IFN-γ stimulates Paneth cell secretion through necroptosis mTORC1 dependent.

Immune mediators affect multiple biological functions of intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) and, like Paneth and Paneth-like cells, play an important role in intestinal epithelial homeostasis. IFN-γ a prototypical proinflammatory cytokine disrupts intestinal epithelial homeostasis. However, the mechanism underlying the process remains unknown. In this study, using in vivo and in vitro models we demonstrate that IFN-γ is spontaneously secreted in the small intestine. Furthermore, we observed that this cytokine stimulates mitochondrial activity, ROS production, and Paneth and Paneth-like cell secretion. Paneth and Paneth-like secretion downstream of IFN-γ, as identified here, is mTORC1 and necroptosis-dependent. Thus, our findings revealed that the pleiotropic function of IFN-γ also includes the regulation of Paneth cell function in the homeostatic gut.

DCLK1 is Overexpressed and Associated with Immune Cell Infiltration in Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Recent research has shown that Doublecortin-like kinase 1 (DCLK1) is overexpressed in different types of cancer. It has recently been described as a cancer stem cells (CSCs) marker, is associated with carcinogenesis, and positively correlates with infiltration of multiple immune cell types in some cancers. However, studies focused on assessing DCLK1 expression in HCC are limited, and the role of DCLK1 in HCC tumor immunity remains to be determined. In this study, we used a modified model of the resistant hepatocyte (MRHM) to evaluate DCLK1 expression in HCC. Furthermore, DCLK1 expression in HCC was analyzed using TIMER 2.0, UALCAN, GEPIA, GEO, and HPA web-based tools. Correlations between DCLK1 expression and clinicopathological factors in patients were analyzed using the UALCAN web-based tool. Finally, correlations between DCLK1 and immune infiltrates were investigated using the TIMER 2.0 and TISIDB web-based tools. The results showed that DCLK1 is significantly overexpressed during progression of the HCC carcinogenic process in the MRHM. DCLK1 is overexpressed in HCC according to multiple publics web-based tools, and its overexpression is associated with cancer stage. Furthermore, DCLK1 expression was correlated with infiltration levels of multiple immune cells, immunomodulatory factors, immunoinhibitors, MHC molecules, chemokines, receptors, and immune cell-specific markers. These results suggest that DCLK1 is a potential prognostic biomarker that determines cancer progression and correlates with immune cell infiltration in HCC.

Serum α-SMA is a potential noninvasive biomarker of liver fibrosis.

The severity of fibrosis is central to the therapeutic course for patients with chronic liver disease; therefore, early detection of liver fibrosis is critical for timely therapeutic interventions. Liver biopsy is the gold standard for the diagnosis of liver fibrosis; however, it is contraindicated in several pathological conditions. Activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are the main cells for fibrotic tissue synthesis, such as that of alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA). This study aimed to determine whether serum α-SMA levels are a suitable noninvasive, sensitive, and reliable liver fibrosis marker. Fibrosis was induced in male Wistar rats via chronic CCl4 administration. Fibrosis was determined in the liver tissues by quantifying the hydroxyproline content and visualized using Masson's trichrome staining. Rats chronically administered CCl4 exhibited a progressive increment in the hepatic collagen content, as well as both hepatic and serum α-SMA levels in a time-dependent manner. Moreover, serum levels of α-SMA significantly correlated with hepatic α-SMA levels (p ≤ 0.001), as well as with the severity of liver fibrosis (p ≤ 0.001). These findings suggest that increased levels of serum α-SMA can be considered a potential reliable and noninvasive biomarker for early liver fibrosis.

Identification of ABCC3 and its isoforms as potential biomarker in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Liver diseases preceding the occurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) play a crucial role in the progression and establishment of HCC, a malignancy ranked as the third deadliest cancer worldwide. Late diagnosis, alongside ineffective treatment, leads patients to a poor survival rate. This scenario argues for seeking novel alternatives for detecting liver alterations preceding the early occurrence of HCC. Experimental studies have reported that ABCC3 protein increases within HCC tumors but not in adjacent tissue. Therefore, we analyzed ABCC3 expression in public databases and investigated the presence of ABCC3 and its isoforms in plasma, urine and its release in extracellular vesicles (EVs) cargo from patients bearing cirrhosis and HCC. The UALCAN and GEPIA databases were used to analyze the expression of ABCC3 in HCC. The results were validated in a case-control study including 41 individuals bearing cirrhosis and HCC, and the levels of ABCC3 in plasma and urine samples, as well as EVs, were analyzed by ELISA and western blot. Our data showed that ABCC3 expression was higher in HCC tissues than in normal tissues and correlated with HCC grade and stage. ABCC3 protein levels were highly increased in both plasma and urine and correlated with liver disease progression and severity. The isoforms MRP3A and MRP3B of ABCC3 were significantly increased in both EVs and plasma/urine of patients bearing HCC. ABCC3 expression gradually increases in HCC tissues, and its protein levels are increased in both plasma and urine of patients with cirrhosis and HCC. MRP3A and MRP3B isoforms have the potential to be prognostic biomarkers of HCC.

Activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome by CCl4 exacerbates hepatopathogenic diet-induced experimental NASH.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Administration of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4), along with an hepatopathogenic diet, is widely employed as a chemical inducer to replicate human nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) in rodents; however, the role of the nucleotide-binding domain, leucine-rich-containing family, pyrin domain-containing-3 (NLRP3) inflammasome in this model remains unclear. We aimed to determine the relevance of NLRP3 inflammasome activation in the development of NASH induced by CCl4 along with an hepatopathogenic diet in male Wistar rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Animals were fed either a high fat, sucrose, and cholesterol diet (HFSCD) or a HFSCD plus intraperitoneal injections of low doses of CCl4 (400 mg/kg) once a week for 15 weeks. Liver steatosis, inflammation, fibrosis, and NLRP3 inflammasome activation were evaluated using biochemical, histological, ultrastructural, and immunofluorescence analyses, western blotting, and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Our experimental model reproduced several aspects of the human NASH pathophysiology. NLRP3 inflammasome activation was induced by the combined effect of HFSCD plus CCl4 and significantly increased levels of both proinflammatory and profibrogenic cytokines and collagen deposition in the liver; thus, NASH severity was higher in the HFSCD+CCl4 group than that in the HFSCD group, to which CCl4 was not administered. Hepatic stellate cells, the most profibrogenic cells, were activated by HFSCD plus CCl4, as indicated by elevated levels of α-smooth muscle actin. Thus, activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome, triggered by low doses of CCl4, exacerbates the severity of NASH. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that NLRP3 inflammasome activation plays a key role and may be an important therapeutic target for NASH treatment.

The transcriptome of early GGT/KRT19-positive hepatocellular carcinoma reveals a downregulated gene expression profile associated with fatty acid metabolism.

Hepatocellular carcinoma expressing hepatobiliary progenitor markers, is considered of poor prognosis. By using a hepatocarcinogenesis model, laser capture microdissection, and RNA-Sequencing analysis, we identified an expression profile in GGT/KRT19-positive experimental tumors; 438 differentially expressed genes were found in early and late nodules along with increased collagen deposition. Dysregulated genes were involved in Fatty Acid Metabolism, RXR function, and Hepatic Stellate Cells Activation. Downregulation of Slc27a5, Acsl1, and Cyp2e1, demonstrated that Retinoid X Receptor α (RXRα) function is compromised in GGT/KRT19-positive nodules. Since RXRα controls NRF2 pathway activation, we determined the expression of NRF2 targeted genes; Akr1b8, Akr7a3, Gstp1, Abcc3, Ptgr1, and Txnrd1 were upregulated, indicating NRF2 pathway activation. A comparative analysis in human HCC showed that SLC27A5, ACSL1, CYP2E1, and RXRα gene expression is mutually exclusive with KRT19 gene expression. Our results indicate that the downregulation of Slc27a5, Acsl1, Rxrα, and Cyp2e1 genes is an early event within GGT/KRT19-positive HCC.

Downregulation of indolethylamine N-methyltransferase is an early event in the rat hepatocarcinogenesis and is associated with poor prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma patients.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the deadliest cancers worldwide, often preceded by cirrhosis and usually diagnosed at advanced stages; therefore, identifying molecular changes at early stages is an attractive strategy for detection and timely treatment. Here, we investigated the progressive transcriptomic changes during experimental hepatocarcinogenesis to identify novel early tumor markers in an HCC model induced by chronic administration of sublethal doses of diethylnitrosamine. An analysis of differentially expressed genes showed that four processes associated with oxidation-reduction and detoxification were significantly over-represented during hepatocarcinogenesis progression, of which the Nuclear Factor, Erythroid 2 Like 2 pathway showed several dysregulated genes. Interestingly, we also identified 91 genes dysregulated at early HCC stages, but the expression of the indolethylamine N-methyltransferase gene (INMT), as well as the level of its encoding protein, were strongly downregulated. INMT was increased in perivenular hepatocytes of normal livers but decreased in livers of experimental HCC. Furthermore, a gene expression and survival analysis performed using data from the liver hepatocellular carcinoma project of The Cancer Genome Atlas Program revealed that INMT is also significantly downregulated in human HCC and is associated with poor overall survival. In conclusion, by performing a transcriptome analysis of the HCC progression, we identified that INMT is early downregulated in the rat hepatocarcinogenesis and is associated with poor prognosis in human HCC, suggesting that INMT downregulation may be a promising prognostic marker for HCC in high-risk populations.

