baoan District, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518108, P.R. China
| | - Qingyu Xiao
- Department of Blood Transfusion, Shenzhen Baoan Shiyan People's Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518108, P.R. China
| | - Jing Gao
- Department of Laboratory, Shenzhen Baoan Shiyan People's Hospital, No. 11, Jixiang Road, Shiyan Street, Baoan District, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518108, P.R. China.
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Kusunoki H, Sakamoto T, Kobayashi N, Kohno T, Wakamatsu K, Nagata T. Structural Insights into the Interaction between the C-Terminal-Deleted BH3-like Motif Peptide of Hepatitis B Virus X Protein and Bcl-x L. Biochemistry 2024; 63:632-643. [PMID: 38377677 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.3c00709] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/22/2024]
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus X protein (HBx) plays a crucial role in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) associated with hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. The full-length HBx protein interacts with Bcl-xL and is involved in the HBV replication and cell death processes. The three hydrophobic residues Trp120, Leu123, and Ile127 of the HBx BH3-like motif are essential for the Bcl-xL-binding. On the other hand, various lengths of C-terminal-truncated HBx mutants are frequently detected in HCC tissues, and these mutants, rather than the full-length HBx, appear to be responsible for HCC development. Notably, the region spanning residues 1-120 of HBx [HBx(1 and 120)] has been strongly associated with an increased risk of HCC development. However, the mode of interaction between HBx(1-120) and Bcl-xL remains unclear. HBx(1-120) possesses only Trp120 among the three hydrophobic residues essential for the Bcl-xL-binding. To elucidate this interaction mode, we employed a C-terminal-deleted HBx BH3-like motif peptide composed of residues 101-120. Here, we present the NMR complex structure of Bcl-xL and HBx(101-120). Our results demonstrate that HBx(101-120) binds to Bcl-xL in a weaker manner. Considering the high expression of Bcl-xL in HCC cells, this weak interaction, in conjunction with the overexpression of Bcl-xL in HCC cells, may potentially contribute to HCC development through the interaction between C-terminal-truncated HBx and Bcl-xL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hideki Kusunoki
- Research Center for Biological Products in the Next Generation, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Musashimurayama, Tokyo 208-0011, Japan
| | - Taiichi Sakamoto
- Department of Life Science, Faculty of Advanced Engineering, Chiba Institute of Technology, Narashino, Chiba 275-0016, Japan
| | - Naohiro Kobayashi
- Laboratory for Advanced NMR Application and Development, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, Yokohama, Kanagawa 230-0045, Japan
| | - Toshiyuki Kohno
- Department of Medical Informatics, Research and Development Center for Medical Education, Kitasato University School of Medicine, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 252-0374, Japan
| | - Kaori Wakamatsu
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Graduate School of Engineering, Gunma University, Kiryu, Gunma 376-8515, Japan
| | - Takashi Nagata
- Institute of Advanced Energy, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Uji 611-0011, Japan
- Graduate School of Energy Science, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Uji 611-0011, Japan
- Integrated Research Center for Carbon Negative Science, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Uji 611-0011, Japan
- Biomass Product Tree Industry-Academia Collaborative Research Laboratory, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Uji 611-0011, Japan
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19
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Fan X, Yan Z, Lin Y, Wang Q, Jiang L, Yao X, Dong L, Chen L, Zhao T, Zhao J, Hu H, Wang H. Mechanism exploration of Zoledronic acid combined with PD-1 in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2024; 73:62. [PMID: 38430249 PMCID: PMC10908605 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-024-03652-2] [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: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/03/2024]
Abstract
How to increase the response of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) is a challenge. In clinical, we found that Zoledronic acid (ZA) may increase the anti-tumor effect of immunotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). To explore the underlying mechanism, we established a mouse model of HCC by subcutaneously injecting Hepa1-6 cell line. The result showed that the tumor volume in the ZA plus anti-PD-1 monocloning antibody (anti-PD-1 mAb) treatment groups was significantly smaller than that of control group, and the onset time of tumor inhibition was even shorter than that of the anti-PD-1 mAb group. Using flow cytometry (FC) to detect the proportion of major immune cell subsets in tumor tissues of each group of mice, we found that the synergistic anti-tumor effect of ZA and anti-PD-1 mAb may be related to ZA-induced polarization of macrophages toward the M1 phenotype. Next, we performed bulk RNA sequencing on tumor samples from different groups to obtain differentially expressed genes (DEGs), which were then input DEGs into pathway enrichment analysis. Data indicated that ZA participated in the M1-type polarization via ferroptosis-related pathways. Our results revealed how ZA involves in the anti-tumor effect of PD-1 monoclonal antibody and provided a potential therapeutic candidate for patients with HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinru Fan
- Department of Hepatobiliary Medicine, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, 200438, China
| | - Zijun Yan
- Faculty of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, The First Medical Center of Chinese People's Liberation, Army General Hospital, Beijing, 100039, China
| | - Yunkai Lin
- National Center for Liver Cancer, Shanghai, 201805, China
| | - Qing Wang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Medicine, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, 200438, China
| | - Li Jiang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Medicine, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, 200438, China
| | - Xiaomeng Yao
- Department of Hepatobiliary Medicine, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, 200438, China
| | - Liwei Dong
- National Center for Liver Cancer, Shanghai, 201805, China
| | - Lei Chen
- National Center for Liver Cancer, Shanghai, 201805, China
| | - Tuan Zhao
- Department of Hepatobiliary Medicine, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, 200438, China
| | - Jieqiong Zhao
- Outpatient Department, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, 200438, China
| | - Heping Hu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Medicine, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, 200438, China.
| | - Hui Wang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Medicine, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, 200438, China.
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Zhan G, Wei T, Xie H, Xie X, Hu J, Tang H, Cheng Y, Liu H, Li S, Yang G. Autophagy inhibition mediated by trillin promotes apoptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma cells via activation of mTOR/STAT3 signaling. Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol 2024; 397:1575-1587. [PMID: 37676495 DOI: 10.1007/s00210-023-02700-5] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/08/2023]
Abstract
Apoptosis and autophagy have been shown to act cooperatively and antagonistically in self-elimination process. On the one side, apoptosis and autophagy can act as partners to induce cell death in a coordinated or cooperative manner; on the flip side, autophagy acts as an antagonist to block apoptotic cell death by promoting cell survival. Our previous research indicated that trillin could induce apoptosis of PLC/PRF/5 cells, but the effects of trillin on autophagy as well as its functional relationship to apoptosis have not been elucidated. Here, the running study aims to investigate the function and molecular mechanism of trillin on autophagy with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells. The objective of this study is to investigate the molecular mechanism of trillin on autophagy in HCC cells. Protein levels of autophagy markers beclin1, LC3B, and p62 were detected by western blotting. 6-Hydroxyflavone and stattic were used to test the role of trillin regulation of autophagy via serine threonine kinase (AKT)/extracellular-regulated protein kinases (ERK) 1/2/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR)/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) signaling pathway. Flow cytometry was used to detect caspase 3 activity and apoptosis in PLC/PRF/5 cells treated with trillin for 24 h with or without rapamycin, stattic, and 6-hydroxyflavone. The protein level of autophagy marker beclin1 was decreased, whilst the protein level of p62 was significantly increased by trillin treatment, indicating trillin treatment led to inhibition of autophagy in HCC cells. Trillin treatment could reduce the protein levels of p-AKT and p-ERK1/2, but enhance the protein levels of mTOR and p-mTOR, suggesting that trillin could inhibit AKT/ERK rather than mTOR. The AKT/ERK activator 6-hydroxyflavone could reverse the loss of AKT and ERK1/2 phosphorylation induced by trillin, implying that trillin impairs autophagy through activated mTOR rather than AKT/ERK. STAT3 and p-STAT3 were significantly upregulated by the trillin treatment with an increase in dose from 0 to 50 μM, suggesting that autophagy inhibition is mediated by trillin via activation of STAT3 signaling. The STAT3 inhibitor stattic significantly reversed the increased STAT3 phosphorylation at tyrosine 705 induced by trillin. The mTOR signaling inhibitor rapamycin reversed the trillin-induced mTOR phosphorylation enhancement but exerted no effects on total mTOR levels, suggesting trillin treatment led to inhibition of autophagy in HCC cells through activating mTOR/STAT3 pathway. Furthermore, caspase 3 activities and the total rate of apoptosis were increased by trillin treatment, which was reversed by rapamycin, stattic, and 6-hydroxyflavone, proving that trillin promotes apoptosis via activation of mTOR/STAT3 signaling. Trillin induced autophagy inhibition and promoted apoptosis in PLC/PRF/5 cells via the activation of mTOR/STAT3 signaling. Trillin has the potential to be a viable therapeutic option for HCC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guangjie Zhan
- Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Occurrence and Intervention of Rheumatic Diseases, (Hubei Minzu University), Medical School of Hubei MinZu University, Enshi, Hubei, 445000, People's Republic of China
| | - Tiantian Wei
- Suizhou Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, 441300, Suizhou, Hubei, People's Republic of China
| | - Huichen Xie
- Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Occurrence and Intervention of Rheumatic Diseases, (Hubei Minzu University), Medical School of Hubei MinZu University, Enshi, Hubei, 445000, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaoming Xie
- Suizhou Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, 441300, Suizhou, Hubei, People's Republic of China
| | - Jun Hu
- Department of Medical Genetics, School of Basic Medical Science, Demonstration Center for Experimental Basic Medicine Education, Wuhan University, 430071, Wuhan, Hubei, People's Republic of China
| | - Hao Tang
- Department of Medical Genetics, School of Basic Medical Science, Demonstration Center for Experimental Basic Medicine Education, Wuhan University, 430071, Wuhan, Hubei, People's Republic of China
| | - Yating Cheng
- Department of Medical Genetics, School of Basic Medical Science, Demonstration Center for Experimental Basic Medicine Education, Wuhan University, 430071, Wuhan, Hubei, People's Republic of China
| | - Huaifeng Liu
- School of Life Science, Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, Anhui, 233030, People's Republic of China
| | - Shujing Li
- School of Life Science, Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, Anhui, 233030, People's Republic of China.
| | - Guohua Yang
- Department of Medical Genetics, School of Basic Medical Science, Demonstration Center for Experimental Basic Medicine Education, Wuhan University, 430071, Wuhan, Hubei, People's Republic of China.
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Ishteyaque S, Singh G, Yadav KS, Verma S, Sharma RK, Sen S, Srivastava AK, Mitra K, Lahiri A, Bawankule DU, Rath SK, Kumar D, Mugale MN. Cooperative STAT3-NFkB signaling modulates mitochondrial dysfunction and metabolic profiling in hepatocellular carcinoma. Metabolism 2024; 152:155771. [PMID: 38184165 DOI: 10.1016/j.metabol.2023.155771] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/08/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) continues to pose a significant health challenge and is often diagnosed at advanced stages. Metabolic reprogramming is a hallmark of many cancer types, including HCC and it involves alterations in various metabolic or nutrient-sensing pathways within liver cells to facilitate the rapid growth and progression of tumours. However, the role of STAT3-NFκB in metabolic reprogramming is still not clear. APPROACH AND RESULTS Diethylnitrosamine (DEN) administered animals showed decreased body weight and elevated level of serum enzymes. Also, Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis revealed ultrastructural alterations. Increased phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 (p-STAT3), phosphorylated nuclear factor kappa B (p-NFκβ), dynamin related protein 1 (Drp-1) and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) expression enhance the carcinogenicity as revealed in immunohistochemistry (IHC). The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) concentration of IL-6 was found to be elevated in time dependent manner both in blood serum and liver tissue. Moreover, immunoblot analysis showed increased level of p-STAT3, p-NFκβ and IL-6 stimulated the upregulation of mitophagy proteins such as Drp-1, Phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN)-induced putative kinase 1 (PINK-1). Meanwhile, downregulation of Poly [ADP-ribose] polymerase 1 (PARP-1) and cleaved caspase 3 suppresses apoptosis and enhanced expression of AFP supports tumorigenesis. The mRNA level of STAT3 and Drp-1 was also found to be significantly increased. Furthermore, we performed high-field 800 MHz Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) based tissue and serum metabolomics analysis to identify metabolic signatures associated with the progression of liver cancer. The metabolomics findings revealed aberrant metabolic alterations in liver tissue and serum of 75th and 105th days of intervention groups in comparison to control, 15th and 45th days of intervention groups. Tissue metabolomics analysis revealed the accumulation of succinate in the liver tissue samples, whereas, serum metabolomics analysis revealed significantly decreased circulatory levels of ketone bodies (such as 3-hydroxybutyrate, acetate, acetone, etc.) and membrane metabolites suggesting activated ketolysis in advanced stages of liver cancer. CONCLUSION STAT3-NFκβ signaling axis has a significant role in mitochondrial dysfunction and metabolic alterations in the development of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharmeen Ishteyaque
- Division of Cancer Biology CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute (CSIR-CDRI), Lucknow 226031, India; Division of Toxicology and Experimental Medicine, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute (CSIR-CDRI), Lucknow 226031, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India
| | - Gurvinder Singh
- Department of Advanced Spectroscopy and Imaging, Centre of Biomedical Research (CBMR), SGPGIMS Campus, Raebareli Road, Lucknow-226014, Uttar Pradesh, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India
| | - Karan Singh Yadav
- Division of Cancer Biology CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute (CSIR-CDRI), Lucknow 226031, India; Division of Toxicology and Experimental Medicine, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute (CSIR-CDRI), Lucknow 226031, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India
| | - Smriti Verma
- Division of Cancer Biology CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute (CSIR-CDRI), Lucknow 226031, India; Division of Toxicology and Experimental Medicine, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute (CSIR-CDRI), Lucknow 226031, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India
| | - Rakesh Kumar Sharma
- Sophisticated Analytical Instrument Facility and Research Division CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute (CSIR-CDRI), Lucknow 226031, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India
| | - Sumati Sen
- Bioprospection and Product Development Division, CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh 226015, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India
| | - Anurag Kumar Srivastava
- Division of Toxicology and Experimental Medicine, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute (CSIR-CDRI), Lucknow 226031, India
| | - Kalyan Mitra
- Sophisticated Analytical Instrument Facility and Research Division CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute (CSIR-CDRI), Lucknow 226031, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India
| | - Amit Lahiri
- Pharmacology Division, CSIR - Central Drug Research Institute (CSIR-CDRI), Lucknow 226031, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India
| | - Dnyaneshwar U Bawankule
- Bioprospection and Product Development Division, CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh 226015, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India
| | - Srikanta Kumar Rath
- Division of Toxicology and Experimental Medicine, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute (CSIR-CDRI), Lucknow 226031, India
| | - Dinesh Kumar
- Department of Advanced Spectroscopy and Imaging, Centre of Biomedical Research (CBMR), SGPGIMS Campus, Raebareli Road, Lucknow-226014, Uttar Pradesh, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India.
| | - Madhav Nilakanth Mugale
- Division of Cancer Biology CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute (CSIR-CDRI), Lucknow 226031, India; Division of Toxicology and Experimental Medicine, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute (CSIR-CDRI), Lucknow 226031, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India.
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Li J, Jiang H, Zhu Y, Ma Z, Li B, Dong J, Xiao C, Hu A. Fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) induces the stem cell-like properties of hepatocellular carcinoma by activating ROS/Nrf2/Keap1-mediated autophagy. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 2024; 272:116052. [PMID: 38325274 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.116052] [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] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 01/27/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
Exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) has been linked to an increased incidence and mortality of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the impact of PM2.5 exposure on HCC progression and the underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. This study aimed to investigate the effects of PM2.5 exposure on the stem cell-like properties of HCC cells. Our findings indicate that PM2.5 exposure significantly enhances the stemness of HCC cells (p < 0.01). Subsequently, male nude mice were divided into two groups (n = 8/group for tumor-bearing assay, n = 5/group for metastasis assay) for control and PM2.5 exposure. In vivo assays revealed that exposure to PM2.5 promoted the growth, metastasis, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of HCC cells (p < 0.01). Further exploration demonstrated that PM2.5 enhances the stemness of HCC cells by inducing cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation (p < 0.05). Mechanistic investigation indicated that elevated intracellular ROS inhibited kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1) levels, promoting the upregulation and nucleus translocation of NFE2-like bZIP transcription factor 2 (Nrf2). This, in turn, induced autophagy activation, thereby promoting the stemness of HCC cells (p < 0.01). Our present study demonstrates the adverse effects of PM2.5 exposure on HCC development and highlights the mechanism of ROS/Nrf2/Keap1-mediated autophagy. For the first time, we reveal the impact of PM2.5 exposure on the poor prognosis-associated cellular phenotype of HCC and its underlying mechanism, which is expected to provide new theoretical basis for the improvement of public health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiujiu Li
- Hefei Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hefei 230032, China
| | - Haoqi Jiang
- School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China
| | - Yu Zhu
- Hefei Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hefei 230032, China
| | - Zijian Ma
- Hefei Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hefei 230032, China
| | - Bin Li
- School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China
| | - Jun Dong
- Hefei Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hefei 230032, China
| | - Changchun Xiao
- Hefei Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hefei 230032, China.
| | - Anla Hu
- School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China.
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23
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Liu J, Yang T, Luo Y, Ma Z, Yu Z, Zhang L, Liu G, Wen J, Lu G, Zhang G, Zhao Y, Luo W, Li Y, Yang N, Zhou J, Lu Y, Chen S, Zeng X. DEAD-box helicase 1 inhibited CD8 + T cell antitumor activity by inducing PD-L1 expression in hepatocellular carcinoma. Cancer Sci 2024; 115:763-776. [PMID: 38243657 PMCID: PMC10921000 DOI: 10.1111/cas.16076] [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: 07/24/2023] [Revised: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/16/2023] [Indexed: 01/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) does not respond well to current treatments, even immune checkpoint inhibitors. PD-L1 (programmed cell death ligand 1 or CD274 molecule)-mediated immune escape of tumor cells may be a key factor affecting the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy. However, the regulatory mechanisms of PD-L1 expression and immune escape require further exploration. Here, we observed that DDX1 (DEAD-box helicase 1) was overexpressed in HCC tissues and associated with poor prognosis in patients with HCC. Additionally, DDX1 expression correlated negatively with CD8+ T cell frequency. DDX1 overexpression significantly increased interferon gamma (IFN-γ)-mediated PD-L1 expression in HCC cell lines. DDX1 overexpression decreased IFN-γ and granzyme B production in CD8+ T cells and inhibited CD8+ T cell cytotoxic function in vitro and in vivo. In conclusion, DDX1 plays an essential role in developing the immune escape microenvironment, rendering it a potential predictor of ICI therapy efficacy in HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junhao Liu
- Department of Hepatobiliary‐Pancreatic & Hernia SurgeryGuangdong Second Provincial General HospitalGuangzhouGuangdongChina
| | - Ti Yang
- Department of Hepatobiliary‐Pancreatic & Hernia SurgeryGuangdong Second Provincial General HospitalGuangzhouGuangdongChina
- The Second School of Clinical MedicineSouthern Medical UniversityGuangzhouGuangdongChina
| | - Yurong Luo
- Department of Hepatobiliary‐Pancreatic & Hernia SurgeryGuangdong Second Provincial General HospitalGuangzhouGuangdongChina
- The Second School of Clinical MedicineSouthern Medical UniversityGuangzhouGuangdongChina
| | - Zengxin Ma
- Department of Hepatobiliary‐Pancreatic & Hernia SurgeryGuangdong Second Provincial General HospitalGuangzhouGuangdongChina
- The Second School of Clinical MedicineSouthern Medical UniversityGuangzhouGuangdongChina
| | - Zhitao Yu
- Department of Hepatobiliary‐Pancreatic & Hernia SurgeryGuangdong Second Provincial General HospitalGuangzhouGuangdongChina
| | - Lei Zhang
- Department of Hepatobiliary‐Pancreatic & Hernia SurgeryGuangdong Second Provincial General HospitalGuangzhouGuangdongChina
| | - Gai Liu
- Department of Hepatobiliary‐Pancreatic & Hernia SurgeryGuangdong Second Provincial General HospitalGuangzhouGuangdongChina
| | - Jianfan Wen
- Department of Hepatobiliary‐Pancreatic & Hernia SurgeryGuangdong Second Provincial General HospitalGuangzhouGuangdongChina
| | - Guankun Lu
- Department of Hepatobiliary‐Pancreatic & Hernia SurgeryGuangdong Second Provincial General HospitalGuangzhouGuangdongChina
| | - Guowei Zhang
- Department of Hepatobiliary‐Pancreatic & Hernia SurgeryGuangdong Second Provincial General HospitalGuangzhouGuangdongChina
| | - Yujun Zhao
- Department of Hepatobiliary‐Pancreatic & Hernia SurgeryGuangdong Second Provincial General HospitalGuangzhouGuangdongChina
| | - Wang Luo
- Department of Hepatobiliary‐Pancreatic & Hernia SurgeryGuangdong Second Provincial General HospitalGuangzhouGuangdongChina
| | - Yanan Li
- Department of Hepatobiliary‐Pancreatic & Hernia SurgeryGuangdong Second Provincial General HospitalGuangzhouGuangdongChina
- The Second School of Clinical MedicineSouthern Medical UniversityGuangzhouGuangdongChina
| | - Nengjia Yang
- Department of Hepatobiliary‐Pancreatic & Hernia SurgeryGuangdong Second Provincial General HospitalGuangzhouGuangdongChina
- The Affiliated Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital of Jinan UniversityGuangzhouGuangdongChina
| | - Jiawei Zhou
- Department of Hepatobiliary‐Pancreatic & Hernia SurgeryGuangdong Second Provincial General HospitalGuangzhouGuangdongChina
- The Affiliated Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital of Jinan UniversityGuangzhouGuangdongChina
| | - Yuhui Lu
- Department of Hepatobiliary‐Pancreatic & Hernia SurgeryGuangdong Second Provincial General HospitalGuangzhouGuangdongChina
- The Affiliated Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital of Jinan UniversityGuangzhouGuangdongChina
| | - Siliang Chen
- Department of Interventional RadiologyGuangdong Second Provincial General HospitalGuangzhouGuangdongChina
| | - Xiancheng Zeng
- Department of Hepatobiliary‐Pancreatic & Hernia SurgeryGuangdong Second Provincial General HospitalGuangzhouGuangdongChina
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24
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Bao Y, Xu S, Zhou J, Zhao C, Dai S, Zhang Y, Rao M. Exosomal miR-93 derived from hepatocellular carcinoma cell promotes the sorafenib resistance of hepatocellular carcinoma through PTEN/PI3K/Akt pathway. J Biochem Mol Toxicol 2024; 38:e23666. [PMID: 38375688 DOI: 10.1002/jbt.23666] [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: 11/04/2023] [Revised: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024]
Abstract
Exosomal microRNAs (miRNAs) derived from cancer cell is an important regulatory molecule that mediates the formation of tumor drug resistance, but function and mechanisms of exosomal miRNA in sorafenib resistance of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have not been studied. We detected the level and prognosis of miR-93 in HCC by using TCGA HCC database. For confirming the extracted exosome, transmission electron microscopy was used. Cy3-labeled miR-93 and quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction were used to prove that exosomal miR-93 derived from HCC cell can be transferred to sensitive HCC cells. CCK8, EdU, and flow cytometer assay were used to confirm the function of exosomal miR-93 in sorafenib resistance of HCC. Bioinformatics software and luciferase reporter assay was used to confirm the direct targeting relationship between PTEN and miR-93. Western blot was used to validate downstream pathways. We found that miR-93 is overexpressed and a prognostic risk factor for the HCC patients. miR-93 was overexpressed in sorafenib resistant HCC cells compared with sensitive cells, and miR-93 contributed to sorafenib resistance of HCC cells through targeting PTEN. miR-93 was enriched in exosomes that secreted from sorafenib resistant cells, and these exosomal miR-93 promote the spread of sorafenib resistant through targeting PTEN to reactivate PI3K/AKT pathway. Therefore, miR-93 can act as a potential therapeutic target for advanced patients with acquired sorafenib resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanpeng Bao
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China
| | - Song Xu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China
| | - Junjing Zhou
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China
| | - Chongyong Zhao
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China
| | - Saimin Dai
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yong Zhang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China
| | - Min Rao
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China
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25
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Al-Ashmawy GM, El-Sherbeni SAEH, Ali DA, Abo-Saif MA. Chemotherapeutic effect of baicalein/epirubicin combination against liver cell carcinoma in-vitro: Inducing apoptosis and autophagy. Toxicol In Vitro 2024; 95:105744. [PMID: 38040128 DOI: 10.1016/j.tiv.2023.105744] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/24/2023] [Indexed: 12/03/2023]
Abstract
Flavonoids have a pivotal cytotoxic effect against hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The current study aimed to investigate which flavonoid isolated from Physalis pubescens L. leaves has the most cytotoxic effect against Hep-G2 liver cancer cells and if it could ameliorate epirubicin efficacy and safety. Baicalein trimethyl ether (BTME), rutin, quercitrin and myricitrin were isolated from Physalis Pubescens L. leaves. Hep-G2 cells were treated with the isolated flavonoids as well as a combination of BTME and epirubicin. Cell viability and the chromosomal DNA fragmentation in Hep-G2 cells were assessed. BTME showed the best cytotoxic effect against Hep-G2 cells. Combination of epirubicin with (200 μg/mL) BTME significantly decreased the IC50 of epirubicin from 2.79 ± 0.626 μg/mL to 0.76 ± 0.258 μg/mL. Moreover, the same combination significantly increased the IC50 of BTME against WI-38 normal cells. DNA fragmentation as well as the concentration of beclin 1 and Bax were significantly increased in Hep-G2 cells treated with BTME and BTME+epirubicin compared to untreated cells. Besides, BTME and BTME+epirubicin significantly decreased the gene expression of TGFβ1 whereas increased ATG-7 gene expression. Conclusions: BTME (200μg/mL) significantly enhanced epirubicin's cytotoxicity against Hep-G2 cells and ameliorated its safety profile. BTME could exert anti-hepatocarcinoma effect by enhancing apoptosis and autophagy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ghada Mohammad Al-Ashmawy
- Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tanta University, El-Gharbia, Tanta 31527, Egypt; Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al Salam University, El-Gharbia, Kafr Al Zaiyat 6615062, Egypt
| | | | - Dina Adam Ali
- Clinical Pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, El-Gharbia, Tanta 31527, Egypt
| | - Mariam Ali Abo-Saif
- Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tanta University, El-Gharbia, Tanta 31527, Egypt.
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26
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Wei S, Lu C, Mo S, Huang H, Chen M, Li S, Kong L, Zhang H, Hoa PTT, Han C, Luo X. Silencing of KIF2C enhances the sensitivity of hepatocellular carcinoma cells to cisplatin through regulating the PI3K/AKT/MAPK signaling pathway. Anticancer Drugs 2024; 35:237-250. [PMID: 38170762 DOI: 10.1097/cad.0000000000001563] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
In the treatment of unresectable advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), cisplatin is administered transhepatic arterially for local treatment, but the clinical application of cisplatin drugs is frequently hindered by the emergence of drug resistance. Kinesin family member 2C( KIF2C ) has been shown as oncogene in a variety of tumors. Nevertheless, its effect on cisplatin sensitivity has yet to be ascertained. Herein, we aim to investigate the impact of the KIF2C gene on cisplatin sensitivity within HCC and the plausible underlying molecular mechanism. We examined the expression level of the KIF2C gene in HCC cells by real-time quantitative reverse transcription PCR and Western blot analysis, and analyzed bioinformatically by The Gene Expression Omnibus database and The Cancer Genome Atlas database. The KIF2C gene was silenced using the small interfering RNA technology, and its effect on cisplatin drug sensitivity in HCC cells was evaluated by flow cytometry, cell proliferation, cell migration, and invasion assays. Our results indicated that KIF2C was highly expressed in HCC cells. KIF2C silencing inhibits HCC cell proliferation, migration and invasion, promotes apoptosis, and keeps the cell cycle in G2 phase. In addition, KIF2C silencing enhanced the sensitivity of HCC cells to cisplatin. KIF2C silencing down-regulates the expression levels of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), protein kinase B (AKT) and mitogen-activated protein kinase 3 (MAPK3) proteins. In conclusion, KIF2C silencing amplifies the sensitivity of HCC cells to cisplatin by regulating the PI3K/AKT/MAPK signaling pathway. Consequently, targeting KIF2C shows great application potential as a strategy for enhancing the effectiveness of HCC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuxin Wei
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangxi Medical University
- Key Laboratory of Early Prevention and Treatment for Regional High Frequency Tumor, Ministry of Education, Guangxi Medical University
| | - Chunmiao Lu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University
| | - Shutian Mo
- Key Laboratory of Early Prevention and Treatment for Regional High Frequency Tumor, Ministry of Education, Guangxi Medical University
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University
| | - Hailian Huang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangxi Medical University
- Key Laboratory of Early Prevention and Treatment for Regional High Frequency Tumor, Ministry of Education, Guangxi Medical University
| | - Meifeng Chen
- Key Laboratory of Early Prevention and Treatment for Regional High Frequency Tumor, Ministry of Education, Guangxi Medical University
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University
| | - Shuai Li
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangxi Medical University
| | - Luping Kong
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangxi Medical University
| | - Hao Zhang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangxi Medical University
| | - Pham Thi Thai Hoa
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Enhanced Recovery After Surgery for Gastrointestinal Cancer
| | - Chuangye Han
- Key Laboratory of Early Prevention and Treatment for Regional High Frequency Tumor, Ministry of Education, Guangxi Medical University
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Enhanced Recovery After Surgery for Gastrointestinal Cancer
| | - Xiaoling Luo
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangxi Medical University
- Key Laboratory of Early Prevention and Treatment for Regional High Frequency Tumor, Ministry of Education, Guangxi Medical University
- Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Nanning, China
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27
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Jing G, Xu W, Ma W, Yu Q, Zhu H, Liu C, Cheng Y, Guo Y, Qian H. Echinacea purpurea polysaccharide intervene in hepatocellular carcinoma via modulation of gut microbiota to inhibit TLR4/NF-κB pathway. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 261:129917. [PMID: 38309407 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.129917] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2023] [Revised: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 02/05/2024]
Abstract
Echinacea purpurea polysaccharide (EPP) exhibit various pharmacological activities, including immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, and anti-tumor effects. In this study, we investigated the potential mechanism of EPP intervention in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The results demonstrated that EPP effectively mitigated liver injury caused by HCC, inhibited the proliferation of HCC, and induced apoptosis. Following EPP intervention, there was a significant increase in propionic acid and butyric acid-producing gut microbiota such as Coprococcus, Clostridium and Roseburia, leading to enhanced expression of intestinal tight junction proteins and the repair of the intestinal barrier. This controls lipopolysaccharide (LPS) leakage, which in turn inhibits the TLR4/NF-κB pathway and reduces the expression of inflammatory factors such as IL-6, as well as migration factors like MMP-2. Metabolomics revealed the downregulation of pyrimidine metabolism and nucleotide metabolism, along with the upregulation of butyrate metabolism in tumor cells. This study demonstrated that EPP effectively regulated LPS leakage by modulating gut microbes, and this modulation influenced the TLR4/NF-κB pathway, ultimately disrupting tumor cell survival induced by HCC in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaoxiang Jing
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Wenqian Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Wei Ma
- Wuxi Yi-Hope Food Industry Development Co., Ltd., Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Qian Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Hongkang Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Chang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Yuliang Cheng
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Yahui Guo
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Food Safety and Quality Control in Jiangsu Province, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - He Qian
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China.
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28
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Wang S, Cheng H, Huang Y, Li M, Gao D, Chen H, Su R, Guo K. HSP90a promotes the resistance to oxaliplatin in HCC through regulating IDH1-induced cell competition. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Cell Res 2024; 1871:119680. [PMID: 38280407 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamcr.2024.119680] [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] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2023] [Revised: 01/06/2024] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 01/29/2024]
Abstract
Though burgeoning research manifests that cell competition, an essential selection and quality control mechanism for maintaining tissue or organ growth and homeostasis in multicellular organisms, is closely related to tumorigenesis and development, the mechanism of cell competition associated with tumor drug resistance remains elusive. In the study, we uncovered that oxaliplatin-resistant hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells exhibit a pronounced competitive advantage against their sensitive counterparts, which is related to lipid takeover of resistant cells from sensitive cells. Of note, such lipid takeover is dependent on the existence of isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1) in resistant HCC cells. Mechanistically, IDH1 activity is regulated by heat shock protein 90 alpha (HSP90α) through binding with each other, which orchestrates the expressions of lipid metabolic enzymes and lipid accumulation in resistant HCC cells. Our results suggest that HCC cell competition-driven chemoresistance can be regulated by HSP90α/IDH1-mediated lipid metabolism, which may serve as a promising target for overcoming drug resistance in HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sikai Wang
- Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Hongxia Cheng
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200434, China
| | - Yilan Huang
- Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Miaomiao Li
- Endoscopy Center, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Dongmei Gao
- Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Huaping Chen
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University Nanning, Guangxi 530021, China
| | - Ruxiong Su
- Puning People's Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangdong 515300, China
| | - Kun Guo
- Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, Shanghai 200032, China; Cancer Research Center, Institute of Biomedical Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.
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29
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Pal S, Kabeer SW, Sharma S, Tikoo K. l-Methionine potentiates anticancer activity of Sorafenib by epigenetically altering DUSP3/ERK pathway in hepatocellular carcinoma. J Biochem Mol Toxicol 2024; 38:e23663. [PMID: 38367245 DOI: 10.1002/jbt.23663] [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: 08/14/2023] [Revised: 12/29/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 02/19/2024]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third most common cancer-related cause of death worldwide. Although Sorafenib is the standard systemic therapy for treating HCC, but it develops resistance very quickly, leading to poor prognosis. The current study was planned to explore the effect of l-methionine on the anticancer activity of Sorafenib in HCC. Ten millimolar of l-methionine treatment significantly reduced the IC50 of Sorafenib from 5.513 ± 0.171 to 0.8095 ± 0.0465 µM in HepG2 cell line. It also resulted in concomitant increase in oxidative stress and deactivation of ERK/AMPK/AKT pathway. Additionally, it also resulted in the increased expression of dual specificity phosphatase 3 (DUSP3). In a rat model of sorafenib-resistant HCC induced by diethylnitrosamine (DEN) (100 mg/L/day) and Sorafenib (10 mg/kg), l-methionine (300 and 500 mg/kg/day) supplementation overcame the drug resistance, as indicated by the reduced formation of surface tumor nodules, prevention of cellular hypertrophy, hyperplasia and inflammation, and improved animal survival. Furthermore, l-methionine in combination with Sorafenib also inhibited AMPK/AKT and ERK pathway. At chromatin level, l-methionine supplementation prevented global methylation of H3K27me3, an inactivation mark, and demethylation of H3K36me2, an activation mark. Interestingly, our findings suggest that inhibition of the ERK pathway via increased activity of DUSP3 is epigenetically regulated. Besides, chromatin immunoprecipitation data exhibited augmented H3K36me2 (an activation mark) levels on the DUSP3 promoter region. To the best of our knowledge, we are the first to report that l-methionine supplementation improves the chemosensitivity in Sorafenib-resistant HCC via modulating the epigenetic landscape and can be a potential therapeutic strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Swagata Pal
- Laboratory of Epigenetics and Diseases, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), S.A.S. Nagar (Mohali), Punjab, India
| | - Shaheen Wasil Kabeer
- Laboratory of Epigenetics and Diseases, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), S.A.S. Nagar (Mohali), Punjab, India
| | - Shivam Sharma
- Laboratory of Epigenetics and Diseases, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), S.A.S. Nagar (Mohali), Punjab, India
| | - Kulbhushan Tikoo
- Laboratory of Epigenetics and Diseases, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), S.A.S. Nagar (Mohali), Punjab, India
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30
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Ma Z, Chen W, Liu Y, Yu L, Mao X, Guo X, Jiang F, Guo Q, Lin N, Zhang Y. Artesunate Sensitizes human hepatocellular carcinoma to sorafenib via exacerbating AFAP1L2-SRC-FUNDC1 axis-dependent mitophagy. Autophagy 2024; 20:541-556. [PMID: 37733919 PMCID: PMC10936616 DOI: 10.1080/15548627.2023.2261758] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2022] [Accepted: 09/16/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Sorafenib is the most widely used first-line drug for the treatment of the advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Unfortunately, sorafenib resistance often limits its therapeutic efficacy. To evaluate the efficacy of artesunate against sorafenib-resistant HCC and to investigate its underlying pharmacological mechanisms, a "sorafenib resistance related gene-ART candidate target" interaction network was constructed, and a signaling axis consisting with artesunate candidate target AFAP1L2 and sorafenib target SRC, and the downstream FUNDC1-dependent mitophagy was identified as a major contributor to the sorafenib resistance and a potential way of artesunate to mitigate resistance. Notably, our clinical data demonstrated that AFAP1L2 expression in HCC tissues was markedly higher than that in adjacent non-cancerous liver tissues (P < 0.05), and high AFAP1L2 expression was also significantly associated with an unfavorable overall survival of HCC patients (P < 0.05). Experimentally, AFAP1L2 was overexpressed in sorafenib resistant cells, leading to the activation of downstream SRC-FUNDC1 signaling axis, further blocking the FUNDC1 recruitment of LC3B to mitochondria and inhibiting the activation of mitophagy, based on both in vitro and in vivo systems. Moreover, artesunate significantly enhanced the inhibitory effects of sorafenib on resistant cells and tumors by inducing excessive mitophagy. Mechanically, artesunate reduced the expression of AFAP1L2 protein, suppressed the phosphorylation levels of SRC and FUNDC1 proteins, promoted the FUNDC1 recruitment of massive LC3B to mitochondria, and further overactivated the mitophagy and subsequent cell apoptosis of sorafenib resistant cells. In conclusion, artesunate may be a promising strategy to mitigate sorafenib resistance in HCC via exacerbating AFAP1L2-SRC-FUNDC1 axis-dependent mitophagy.Abbreviations: AFAP1L2, actin filament associated protein 1 like 2; ANOVA, analysis of variance; ANXA5, annexin V; ART: artesunate; CETSA, cellular thermal shift assay; CI: combination index; CO-IP: co-immunoprecipitation; CQ: chloroquine; CT, computed tomography; [18F]-FDG, fluoro-2-D-deoxyglucose F18; FUNDC1: FUN14 domain containing 1; GAPDH: glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase; HCC, hepatocellular carcinoma; H&E Staining: hematoxylin - eosin staining; HepG2R, sorafenib resistant HepG2; IF, immunofluorescence; IHC, immunohistochemistry; LAMP1: lysosomal associated membrane protein 1; MAP1LC3B/LC3B: microtubule associated protein 1 light chain 3 beta; miR, microRNA; mRNA: messenger RNA; OE, overexpression; OS, overall survival; PET, positron emission tomography; qRT-PCR: quantitative real-time PCR; sh, short hairpin; shNC: negative control shRNA; shAFAP1L2: short hairpin AFAP1L2; SORA, sorafenib; SPR, surface plasmon resonance; SRC, SRC proto-oncogene, non-receptor tyrosine kinase; SUV, standardized uptake value; TEM, transmission electron microscopy; TOMM20: translocase of outer mitochondrial membrane 20.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhaochen Ma
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Wenjia Chen
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yudong Liu
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Lingxiang Yu
- The Fifth Medical Centre, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Xia Mao
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaodong Guo
- The Fifth Medical Centre, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Funeng Jiang
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Clinical Molecular Medicine and Diagnostics, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Qiuyan Guo
- Artemisinin Research Center, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Na Lin
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yanqiong Zhang
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
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Chen Y, Song Z, Hou X, Liu J, Zheng C, Zhao X, Lv G, Li J, Xiu Y, Shi W, Zhao J, Yang H, Wang Y, Zhao J, Zhan X, Niu M, Zou W, Bai Z, Xiao X. Liuweiwuling Tablet relieves the inflammatory transformation of hepatocellular carcinoma by inhibiting the PI3K/AKT/NF-κB signaling pathway. J Ethnopharmacol 2024; 321:117406. [PMID: 37952733 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2023.117406] [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] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Liuweiwuling Tablet (LWWL) is a patented Chinese medicine approved by the Chinese National Medical Products Administration (NMPA). Clinically, it is used to treat a range of liver diseases that precede hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), including hepatitis, liver fibrosis and cirrhosis. LWWL is hypothesized to inhibit the inflammatory transformation of HCC, which may have a positive impact on the prevention and treatment of HCC. However, its exact mechanism of action remains unknown. AIM OF THE STUDY To investigate how LWWL is effective in the treatment of HCC and to validate the pathways involved in this process. MATERIALS AND METHODS An in vivo model of HCC induced by diethylnitrosamine (DEN) was established to study the effect of LWWL on the development of HCC. The rat serum was analyzed for aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (γ-GT). The rat liver tissues were stained with hematoxylin and eosin (HE) and Masson's trichrome for pathological analysis. Rat liver tissue was subjected to transcriptome sequencing. Expression of inflammatory and liver fibrosis-related factors in bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) and LX-2 cells was detected by QRT-PCR, ELISA and Western blot (WB). The expression of apoptosis and stemness genes in HepG2 and Huh7 cells was assessed through flow cytometry and QRT-PCR. Transcriptomics, network pharmacology, WB, and QRT-PCR were employed to validate the mechanisms associated with the amelioration of HCC development by LWWL. RESULTS LWWL significantly reduced the severity of hepatitis and liver fibrosis, the expression of tumor stemness genes, and the incidence of HCC. In addition, LWWL inhibited the release of inflammatory substances and nuclear accumulation of P65 protein in BMDMs as well as the conversion of LX-2 cells to fibroblasts. LWWL inhibited the proliferation of HepG2 and Huh7 cells, including the initiation of apoptosis and the reduction of stemness gene expression. Importantly, LWWL regulates the PI3K/AKT/NF-κB pathway, which affects hepatic inflammation and cancer progression. CONCLUSION LWWL inhibited the occurrence and development of HCC by modulating the severity of hepatitis and liver fibrosis, indicating the potential clinical relevance of LWWL in preventing and treating HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanyuan Chen
- College of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611100, China; Department of Hepatology, the Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100039, China
| | - Zheng Song
- Peking University 302 Clinical Medical School, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Xiaorong Hou
- College of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611100, China; Department of Hepatology, the Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100039, China
| | - Jia Liu
- College of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611100, China
| | - Congyang Zheng
- Digestive Department of the Second Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100853, China
| | - Xiaomei Zhao
- College of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611100, China; Department of Hepatology, the Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100039, China
| | - Guiji Lv
- Department of Hepatology, the Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100039, China
| | - Junjie Li
- Department of Hepatology, the Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100039, China
| | - Ye Xiu
- Department of Hepatology, the Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100039, China
| | - Wei Shi
- Department of Hepatology, the Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100039, China
| | - Jia Zhao
- Department of Hepatology, the Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100039, China
| | - Huijie Yang
- Department of Hepatology, the Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100039, China
| | - Yan Wang
- Department of Hepatology, the Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100039, China
| | - Jun Zhao
- Department of Hepatology, the Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100039, China
| | - Xiaoyan Zhan
- Department of Hepatology, the Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100039, China; National Key Laboratory of Kidney Diseases, Beijing, 100039, China
| | - Ming Niu
- Department of Hepatology, the Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100039, China
| | - Wenjun Zou
- College of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611100, China.
| | - Zhaofang Bai
- College of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611100, China; Department of Hepatology, the Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100039, China; National Key Laboratory of Kidney Diseases, Beijing, 100039, China.
| | - Xiaohe Xiao
- College of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611100, China; Department of Hepatology, the Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100039, China; National Key Laboratory of Kidney Diseases, Beijing, 100039, China.
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Wang M, Li Y, Li S, Wang T, Wang M, Wu H, Zhang M, Luo S, Zhao C, Li Q, Cheng H. Cinobufacini injection delays hepatocellular carcinoma progression by regulating lipid metabolism via SREBP1 signaling pathway and affecting macrophage polarization. J Ethnopharmacol 2024; 321:117472. [PMID: 37995825 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2023.117472] [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] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2023] [Revised: 11/05/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Cinobufacini injection, an aqueous extract of the toad, is a commonly used anti-tumor animal herbal medicine in clinical practice. It has the effects of detoxifying, reducing swelling, and relieving pain. AIMS OF THE STUDY To investigate the effects of Cinobufacini injection on hepatocellular carcinoma progression by regulating lipid metabolism and macrophage polarization in the tumor microenvironment and to identify the potential molecular mechanisms. MATERIALS AND METHODS To establish the axillary transplantation tumor model of hepatocellular carcinoma Hepa1-6 in C57BL/6 mice, and to evaluate the inhibitory effect of Cinobufacini injection on hepatocellular carcinoma in vivo as well as drug delivery security. Combined metabolomics and transcriptomics analysis of the effect of Cinobufagin Injection on tumor microenvironment. An in vitro mouse co-culture model of peritoneal macrophages and Hepa1-6 cells was established to research the effects of Cinobufacini injection on macrophage polarization, hepatocellular carcinoma cell growth, migration, and changes in lipid metabolism. Cinobufacini injection inhibition of the AMPK/SREBP1/FASN signaling pathway regulating cholesterol metabolism and affecting macrophage polarization was examined using qRT-PCR, lentiviral transfection, immunofluorescence, and Western blot. RESULT In vivo experiments demonstrated that Cinobufacini injection treatment significantly inhibited the growth of Hepa1-6 hepatomas, along with a reduction in cholesterol content and a decrease in the percentage of M2 macrophages in tumor tissue. In vitro, we found that Cinobufacini injection inhibits IL-4-induced M2 macrophage polarization, reduces the cholesterol content of Hepa1-6 cells in a co-culture system, and inhibits the promotion of hepatocellular carcinoma cells by M2 macrophages. In addition, successful overexpression of SREBP1 in Hepa1-6 cells showed more pronounced cellular activity whereas Cinobufacini injection inhibited this change and reduced intracellular lipid levels. CONCLUSION Cinobufacini injection inhibits cholesterol synthesis within the tumor microenvironment via the AMPK/SERBP1/FASN signaling pathway, which in turn blocks the M2 polarization of macrophages, leading to the weakening of hepatocellular carcinoma growth and migration, and the promotion of its apoptosis. Our findings provide an important Introduction to understanding the molecular mechanism of Cinobufacini injection's anticancer activity and provide reliable theoretical and experimental support for its clinical application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng Wang
- Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Key Laboratory of Xin'an Medicine, China, The Functional Activity and Resource Utilization on Edible and Medicinal Fungi Joint Laboratory of Anhui Province, Hefei, 230038, China
| | - Yueyue Li
- Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Key Laboratory of Xin'an Medicine, China, The Functional Activity and Resource Utilization on Edible and Medicinal Fungi Joint Laboratory of Anhui Province, Hefei, 230038, China
| | - Shanshan Li
- Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Key Laboratory of Xin'an Medicine, China, The Functional Activity and Resource Utilization on Edible and Medicinal Fungi Joint Laboratory of Anhui Province, Hefei, 230038, China
| | - Ting Wang
- Oncology Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui 230000, China
| | - Manman Wang
- Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Key Laboratory of Xin'an Medicine, China, The Functional Activity and Resource Utilization on Edible and Medicinal Fungi Joint Laboratory of Anhui Province, Hefei, 230038, China
| | - Huan Wu
- Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Key Laboratory of Xin'an Medicine, China, The Functional Activity and Resource Utilization on Edible and Medicinal Fungi Joint Laboratory of Anhui Province, Hefei, 230038, China
| | - Mei Zhang
- Oncology Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui 230000, China
| | - Shengyong Luo
- Anhui Academy of Medical Sciences, Hefei, 230061, China
| | - Cheng Zhao
- Anqing Shihua Hospital of Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Group, Anqing, 264000, China
| | - Qinglin Li
- Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Key Laboratory of Xin'an Medicine, China, The Functional Activity and Resource Utilization on Edible and Medicinal Fungi Joint Laboratory of Anhui Province, Hefei, 230038, China.
| | - Hui Cheng
- Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Key Laboratory of Xin'an Medicine, China, The Functional Activity and Resource Utilization on Edible and Medicinal Fungi Joint Laboratory of Anhui Province, Hefei, 230038, China.
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Ji X, Yang Z, Li C, Zhu S, Zhang Y, Xue F, Sun S, Fu T, Ding C, Liu Y, Wan Q. Mitochondrial ribosomal protein L12 potentiates hepatocellular carcinoma by regulating mitochondrial biogenesis and metabolic reprogramming. Metabolism 2024; 152:155761. [PMID: 38104924 DOI: 10.1016/j.metabol.2023.155761] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2023] [Revised: 12/09/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mitochondrial dysfunction and metabolic reprogramming are key features of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Despite its significance, the precise underlying mechanism behind these processes has not been fully elucidated. The latest investigations, along with our previous discoveries, have substantiated the significant role of mitochondrial ribosomal protein L12 (MRPL12), a newly identified gene involved in mitochondrial transcription regulation, in the modulation of mitochondrial metabolism. Nevertheless, the role of MRPL12 in tumorigenesis has yet to be investigated. METHODS The expression of MRPL12 in HCC was assessed using an online database. Western blot, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), and immunohistochemistry (IHC) were employed to determine the expression of MRPL12 in HCC tissues, patient-derived organoid (PDO), and cell lines. The correlation between MRPL12 expression and clinicopathological features, as well as prognosis, was examined using tissue microarray analysis. An in vivo subcutaneous tumor xenograft model, gene knockdown or overexpression assay, chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay, Seahorse XF96 assay, and cell function assay were employed to investigate the biological function and potential molecular mechanism of MRPL12 in HCC. RESULTS A significant upregulation of MRPL12 was observed in HCC cells, PDO and patient tissues, which correlated with advanced tumor stage, higher grade and poor prognosis. MRPL12 overexpression promoted cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in vitro, as well as tumorigenicity in vivo, whereas MRPL12 knockdown showed the opposite effect. MRPL12 knockdown also inhibited the capacity of organoids proliferation capacity. Furthermore, MRPL12 was found to be crucial for maintaining mitochondrial homeostasis. Both gain and loss-of-function experiments targeting MRPL12 in HCC cells altered oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) and mitochondrial DNA content. Notably, suppression of OXPHOS effectively mitigates the tumor-promoting effect attributed to MRPL12 overexpression, implying the involvement of MRPL12 in HCC through the modulation of mitochondrial metabolism. Besides, Yin Yang 1 (YY1) was identified as a transcription factor responsible for regulating MRPL12, while the PI3K/mTOR pathway was found to act as an upstream regulator of YY1. MRPL12 knockdown attenuated the YY1 overexpression or PI3K/mTOR activation-induced malignant phenotype in HCC cells. CONCLUSION Our findings provide compelling evidence that MRPL12 is implicated in driving the malignant phenotype of HCC via regulating mitochondrial metabolism. Moreover, the aberrant expression of MRPL12 in HCC is mediated by the upstream PI3K/mTOR/YY1 pathway. These results highlight the potential of targeting MRPL12 as a promising therapeutic strategy for the treatment of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingzhao Ji
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong 250021, China; Shandong Key Laboratory of Infections Respiratory Disease, Medical Science and Technology Innovation Center, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Zhen Yang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong 250021, China
| | - Chensheng Li
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong 250021, China
| | - Suwei Zhu
- Department of Critical-Care Medicine, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong 250021, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250021, China
| | - Fuyuan Xue
- Key Laboratory of Cell Metabolism in Medical and Health of Shandong Provincial Health Commission, Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong 250021, China
| | - Shengnan Sun
- Key Laboratory of Cell Metabolism in Medical and Health of Shandong Provincial Health Commission, Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong 250021, China
| | - Tingting Fu
- Key Laboratory of Cell Metabolism in Medical and Health of Shandong Provincial Health Commission, Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong 250021, China
| | - Can Ding
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Jinan Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong 250012, China
| | - Yi Liu
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong 250021, China; Shandong Key Laboratory of Infections Respiratory Disease, Medical Science and Technology Innovation Center, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, China.
| | - Qiang Wan
- Key Laboratory of Cell Metabolism in Medical and Health of Shandong Provincial Health Commission, Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong 250021, China.
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Zhu J, Tang W, Fang P, Wang C, Gu M, Yang W, Pan B, Wang B, Guo W. STRN3 promotes tumour growth in hepatocellular carcinoma by inhibiting the hippo pathway. J Cell Mol Med 2024; 28:e18147. [PMID: 38429901 PMCID: PMC10907822 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.18147] [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: 08/28/2023] [Revised: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 03/03/2024] Open
Abstract
HCC is a globally high-incidence malignant tumour, and its pathogenesis is still unclear. Recently, STRN3 has been found to be elevated in various tumours, but its expression and biological functions in HCC have not been studied. In the study, clinical correlation analysis was performed on 371 liver cancer patients from TCGA database and liver cancer tissues and normal tissues from the GEO database. qRT-PCR and western blotting were used to detect relevant proteins in cells, and CCK8 and colony formation experiments were performed to analyse cell proliferation ability. Transwell and wound healing experiments were performed to detect cell invasion ability, and flow cytometry was used to detect cell apoptosis. Single-cell sequencing data and multiple immunofluorescence were analysed for the expression abundance and distribution of certain proteins. Immunohistochemistry was used to assess the expression of STRN3 in patients' tumour and adjacent non-cancerous tissues. The results indicated STRN3 was highly expressed in liver tumour tissues and was closely associated with poor prognosis. Knockdown of STRN3 could significantly inhibit cell proliferation and migration ability. At the same time, we found that STRN3 could inhibit the Hippo pathway and promote the entry of YAP protein into the nucleus. Our study first found that STRN3 could promote tumour growth by inhibiting the Hippo pathway. The study of STRN3 can promote the understanding and treatment of the occurrence and development of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Zhu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Zhongshan HospitalFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Wenjia Tang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Zhongshan HospitalFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Peiqi Fang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Zhongshan HospitalFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Chong Wang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Zhongshan HospitalFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Meixiu Gu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Zhongshan HospitalFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Wenjing Yang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Zhongshan HospitalFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Baishen Pan
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Zhongshan HospitalFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Beili Wang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Zhongshan HospitalFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Wei Guo
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Zhongshan HospitalFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Shanghai Geriatric Medical Center, Zhongshan HospitalFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Xiamen Branch, Zhongshan HospitalFudan UniversityXiamenChina
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Wusong Branch, Zhongshan HospitalFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
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Huang L, Che Z, Liu F, Ge M, Wu Z, Wu L, Chen W, Wang Z, Zhu Z, Xu W, Dong Q, Yang D. ASB3 promotes hepatocellular carcinoma progression by mediating DR5 ubiquitination in TRAIL resistance. FASEB J 2024; 38:e23475. [PMID: 38334450 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202301755r] [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: 08/31/2023] [Revised: 12/24/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024]
Abstract
Ankyrin-repeat proteins with a suppressor of cytokine signaling box (ASB) proteins belong to the E3 ubiquitin ligase family. 18 ASB members have been identified whose biological functions are mostly unexplored. Here, we discovered that ASB3 was essential for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development and high ASB3 expression predicted poor clinical outcomes. ASB3 silencing induced HCC cell growth arrest and apoptosis in vitro and in vivo. Liver-specific deletion of Asb3 gene suppressed diethylnitrosamine (DEN)-induced liver cancer development. Mechanistically, ASB3 interacted with death receptor 5 (DR5), which promoted ubiquitination and degradation of DR5. We further showed that ASB3 knockdown stabilized DR5 and increased the sensitivity of liver cancer cells to the treatment of tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) in a DR5-dependent manner in cellular and in animal models. In summary, we demonstrated that ASB3 promoted ubiquitination and degradation of DR5 in HCC, suggesting the potential of targeting ASB3 to HCC treatment and overcome TRAIL resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linlin Huang
- Central Laboratory, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhihui Che
- Central Laboratory, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Fuchen Liu
- The Third Department of Hepatic Surgery, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Mengxiao Ge
- Central Laboratory, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhaohui Wu
- Cullgen Inc., San Diego, California, USA
| | - Lijun Wu
- Fudan University Library, Shanghai, China
| | - Wenwen Chen
- Central Laboratory, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zuoyun Wang
- Department of Human Anatomy and Histoembryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhiling Zhu
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, China
| | - Wei Xu
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Qiongzhu Dong
- Key Laboratory of Whole-period Monitoring and Precise Intervention of Digestive Cancer, Shanghai Municipal Health Commission (SMHC), Minhang Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Dongqin Yang
- Central Laboratory, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
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Li Z, Zhao J, Wu Y, Fan S, Yuan H, Xia J, Hu L, Yang J, Liu J, Wu X, Lin R, Yang L. TRAF2 decrease promotes the TGF-β-mTORC1 signal in MAFLD-HCC through enhancing AXIN1-mediated Smad7 degradation. FASEB J 2024; 38:e23491. [PMID: 38363556 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202302307r] [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: 11/08/2023] [Revised: 01/13/2024] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
According to recent research, metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) has emerged as an important underlying etiology of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the molecular mechanism of MAFLD-HCC is still unclear. Tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 2 (TRAF2) is the key molecule to mediate the signal of inflammatory NF-κB pathway. This study aims to investigate the potential dysregulation of TRAF2 and its biological function in MAFLD-HCC. Huh7 TRAF2-/- demonstrated increased tumor formation ability compared to huh7 TRAF2+/+ when stimulated with transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β). The decisive role of TGF-β in the development of MAFLD-HCC was confirmed through the specific depletion of TGF-β receptor II gene in the hepatocytes (Tgfbr2ΔHep) of mice. In TRAF2-/- cells treated with TGF-β, both the glycolysis rate and lipid synthesis were enhanced. We proved the signal of the mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) could be activated in the presence of TGF-β, and was enhanced in TRAF2-/- cells. The coimmunoprecipitation (co-IP) experiments revealed that TRAF2 fortified the Smurf2-mediated ubiquitination degradation of AXIN1. Hence, TRAF2 depletion resulted in increased Smad7 degradation induced by AXIN1, thus promoting the TGF-β signal. We also discovered that PLX-4720 could bind with AXIN1 and restrained the tumor proliferation of TRAF2-/- in mice fed with high-fat diet (HFD). Our findings indicate that TRAF2 plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of MAFLD-HCC. The reduction of TRAF2 expression leads to the enhancement of the TGF-β-mTORC1 pathway by facilitating AXIN1-mediated Smad7 degradation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhonglin Li
- Division of Gastroenterology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Jinfang Zhao
- Division of Gastroenterology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Ya Wu
- Institute of Resource Biology and Biotechnology, Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Siyuan Fan
- Cardiovascular Medicine Department, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Hang Yuan
- Division of Gastroenterology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Jing Xia
- Division of Gastroenterology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Lilin Hu
- Division of Gastroenterology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Jingze Yang
- Division of Gastroenterology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Jiazheng Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Macau Institute for Applied Research in Medicine and Health, Macau University of Science and Technology, Taipa, Macau, China
| | - Xuefeng Wu
- Shanghai Institute of Immunology, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Rong Lin
- Division of Gastroenterology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Ling Yang
- Division of Gastroenterology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
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Benichou E, Seffou B, Topçu S, Renoult O, Lenoir V, Planchais J, Bonner C, Postic C, Prip-Buus C, Pecqueur C, Guilmeau S, Alves-Guerra MC, Dentin R. The transcription factor ChREBP Orchestrates liver carcinogenesis by coordinating the PI3K/AKT signaling and cancer metabolism. Nat Commun 2024; 15:1879. [PMID: 38424041 PMCID: PMC10904844 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45548-w] [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: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Cancer cells integrate multiple biosynthetic demands to drive unrestricted proliferation. How these cellular processes crosstalk to fuel cancer cell growth is still not fully understood. Here, we uncover the mechanisms by which the transcription factor Carbohydrate responsive element binding protein (ChREBP) functions as an oncogene during hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development. Mechanistically, ChREBP triggers the expression of the PI3K regulatory subunit p85α, to sustain the activity of the pro-oncogenic PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in HCC. In parallel, increased ChREBP activity reroutes glucose and glutamine metabolic fluxes into fatty acid and nucleic acid synthesis to support PI3K/AKT-mediated HCC growth. Thus, HCC cells have a ChREBP-driven circuitry that ensures balanced coordination between PI3K/AKT signaling and appropriate cell anabolism to support HCC development. Finally, pharmacological inhibition of ChREBP by SBI-993 significantly suppresses in vivo HCC tumor growth. Overall, we show that targeting ChREBP with specific inhibitors provides an attractive therapeutic window for HCC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emmanuel Benichou
- Université Paris Cité, Institut Cochin, INSERM, CNRS, F-75014, Paris, France
| | - Bolaji Seffou
- Université Paris Cité, Institut Cochin, INSERM, CNRS, F-75014, Paris, France
| | - Selin Topçu
- Université Paris Cité, Institut Cochin, INSERM, CNRS, F-75014, Paris, France
| | - Ophélie Renoult
- Nantes Université, INSERM U1307, CNRS 6075, CRCI2NA, Nantes, France
| | - Véronique Lenoir
- Université Paris Cité, Institut Cochin, INSERM, CNRS, F-75014, Paris, France
| | - Julien Planchais
- Université Paris Cité, Institut Cochin, INSERM, CNRS, F-75014, Paris, France
| | - Caroline Bonner
- Institut Pasteur de Lille, Lille, France
- INSERM, U1011, Lille, France
- European Genomic Institute for Diabetes, Lille, France
- Université de Lille, Lille, France
| | - Catherine Postic
- Université Paris Cité, Institut Cochin, INSERM, CNRS, F-75014, Paris, France
| | - Carina Prip-Buus
- Université Paris Cité, Institut Cochin, INSERM, CNRS, F-75014, Paris, France
| | - Claire Pecqueur
- Nantes Université, INSERM U1307, CNRS 6075, CRCI2NA, Nantes, France
| | - Sandra Guilmeau
- Université Paris Cité, Institut Cochin, INSERM, CNRS, F-75014, Paris, France
| | | | - Renaud Dentin
- Université Paris Cité, Institut Cochin, INSERM, CNRS, F-75014, Paris, France.
- Institut Cochin, Faculté de Médecine 3ème étage, 24 Rue du Faubourg Saint Jacques, 75014, Paris, France.
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Yang F, Lin Q, Song X, Huang H, Chen X, Tan J, Li Y, Zhou Y, Tu Z, Du H, Zhang ZM, Ortega R, Lin X, Patterson AV, Smaill JB, Chen Y, Lu X. Discovery of 6-Formylpyridyl Urea Derivatives as Potent Reversible-Covalent Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor 4 Inhibitors with Improved Anti-Hepatocellular Carcinoma Activity. J Med Chem 2024; 67:2667-2689. [PMID: 38348819 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c01810] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
Fibroblast growth factor receptor 4 (FGFR4) has been considered as a potential anticancer target due to FGF19/FGFR4 mediated aberrant signaling in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Several FGFR4 inhibitors have been reported, but none have gained approval. Herein, a series of 5-formyl-pyrrolo[3,2-b]pyridine-3-carboxamides and a series of 6-formylpyridyl ureas were characterized as selective reversible-covalent FGFR4 inhibitors. The representative 6-formylpyridyl urea 8z exhibited excellent potency against FGFR4WT, FGFR4V550L, and FGFR4V550M with IC50 values of 16.3, 12.6, and 57.3 nM, respectively. It also potently suppressed proliferation of Ba/F3 cells driven by FGFR4WT, FGFR4V550L, and FGFR4V550M, and FGFR4-dependent Hep3B and Huh7 HCC cells, with IC50 values of 1.2, 13.5, 64.5, 15.0, and 20.4 nM, respectively. Furthermore, 8z displayed desirable microsomal stability and significant in vivo efficacy in the Huh7 HCC cancer xenograft model in nude mice. The study provides a promising new lead for anticancer drug discovery directed toward overcoming FGFR4 gatekeeper mutation mediated resistance in HCC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fang Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, International Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization and Innovative Drug Discovery of Chinese Ministry of Education (MOE), School of Pharmacy, Jinan University, #855 Xingye Avenue, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Qianmeng Lin
- Department of Oncology, NHC Key Laboratory of Cancer Proteomics, State Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Anticancer Drugs, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
| | - Xiaojuan Song
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, International Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization and Innovative Drug Discovery of Chinese Ministry of Education (MOE), School of Pharmacy, Jinan University, #855 Xingye Avenue, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Huisi Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, International Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization and Innovative Drug Discovery of Chinese Ministry of Education (MOE), School of Pharmacy, Jinan University, #855 Xingye Avenue, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Xiaojuan Chen
- Department of Oncology, NHC Key Laboratory of Cancer Proteomics, State Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Anticancer Drugs, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
| | - Jianwen Tan
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, International Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization and Innovative Drug Discovery of Chinese Ministry of Education (MOE), School of Pharmacy, Jinan University, #855 Xingye Avenue, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Yun Li
- Department of Oncology, NHC Key Laboratory of Cancer Proteomics, State Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Anticancer Drugs, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
| | - Yang Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, International Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization and Innovative Drug Discovery of Chinese Ministry of Education (MOE), School of Pharmacy, Jinan University, #855 Xingye Avenue, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Zhengchao Tu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, International Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization and Innovative Drug Discovery of Chinese Ministry of Education (MOE), School of Pharmacy, Jinan University, #855 Xingye Avenue, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Hongli Du
- South China University of Technology, Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Centre, Panyu District, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Zhi-Min Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, International Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization and Innovative Drug Discovery of Chinese Ministry of Education (MOE), School of Pharmacy, Jinan University, #855 Xingye Avenue, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Raquel Ortega
- Auckland Cancer Society Research Centre, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, The University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
| | - Xiaojing Lin
- Auckland Cancer Society Research Centre, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, The University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
| | - Adam V Patterson
- Auckland Cancer Society Research Centre, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, The University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
- Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery, The University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
| | - Jeff B Smaill
- Auckland Cancer Society Research Centre, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, The University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
- Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery, The University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
| | - Yongheng Chen
- Department of Oncology, NHC Key Laboratory of Cancer Proteomics, State Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Anticancer Drugs, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
| | - Xiaoyun Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, International Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization and Innovative Drug Discovery of Chinese Ministry of Education (MOE), School of Pharmacy, Jinan University, #855 Xingye Avenue, Guangzhou 510632, China
- Department of Hematology, Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
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Li T, Huang HY, Qian B, Wang WH, Yuan Q, Zhang HY, He J, Ni KJ, Wang P, Zhao ZY, He JL, Fu SW, Xu L, Lin YC, Lin ZN. Interventing mitochondrial PD-L1 suppressed IFN-γ-induced cancer stemness in hepatocellular carcinoma by sensitizing sorafenib-induced ferroptosis. Free Radic Biol Med 2024; 212:360-374. [PMID: 38171407 DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2023.12.034] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Evidence recently showed that pleiotropic cytokine interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) in the tumor microenvironment (TME) plays a positive role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression through the regulation of liver cancer stem cells (LCSCs) in HCC. The present study explored the role and potential mechanism of mitochondrial programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) and its regulation of ferroptosis in modulating the cancer stemness of LCSCs. It was shown that mimicking TME IFN-γ exposure increased the LCSCs ratio and cancer stemness phenotypes in HCC cells. IFN-γ exposure inhibited sorafenib (Sora)-induced ferroptosis by enhancing glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) expression as well reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lipid peroxidation (LPO) generation in LCSCs. Furthermore, IFN-γ exposure upregulated PD-L1 expression and its mitochondrial translocation, inducing dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1)-dependent mitochondrial fission and correlating with glycolytic metabolism reprogramming in LCSCs. The genetic intervention of PD-L1 promoted ferroptosis-dependent anti-tumor effects of Sora, reduced glycolytic metabolism reprogramming, and inhibited cancer stemness of HCC in vitro and in vivo. Our results revealed a novel mechanism that IFN-γ exposure-induced mitochondrial translocation of PD-L1 enhanced glycolytic reprogramming to mediate the GPX4-dependent ferroptosis resistance and cancer stemness in LCSCs. This study provided new insights into the role of mitochondrial PD-L1-Drp1-GPX4 signal axis in regulating IFN-γ exposure-associated cancer stemness in LCSCs and verified that PD-L1-targeted intervention in combination with Sora might achieve promising synergistic anti-HCC effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting Li
- State Key Laboratory of Vaccines for Infectious Diseases, Xiang An Biomedicine Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, National Innovation Platform for Industry-Education Integration in Vaccine Research, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China
| | - Hai-Yan Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Vaccines for Infectious Diseases, Xiang An Biomedicine Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, National Innovation Platform for Industry-Education Integration in Vaccine Research, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China
| | - Bo Qian
- State Key Laboratory of Vaccines for Infectious Diseases, Xiang An Biomedicine Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, National Innovation Platform for Industry-Education Integration in Vaccine Research, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China
| | - Wei-Hua Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Vaccines for Infectious Diseases, Xiang An Biomedicine Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, National Innovation Platform for Industry-Education Integration in Vaccine Research, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China
| | - Qi Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Vaccines for Infectious Diseases, Xiang An Biomedicine Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, National Innovation Platform for Industry-Education Integration in Vaccine Research, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China
| | - Han-Yu Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Vaccines for Infectious Diseases, Xiang An Biomedicine Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, National Innovation Platform for Industry-Education Integration in Vaccine Research, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China
| | - Jie He
- State Key Laboratory of Vaccines for Infectious Diseases, Xiang An Biomedicine Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, National Innovation Platform for Industry-Education Integration in Vaccine Research, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China
| | - Ke-Jian Ni
- State Key Laboratory of Vaccines for Infectious Diseases, Xiang An Biomedicine Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, National Innovation Platform for Industry-Education Integration in Vaccine Research, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China
| | - Pan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Vaccines for Infectious Diseases, Xiang An Biomedicine Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, National Innovation Platform for Industry-Education Integration in Vaccine Research, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China
| | - Zhuo-Ying Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Vaccines for Infectious Diseases, Xiang An Biomedicine Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, National Innovation Platform for Industry-Education Integration in Vaccine Research, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China
| | - Jun-Lin He
- State Key Laboratory of Vaccines for Infectious Diseases, Xiang An Biomedicine Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, National Innovation Platform for Industry-Education Integration in Vaccine Research, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China
| | - Shi-Wei Fu
- State Key Laboratory of Vaccines for Infectious Diseases, Xiang An Biomedicine Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, National Innovation Platform for Industry-Education Integration in Vaccine Research, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China
| | - Ling Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Vaccines for Infectious Diseases, Xiang An Biomedicine Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, National Innovation Platform for Industry-Education Integration in Vaccine Research, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China
| | - Yu-Chun Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Vaccines for Infectious Diseases, Xiang An Biomedicine Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, National Innovation Platform for Industry-Education Integration in Vaccine Research, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China.
| | - Zhong-Ning Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Vaccines for Infectious Diseases, Xiang An Biomedicine Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, National Innovation Platform for Industry-Education Integration in Vaccine Research, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China.
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Jiang M, Wang D, Su N, Lou W, Chen Y, Yang H, Chen C, Xi F, Chen Y, Deng L, Tang X. TRIM65 knockout inhibits the development of HCC by polarization tumor-associated macrophages towards M1 phenotype via JAK1/STAT1 signaling pathway. Int Immunopharmacol 2024; 128:111494. [PMID: 38218012 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2024.111494] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Revised: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 01/15/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are main components of immune cells in tumor microenvironment (TME), and play a crucial role in tumor progression. Tripartite motif-containing protein 65 (TRIM65) has been associated with tumor progression. However, whether TRIM65 regulate the interaction of tumor cell and TAMs in HCC and the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. In this study, we investigated the role of TRIM65 in TME of HCC and explored its underlying mechanisms. METHODS The relation of TRIM65 expression level with tumor grades, TNM stages, and worse prognosis of HCC patients was evaluated by bioinformatics analysis, as well as immune infiltration level of macrophages. TRIM65 shRNA was transfected into HepG2 cells, and TRIM65 overexpression plasmid was transfected into Huh7 cells, and the effect of TRIM65 on cell growth was examined by EdU assay. The mouse subcutaneous Hep1-6 tumor-bearing model with WT and TRIM65-/- mice was established to study the role of TRIM65 in HCC. Immunohistochemistry staining, Immunofluorescence staining, qRT-PCR and western blot were performed to evaluate the effect of TRIM65 on TAM infiltration, TAM polarization and JAK1/STAT1 signaling pathway. RESULTS Bioinformatics analysis revealed that TRIM65 was upregulated in 16 types of cancer especially in HCC, and high level of TRIM65 was strongly correlated with higher tumor grades, TNM stages, and worse prognosis of patients with HCC as well as immune infiltration level of macrophages (M0, M1, and M2). Moreover, we observed that TRIM65 shRNA-mediated TRIM65 knockdown significantly inhibited the HepG2 cells growth while TRIM65 overexpression highly increased the Huh7 cells growth in vitro. TRIM65 knockout significantly inhibited the tumor growth as well as macrophages polarization towards M2 but promoted macrophages polarization towards M1 in vivo. Mechanistically, the results demonstrate that TRIM65 knockout promoted macrophage M1 polarization in conditioned medium-stimulated peritoneal macrophages and in tumor tissues by activating JAK1/STAT1 signaling pathway. CONCLUSIONS Taken together, our study suggests that tumor cells utilize TRIM65-JAK1/STAT1 axis to inhibit macrophage M1 polarization and promote tumor growth, reveals the role of TRIM65 in TAM-targeting tumor immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meixiu Jiang
- The National Engineering Research Center for Bioengineering Drugs and the Technologies, Institute of Translational Medicine, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, 999 Xuefu Road, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330031, China
| | - Dan Wang
- The National Engineering Research Center for Bioengineering Drugs and the Technologies, Institute of Translational Medicine, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, 999 Xuefu Road, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330031, China
| | - Ning Su
- Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, 999 Xuefu Road, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330031, China
| | - Weiming Lou
- The National Engineering Research Center for Bioengineering Drugs and the Technologies, Institute of Translational Medicine, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, 999 Xuefu Road, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330031, China
| | - Yinni Chen
- The National Engineering Research Center for Bioengineering Drugs and the Technologies, Institute of Translational Medicine, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, 999 Xuefu Road, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330031, China
| | - Haiyan Yang
- Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, 999 Xuefu Road, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330031, China
| | - Chen Chen
- School of Basic Medical Science, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330031, China
| | - Feiyang Xi
- The QUEEN MARY School, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, 999 Xuefu Road, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330031, China
| | - Yuanli Chen
- Key Laboratory of Major Metabolic Diseases and Nutritional Regulation of Anhui Department of Education, College of Food and Biological Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, China
| | - Libin Deng
- The National Engineering Research Center for Bioengineering Drugs and the Technologies, Institute of Translational Medicine, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, 999 Xuefu Road, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330031, China; Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, 999 Xuefu Road, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330031, China
| | - Xiaoli Tang
- School of Basic Medical Science, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330031, China.
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Zhou C, Lu Z, Sun B, Yi Y, Zhang B, Wang Z, Qiu SJ. Peripheral Lymphocytes in Primary Liver Cancers: Elevated NK and CD8+ T Cells and Dysregulated Selenium Metabolism. Biomolecules 2024; 14:222. [PMID: 38397459 PMCID: PMC10886987 DOI: 10.3390/biom14020222] [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: 01/16/2024] [Revised: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 02/10/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs), which play a pivotal role in orchestrating the immune system, garner minimal attention in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC). The impact of primary liver cancers on PBLs remains unexplored. In this study, flow cytometry facilitated the quantification of cell populations, while transcriptome of PBLs was executed utilizing 10× single-cell sequencing technology. Additionally, pertinent cases were curated from the GEO database. Subsequent bioinformatics and statistical analyses were conducted utilizing R (4.2.1) software. Elevated counts of NK cells and CD8+ T cells were observed in both ICC and HCC when compared to benign liver disease (BLD). In the multivariate Cox model, NK cells and CD8+ T cells emerged as independent risk factors for recurrence-free survival. Single-cell sequencing of PBLs uncovered the downregulation of TGFβ signaling in tumor-derived CD8+ T cells. Pathway enrichment analysis, based on differential expression profiling, highlighted aberrations in selenium metabolism. Proteomic analysis of preoperative and postoperative peripheral blood samples from patients undergoing tumor resection revealed a significant upregulation of SELENBP1 and a significant downregulation of SEPP1. Primary liver cancer has a definite impact on PBLs, manifested by alterations in cellular quantities and selenoprotein metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion (Ministry of Education), Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China; (C.Z.); (B.S.)
| | - Zhufeng Lu
- Department of Anesthesia, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China;
| | - Baoye Sun
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion (Ministry of Education), Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China; (C.Z.); (B.S.)
| | - Yong Yi
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion (Ministry of Education), Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China; (C.Z.); (B.S.)
| | - Boheng Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion (Ministry of Education), Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China; (C.Z.); (B.S.)
- Department of Hepatic Oncology, Xiamen Clinical Research Center for Cancer Therapy, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University (Xiamen Branch), Xiamen 361015, China
- Center for Evidence-Based Medicine, Shanghai Medical School, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Zheng Wang
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion (Ministry of Education), Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China; (C.Z.); (B.S.)
| | - Shuang-Jian Qiu
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion (Ministry of Education), Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China; (C.Z.); (B.S.)
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Zhang Y, Wang M, Ye L, Shen S, Zhang Y, Qian X, Zhang T, Yuan M, Ye Z, Cai J, Meng X, Qiu S, Liu S, Liu R, Jia W, Yang X, Zhang H, Zhong X, Gao P. HKDC1 promotes tumor immune evasion in hepatocellular carcinoma by coupling cytoskeleton to STAT1 activation and PD-L1 expression. Nat Commun 2024; 15:1314. [PMID: 38351096 PMCID: PMC10864387 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45712-2] [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: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) has shown considerable promise for treating various malignancies, but only a subset of cancer patients benefit from immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy because of immune evasion and immune-related adverse events (irAEs). The mechanisms underlying how tumor cells regulate immune cell response remain largely unknown. Here we show that hexokinase domain component 1 (HKDC1) promotes tumor immune evasion in a CD8+ T cell-dependent manner by activating STAT1/PD-L1 in tumor cells. Mechanistically, HKDC1 binds to and presents cytosolic STAT1 to IFNGR1 on the plasma membrane following IFNγ-stimulation by associating with cytoskeleton protein ACTA2, resulting in STAT1 phosphorylation and nuclear translocation. HKDC1 inhibition in combination with anti-PD-1/PD-L1 enhances in vivo T cell antitumor response in liver cancer models in male mice. Clinical sample analysis indicates a correlation among HKDC1 expression, STAT1 phosphorylation, and survival in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma treated with atezolizumab (anti-PD-L1). These findings reveal a role for HKDC1 in regulating immune evasion by coupling cytoskeleton with STAT1 activation, providing a potential combination strategy to enhance antitumor immune responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Zhang
- School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Mingjie Wang
- School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
- Medical Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ling Ye
- The Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Science and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Shengqi Shen
- Medical Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yuxi Zhang
- School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaoyu Qian
- School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Tong Zhang
- Medical Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Mengqiu Yuan
- The Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Science and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Zijian Ye
- School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jin Cai
- School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiang Meng
- School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shiqiao Qiu
- School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shengzhi Liu
- School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Rui Liu
- The Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Science and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Weidong Jia
- Anhui Key Laboratory of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, Department of General Surgery, Anhui Provincial Hospital, the First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Science and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Xianzhu Yang
- School of Biomedical Sciences and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou International Campus, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Huafeng Zhang
- The Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Science and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China.
| | - Xiuying Zhong
- Medical Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Ping Gao
- School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China.
- Medical Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
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Abi Zamer B, Rah B, Jayakumar MN, Abumustafa W, Hamad M, Muhammad JS. DNA methylation-mediated epigenetic regulation of oncogenic RPS2 as a novel therapeutic target and biomarker in hepatocellular carcinoma. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2024; 696:149453. [PMID: 38181486 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2023.149453] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/07/2024]
Abstract
Ribosomal Protein S2 (RPS2) has emerged as a potential prognostic biomarker due to its involvement in key cellular processes and its altered expression pattern in certain types of cancer. However, its role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has yet to be investigated. Herein, we analyzed RPS2 mRNA expression and promoter methylation in HCC patient samples and HepG2 cells. Subsequently, loss-of-function experiments were conducted to determine the function of RPS2 in HCC cells in vitro. Our results revealed that RPS2 mRNA expression is significantly elevated, and its promoter is hypomethylated in HCC patient samples compared to controls. In addition, 5-Azacytidine treatment in HepG2 cells decreased RPS2 promoter methylation level and increased its mRNA expression. RPS2 knockdown in HepG2 cells suppressed cell proliferation and promoted apoptosis. Functional pathway analysis of genes positively and negatively associated with RPS2 expression in HCC showed enrichment in ribosomal biogenesis, translation machinery, cell cycle regulation, and DNA processing. Furthermore, utilizing drug-protein 3D docking, we found that doxorubicin, sorafenib, and 5-Fluorouracil, showed high affinity to the active sites of RPS2, and in vitro treatment with these drugs reduced RPS2 expression. For the first time, we report on DNA methylation-mediated epigenetic regulation of RPS2 and its oncogenic role in HCC. Our findings suggest that RPS2 plays a significant role in the development and progression of HCC, hence its potential prognostic and therapeutic utility. Moreover, as epigenetic changes happen early in cancer development, RPS2 may serve as a potential biomarker for tumor progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Batoul Abi Zamer
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates; Research Institute of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
| | - Bilal Rah
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
| | - Manju Nidagodu Jayakumar
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
| | - Wafaa Abumustafa
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates; Research Institute of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
| | - Mawieh Hamad
- Research Institute of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates; Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
| | - Jibran Sualeh Muhammad
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates; Research Institute of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.
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Giannitrapani L, Di Gaudio F, Cervello M, Scionti F, Ciliberto D, Staropoli N, Agapito G, Cannataro M, Tassone P, Tagliaferri P, Seidita A, Soresi M, Affronti M, Bertino G, Russello M, Ciriminna R, Lino C, Spinnato F, Verderame F, Augello G, Arbitrio M. Genetic Biomarkers of Sorafenib Response in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:2197. [PMID: 38396873 PMCID: PMC10888718 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25042197] [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: 01/14/2024] [Revised: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 02/10/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
The identification of biomarkers for predicting inter-individual sorafenib response variability could allow hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patient stratification. SNPs in angiogenesis- and drug absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME)-related genes were evaluated to identify new potential predictive biomarkers of sorafenib response in HCC patients. Five known SNPs in angiogenesis-related genes, including VEGF-A, VEGF-C, HIF-1a, ANGPT2, and NOS3, were investigated in 34 HCC patients (9 sorafenib responders and 25 non-responders). A subgroup of 23 patients was genotyped for SNPs in ADME genes. A machine learning classifier method was used to discover classification rules for our dataset. We found that only the VEGF-A (rs2010963) C allele and CC genotype were significantly associated with sorafenib response. ADME-related gene analysis identified 10 polymorphic variants in ADH1A (rs6811453), ADH6 (rs10008281), SULT1A2/CCDC101 (rs11401), CYP26A1 (rs7905939), DPYD (rs2297595 and rs1801265), FMO2 (rs2020863), and SLC22A14 (rs149738, rs171248, and rs183574) significantly associated with sorafenib response. We have identified a genetic signature of predictive response that could permit non-responder/responder patient stratification. Angiogenesis- and ADME-related genes correlation was confirmed by cumulative genetic risk score and network and pathway enrichment analysis. Our findings provide a proof of concept that needs further validation in follow-up studies for HCC patient stratification for sorafenib prescription.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lydia Giannitrapani
- Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation, National Research Council (CNR), 90146 Palermo, Italy; (L.G.); (M.C.)
- Department of Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy; (F.D.G.); (A.S.); (M.S.); (M.A.)
| | - Francesca Di Gaudio
- Department of Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy; (F.D.G.); (A.S.); (M.S.); (M.A.)
| | - Melchiorre Cervello
- Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation, National Research Council (CNR), 90146 Palermo, Italy; (L.G.); (M.C.)
| | - Francesca Scionti
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Magna Graecia University, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (F.S.); (N.S.); (P.T.); (P.T.)
| | - Domenico Ciliberto
- Medical and Translational Oncology Unit, A.O.U. R. Dulbecco, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy;
| | - Nicoletta Staropoli
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Magna Graecia University, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (F.S.); (N.S.); (P.T.); (P.T.)
- Medical and Translational Oncology Unit, A.O.U. R. Dulbecco, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy;
| | - Giuseppe Agapito
- Department of Legal, Economic and Social Sciences, Magna Graecia University, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy;
| | - Mario Cannataro
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University Magna Graecia of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy;
| | - Pierfrancesco Tassone
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Magna Graecia University, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (F.S.); (N.S.); (P.T.); (P.T.)
- Medical and Translational Oncology Unit, A.O.U. R. Dulbecco, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy;
- College of Science and Technology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA
| | - Pierosandro Tagliaferri
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Magna Graecia University, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (F.S.); (N.S.); (P.T.); (P.T.)
- Medical and Translational Oncology Unit, A.O.U. R. Dulbecco, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy;
| | - Aurelio Seidita
- Department of Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy; (F.D.G.); (A.S.); (M.S.); (M.A.)
- Villa Sofia-Cervello Hospital, C.O.U. Medical Oncology, 90146 Palermo, Italy; (F.S.); (F.V.)
| | - Maurizio Soresi
- Department of Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy; (F.D.G.); (A.S.); (M.S.); (M.A.)
| | - Marco Affronti
- Department of Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy; (F.D.G.); (A.S.); (M.S.); (M.A.)
| | - Gaetano Bertino
- Hepatology Unit, A.O.U. Policlinico-San Marco, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy;
| | | | - Rosaria Ciriminna
- Institute of Nanostructured Materials, National Research Council (CNR), 90146 Palermo, Italy; (R.C.); (C.L.)
| | - Claudia Lino
- Institute of Nanostructured Materials, National Research Council (CNR), 90146 Palermo, Italy; (R.C.); (C.L.)
| | - Francesca Spinnato
- Villa Sofia-Cervello Hospital, C.O.U. Medical Oncology, 90146 Palermo, Italy; (F.S.); (F.V.)
| | - Francesco Verderame
- Villa Sofia-Cervello Hospital, C.O.U. Medical Oncology, 90146 Palermo, Italy; (F.S.); (F.V.)
| | - Giuseppa Augello
- Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation, National Research Council (CNR), 90146 Palermo, Italy; (L.G.); (M.C.)
| | - Mariamena Arbitrio
- Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation, National Research Council (CNR), 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
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Tian LY, Smit DJ, Popova NV, Horn S, Velasquez LN, Huber S, Jücker M. All Three AKT Isoforms Can Upregulate Oxygen Metabolism and Lactate Production in Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cell Lines. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:2168. [PMID: 38396845 PMCID: PMC10889766 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25042168] [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: 01/15/2024] [Revised: 02/06/2024] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the main pathological type of liver cancer, is related to risk factors such as viral hepatitis, alcohol intake, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The constitutive activation of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway is common in HCC and has essential involvement in tumor progression. The serine/threonine kinase AKT has several downstream substrates, which have been implicated in the regulation of cellular metabolism. However, the contribution of each of the three AKT isoforms, i.e., AKT1, AKT2 and AKT3, to HCC metabolism has not been comprehensively investigated. In this study, we analyzed the functional role of AKT1, AKT2 and AKT3 in HCC metabolism. The overexpression of activated AKT1, AKT2 and AKT3 isoforms in the human HCC cell lines Hep3B and Huh7 resulted in higher oxygen consumption rate (OCR), ATP production, maximal respiration and spare respiratory capacity in comparison to vector-transduced cells. Vice versa, lentiviral vector-mediated knockdowns of each AKT isoform reduced OCR in both cell lines. Reduced OCR rates observed in the three AKT isoform knockdowns were associated with reduced extracellular acidification rates (ECAR) and reduced lactate production in both analyzed cell lines. Mechanistically, the downregulation of OCR by AKT isoform knockdowns correlated with an increased phosphorylation of the pyruvate dehydrogenase on Ser232, which negatively regulates the activity of this crucial gatekeeper of mitochondrial respiration. In summary, our data indicate that each of the three AKT isoforms is able to upregulate OCR, ECAR and lactate production independently of each other in human HCC cells through the regulation of the pyruvate dehydrogenase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling-Yu Tian
- Institute of Biochemistry and Signal Transduction, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistraße 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany; (L.-Y.T.); (D.J.S.); (N.V.P.)
- Beijing Key Surgical Basic Research Laboratory of Liver Cirrhosis and Liver Cancer, Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Peking University People’s Hospital, Beijing 100044, China
| | - Daniel J. Smit
- Institute of Biochemistry and Signal Transduction, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistraße 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany; (L.-Y.T.); (D.J.S.); (N.V.P.)
| | - Nadezhda V. Popova
- Institute of Biochemistry and Signal Transduction, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistraße 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany; (L.-Y.T.); (D.J.S.); (N.V.P.)
| | - Stefan Horn
- Research Department Cell and Gene Therapy, Department of Stem Cell Transplantation, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, Germany;
| | - Lis Noelia Velasquez
- I. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, Germany; (L.N.V.); (S.H.)
- Hamburg Center for Translational Immunology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Samuel Huber
- I. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, Germany; (L.N.V.); (S.H.)
- Hamburg Center for Translational Immunology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Manfred Jücker
- Institute of Biochemistry and Signal Transduction, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistraße 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany; (L.-Y.T.); (D.J.S.); (N.V.P.)
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Yu Z, Wu X, Zhu J, Yan H, Li Y, Zhang H, Zhong Y, Lin M, Ye G, Li X, Jin J, Li K, Wang J, Zhuang H, Lin T, He J, Lu C, Xu Z, Zhang X, Li H, Jin X. BCLAF1 binds SPOP to stabilize PD-L1 and promotes the development and immune escape of hepatocellular carcinoma. Cell Mol Life Sci 2024; 81:82. [PMID: 38340178 PMCID: PMC10858942 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-024-05144-z] [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: 09/17/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
Interaction between programmed death-1 (PD-1) ligand 1 (PD-L1) on tumor cells and PD-1 on T cells allows tumor cells to evade T cell-mediated immune surveillance. Strategies targeting PD-1/PD-L1 have shown clinical benefits in a variety of cancers. However, limited response rates in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have prompted us to investigate the molecular regulation of PD-L1. Here, we identify B cell lymphoma-2-associated transcription factor 1 (BCLAF1) as a key PD-L1 regulator in HCC. Specifically, BCLAF1 interacts with SPOP, an E3 ligase that mediates the ubiquitination and degradation of PD-L1, thereby competitively inhibiting SPOP-PD-L1 interaction and subsequent ubiquitination and degradation of PD-L1. Furthermore, we determined an SPOP-binding consensus (SBC) motif mediating the BCLAF1-SPOP interaction on BCLAF1 protein and mutation of BCLAF1-SBC motif disrupts the regulation of the SPOP-PD-L1 axis. In addition, BCLAF1 expression was positively correlated with PD-L1 expression and negatively correlated with biomarkers of T cell activation, including CD3 and CD8, as well as with the level of immune cell infiltration in HCC tissues. Besides, BCLAF1 depletion leads to a significant reduction of PD-L1 expression in vitro, and this reduction of PD-L1 promoted T cell-mediated cytotoxicity. Notably, overexpression of BCLAF1 sensitized tumor cells to checkpoint therapy in an in vitro HCC cells-Jurkat cells co-culture model, whereas BCLAF1-SBC mutant decreased tumor cell sensitivity to checkpoint therapy, suggesting that BCLAF1 and its SBC motif serve as a novel therapeutic target for enhancing anti-tumor immunity in HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zongdong Yu
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Affiliated Li Huili Hospital, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315040, China
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, Health Science Center, Nngbo University, Ningbo, 315211, China
| | - Xiang Wu
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Affiliated Li Huili Hospital, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315040, China
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, Health Science Center, Nngbo University, Ningbo, 315211, China
| | - Jie Zhu
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Affiliated Li Huili Hospital, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315040, China
| | - Huan Yan
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Affiliated Li Huili Hospital, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315040, China
| | - Yuxuan Li
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Affiliated Li Huili Hospital, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315040, China
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, Health Science Center, Nngbo University, Ningbo, 315211, China
| | - Hui Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, Health Science Center, Nngbo University, Ningbo, 315211, China
| | - Yeling Zhong
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, Health Science Center, Nngbo University, Ningbo, 315211, China
| | - Man Lin
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, Health Science Center, Nngbo University, Ningbo, 315211, China
| | - Ganghui Ye
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, Health Science Center, Nngbo University, Ningbo, 315211, China
| | - Xinming Li
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, Health Science Center, Nngbo University, Ningbo, 315211, China
| | - Jiabei Jin
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, Health Science Center, Nngbo University, Ningbo, 315211, China
| | - Kailang Li
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, Health Science Center, Nngbo University, Ningbo, 315211, China
| | - Jie Wang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, Health Science Center, Nngbo University, Ningbo, 315211, China
| | - Hui Zhuang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, Health Science Center, Nngbo University, Ningbo, 315211, China
| | - Ting Lin
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, Health Science Center, Nngbo University, Ningbo, 315211, China
| | - Jian He
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, Health Science Center, Nngbo University, Ningbo, 315211, China
| | - Changjiang Lu
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Affiliated Li Huili Hospital, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315040, China
| | - Zeping Xu
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Affiliated Li Huili Hospital, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315040, China
| | - Xie Zhang
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Affiliated Li Huili Hospital, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315040, China
| | - Hong Li
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Affiliated Li Huili Hospital, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315040, China.
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, Health Science Center, Nngbo University, Ningbo, 315211, China.
| | - Xiaofeng Jin
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Affiliated Li Huili Hospital, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315040, China.
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, Health Science Center, Nngbo University, Ningbo, 315211, China.
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Hu M, Dai C, Sun X, Chen Y, Xu N, Lin Z, Xu S, Cheng C, Tan Z, Bian S, Zheng W. Ubiquitination-specific protease 7 enhances stemness of hepatocellular carcinoma by stabilizing basic transcription factor 3. Funct Integr Genomics 2024; 24:28. [PMID: 38340226 DOI: 10.1007/s10142-024-01310-5] [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: 12/07/2023] [Revised: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
This study aims to explore the molecular regulation mechanism of ubiquitination-specific protease 7 (USP7) in facilitating the stemness properties of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Gain-of-function and loss-of-function assays were conducted in SK-Hep1 and HepG2 cells transfected with USP7 overexpression/knockdown plasmids and USP7 inhibitor P22077. The proliferation, migration, invasion, and self-renewal capacity of hepatocellular carcinoma cells were detected by CCK-8, colony formation, Transwell, scratch, and tumor sphere formation, respectively. MS was performed to identify the potential substrate of USP7 following P22077 treatment. Co-IP assay was used to verify the interaction between USP7 and basic transcription factor 3 (BTF3) in HCC cells. The overexpression of USP7 could promote the proliferation, migration, invasion, and colony formation capacity of SK-Hep1 and HepG2 cells. Additionally, ectopic UPS7 enhanced the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and stem-like characteristics of the HCC cells. In contrast, USP7 depletion by knockdown of USP7 or administrating inhibitor P22077 significantly inhibited these malignant phenotypes of SK-Hep1 and HepG2 cells. Following MS analysis, BTF3 was identified as a potential substrate for USP7. USP7 could interact with BTF3 and upregulate its protein level, while USP7 depletion significantly upregulated the ubiquitination levels. Overexpression of BTF3 partially rescue the inhibitory effects of USP7 depletion on the malignant phenotypes and stemness properties of SK-Hep1 and HepG2 cells. USP7 can promote the stemness and malignant phenotype of HCC by stabilizing BTF3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingchao Hu
- Research Center of Clinical Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Medical School of Nantong University, 20 Xisi Road, Nantong, 226001, Jiangsu, China
- Department of Oncology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Chengchen Dai
- Research Center of Clinical Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Medical School of Nantong University, 20 Xisi Road, Nantong, 226001, Jiangsu, China
- Department of Oncology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Xieyin Sun
- Research Center of Clinical Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Medical School of Nantong University, 20 Xisi Road, Nantong, 226001, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yinqi Chen
- Research Center of Clinical Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Medical School of Nantong University, 20 Xisi Road, Nantong, 226001, Jiangsu, China
| | - Nuo Xu
- Research Center of Clinical Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Medical School of Nantong University, 20 Xisi Road, Nantong, 226001, Jiangsu, China
| | - Zhaoyi Lin
- Research Center of Clinical Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Medical School of Nantong University, 20 Xisi Road, Nantong, 226001, Jiangsu, China
| | - Shiyu Xu
- Research Center of Clinical Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Medical School of Nantong University, 20 Xisi Road, Nantong, 226001, Jiangsu, China
| | - Chun Cheng
- Department of Oncology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Zhonghua Tan
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China.
| | - Saiyan Bian
- Research Center of Clinical Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Medical School of Nantong University, 20 Xisi Road, Nantong, 226001, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Wenjie Zheng
- Research Center of Clinical Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Medical School of Nantong University, 20 Xisi Road, Nantong, 226001, Jiangsu, China.
- Department of Oncology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China.
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Zhou YJ, Yang ML, He X, Gu HY, Ren JH, Cheng ST, Fu Z, Zhang ZZ, Chen J. RNA-binding protein RPS7 promotes hepatocellular carcinoma progression via LOXL2-dependent activation of ITGB1/FAK/SRC signaling. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2024; 43:45. [PMID: 38326908 PMCID: PMC10851485 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-023-02929-1] [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: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Metastasis is one of the leading cause contributes to treatment failure and poor prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients. The underlying mechanism of HCC metastasis remains to be determined. Although several RNA binding proteins (RBPs) have been found to participate in tumorigenesis and progression of liver cancer, the role of RBPs in HCC patients with extrahepatic metastases is poorly understood. METHODS By performing RNA-seq of primary HCC tissues (including HCC with extrahepatic metastasis and those did not develop metastasis), we identified a set of HCC metastasis-associated RBPs candidates. Among which, ribosomal protein S7 (RPS7) was found to be remarkably increased in HCC tissues and be strongly related to HCC poor survival. Overexpression or CRISPR-Cas9-mediated knockout were applied to investigate the role of RPS7 on the metastasis-associated phenotypes of HCC cells. RNA sequencing, RIP, RNA-pull down, dual luciferase reporter assay, nascent RNA capture assay, and RNA decay and so on, were applied to reveal the underlying mechanism of RPS7 induced HCC metastasis. RESULTS Gain- and loss- of function analyses revealed that RPS7 promoted HCC cells adhesion, migration and invasion capabilities, as well as lung metastasis. Mechanistically, we uncovered that lysyl oxidase-like 2 (LOXL2) was a critical downstream target of RPS7. RPS7 could stabilize LOXL2 mRNA by binding to AUUUA motifs in the 3155-3375 region of the 3'UTR of LOXL2 mRNA, thus increased LOXL2 expression via elevating LOXL2 mRNA abundance. Further research revealed that LOXL2 could accelerate focal adhesion formation through maintaining the protein stability of ITGB1 and activating ITGB1-mediated FAK/SRC signaling pathway, and thereby contribute to the pro-metastasis effect of RPS7. CONCLUSIONS Taken together, our data reveal a novel function of RPS7 in HCC metastasis, also reveal the critical roles of the RPS7/LOXL2/ITGB1 axis in HCC metastasis and shed new light on the exploration of molecular drugs against HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Jiao Zhou
- Department of Infectious Disease, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Child Rare Diseases in Infection and Immunity, No.20 Jinyu Road, Yubei District, Chongqing, 401122, China
| | - Min-Li Yang
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Infectious Diseases designated by the Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xin He
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Infectious Diseases designated by the Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Hui-Ying Gu
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Infectious Diseases designated by the Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Ji-Hua Ren
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Infectious Diseases designated by the Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Sheng-Tao Cheng
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Infectious Diseases designated by the Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Zhou Fu
- Stem Cell Biology and Therapy Laboratory, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, and the Department of Respiratory Diseases, The Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Zhen-Zhen Zhang
- Department of Infectious Disease, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Child Rare Diseases in Infection and Immunity, No.20 Jinyu Road, Yubei District, Chongqing, 401122, China.
| | - Juan Chen
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Infectious Diseases designated by the Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
- Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medical Diagnostics, Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, No.1 Youyi Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing, 400016, China.
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Gil-Rojas S, Suárez M, Martínez-Blanco P, Torres AM, Martínez-García N, Blasco P, Torralba M, Mateo J. Application of Machine Learning Techniques to Assess Alpha-Fetoprotein at Diagnosis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:1996. [PMID: 38396674 PMCID: PMC10888351 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25041996] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2024] [Revised: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary liver tumor and is associated with high mortality rates. Approximately 80% of cases occur in cirrhotic livers, posing a significant challenge for appropriate therapeutic management. Adequate screening programs in high-risk groups are essential for early-stage detection. The extent of extrahepatic tumor spread and hepatic functional reserve are recognized as two of the most influential prognostic factors. In this retrospective multicenter study, we utilized machine learning (ML) methods to analyze predictors of mortality at the time of diagnosis in a total of 208 patients. The eXtreme gradient boosting (XGB) method achieved the highest values in identifying key prognostic factors for HCC at diagnosis. The etiology of HCC was found to be the variable most strongly associated with a poorer prognosis. The widely used Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) classification in our setting demonstrated superiority over the TNM classification. Although alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) remains the most commonly used biological marker, elevated levels did not correlate with reduced survival. Our findings suggest the need to explore new prognostic biomarkers for individualized management of these patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergio Gil-Rojas
- Gastroenterology Department, Virgen de la Luz Hospital, 16002 Cuenca, Spain
- Medical Analysis Expert Group, Institute of Technology, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, 16071 Cuenca, Spain
- Medical Analysis Expert Group, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Castilla-La Mancha (IDISCAM), 45071 Toledo, Spain
| | - Miguel Suárez
- Gastroenterology Department, Virgen de la Luz Hospital, 16002 Cuenca, Spain
- Medical Analysis Expert Group, Institute of Technology, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, 16071 Cuenca, Spain
- Medical Analysis Expert Group, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Castilla-La Mancha (IDISCAM), 45071 Toledo, Spain
| | - Pablo Martínez-Blanco
- Gastroenterology Department, Virgen de la Luz Hospital, 16002 Cuenca, Spain
- Medical Analysis Expert Group, Institute of Technology, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, 16071 Cuenca, Spain
- Medical Analysis Expert Group, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Castilla-La Mancha (IDISCAM), 45071 Toledo, Spain
| | - Ana M. Torres
- Medical Analysis Expert Group, Institute of Technology, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, 16071 Cuenca, Spain
- Medical Analysis Expert Group, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Castilla-La Mancha (IDISCAM), 45071 Toledo, Spain
| | | | - Pilar Blasco
- Department of Pharmacy, General University Hospital, 46014 Valencia, Spain
| | - Miguel Torralba
- Internal Medicine Unit, University Hospital of Guadalajara, 19002 Guadalajara, Spain
- Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de Alcalá de Henares, 28801 Alcalá de Henares, Spain
- Translational Research Group in Cellular Immunology (GITIC), Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Castilla-La Mancha (IDISCAM), 45071 Toledo, Spain
| | - Jorge Mateo
- Medical Analysis Expert Group, Institute of Technology, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, 16071 Cuenca, Spain
- Medical Analysis Expert Group, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Castilla-La Mancha (IDISCAM), 45071 Toledo, Spain
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50
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AMJAD ELHAM, PEZZANI RAFFAELE, SOKOUTI BABAK. A review of the literature on the use of CRISPR/Cas9 gene therapy to treat hepatocellular carcinoma. Oncol Res 2024; 32:439-461. [PMID: 38361756 PMCID: PMC10865741 DOI: 10.32604/or.2023.044473] [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] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/24/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Noncoding RNAs instruct the Cas9 nuclease to site-specifically cleave DNA in the CRISPR/Cas9 system. Despite the high incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the patient's outcome is poor. As a result of the emergence of therapeutic resistance in HCC patients, clinicians have faced difficulties in treating such tumor. In addition, CRISPR/Cas9 screens were used to identify genes that improve the clinical response of HCC patients. It is the objective of this article to summarize the current understanding of the use of the CRISPR/Cas9 system for the treatment of cancer, with a particular emphasis on HCC as part of the current state of knowledge. Thus, in order to locate recent developments in oncology research, we examined both the Scopus database and the PubMed database. The ability to selectively interfere with gene expression in combinatorial CRISPR/Cas9 screening can lead to the discovery of new effective HCC treatment regimens by combining clinically approved drugs. Drug resistance can be overcome with the help of the CRISPR/Cas9 system. HCC signature genes and resistance to treatment have been uncovered by genome-scale CRISPR activation screening, although this method is not without limitations. It has been extensively examined whether CRISPR can be used as a tool for disease research and gene therapy. CRISPR and its applications to tumor research, particularly in HCC, are examined in this study through a review of the literature.
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Affiliation(s)
- ELHAM AMJAD
- Biotechnology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, 5165665813, Iran
| | - RAFFAELE PEZZANI
- Phytotherapy Lab, Endocrinology Unit, Dipartimento di Medicina (DIMED), University of Padova, Via Ospedale 105, Padova, 35128, Italy
- Associazione Italiana Per La Ricerca Oncologica Di Base, Associazione Italiana Per La Ricerca Oncologica Di Base, Padova, 35128, Italy
| | - BABAK SOKOUTI
- Biotechnology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, 5165665813, Iran
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