3'5-Dimaleamylbenzoic Acid Attenuates Bleomycin-Induced Pulmonary Fibrosis in Mice.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic lung disease characterized by parenchymal scarring, leading progressively to alveolar architecture distortion, respiratory failure, and eventually death. Currently, there is no effective treatment for IPF. Previously, 3'5-dimaleamylbenzoic acid (3'5-DMBA), a maleimide, demonstrated pro-apoptotic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer properties; however, its potential therapeutic effects on IPF have not been addressed. Bleomycin (BLM) 100 U/kg was administered to CD1 mice through an osmotic minipump. After fourteen days of BLM administration, 3'5-DMBA (6 mg/kg or 10 mg/kg) and its vehicle carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) were administered intragastrically every two days until day 26. On day 28, all mice were euthanized. The 3'5-DMBA effect was assessed by histological and immunohistochemical staining, as well as by RT-qPCR. The redox status on lung tissue was evaluated by determining the glutathione content and the GSH/GSSG ratio. 3'5-DMBA treatment re-established typical lung histological features and decreased the expression of BLM-induced fibrotic markers: collagen, α-SMA, and TGF-ß1. Furthermore, 3'5-DMBA significantly reduced the expression of genes involved in fibrogenesis. In addition, it decreased reduced glutathione and increased oxidized glutathione content without promoting oxidative damage to lipids, as evidenced by the decrease in the lipid peroxidation marker 4-HNE. Therefore, 3'5-DMBA may be a promising candidate for IPF treatment.

Caffeine Inhibits NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation by Downregulating TLR4/MAPK/NF-κB Signaling Pathway in an Experimental NASH Model.

Caffeine elicits protective effects against liver diseases, such as NASH; however, its mechanism of action involving the pyrin domain-containing-3 (NLRP3) inflammasome signaling pathway remains to be elucidated. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of caffeine on the NLRP3 inflammasome signaling pathway in a rat model of NASH. NASH was induced by feeding rats a high-fat, -sucrose, and -cholesterol diet (HFSCD) for 15 weeks along with a weekly low dose (400 mg/kg, i.p.) of CCl4. Caffeine was administered at 50 mg/kg p.o. The effects of HFSCD+CCl4 and caffeine on the liver were evaluated using biochemical, ultrastructural, histological, and molecular biological approaches. The HFSCD+CCl4-treated rats showed fat accumulation in the liver, elevated levels of inflammatory mediators, NLRP3 inflammasome activation, antioxidant dysregulation, and liver fibrosis. Caffeine reduced necrosis, cholestasis, oxidative stress, and fibrosis. Caffeine exhibited anti-inflammatory effects by attenuating NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Moreover, caffeine prevented increases in toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) protein levels and mitigated the phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). Importantly, caffeine prevented the activation of hepatic stellate cells. This study is the first to report that caffeine ameliorates NASH by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome activation through the suppression of the TLR4/MAPK/NF-κB signaling pathway.

Enrichment of progenitor cells by 2-acetylaminofluorene accelerates liver carcinogenesis induced by diethylnitrosamine in vivo.

The potential role of hepatocytes versus hepatic progenitor cells (HPC) on the onset and pathogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has not been fully clarified. Because the administration of 2-acetylaminofluorene (2AAF) followed by a partial hepatectomy, selectively induces the HPC proliferation, we investigated the effects of chronic 2AAF administration on the HCC development caused by the chronic administration of the carcinogen diethylnitrosamine (DEN) for 16 weeks in the rat. DEN + 2AAF protocol impeded weight gain of animals but promoted prominent hepatomegaly and exacerbated liver alterations compared to DEN protocol alone. The tumor areas detected by γ-glutamyl transferase, prostaglandin reductase-1, and glutathione S-transferase Pi-1 liver cancer markers increased up to 80% as early as 12 weeks of treatment, meaning 6 weeks earlier than DEN alone. This protocol also increased the number of Ki67-positive cells and those of CD90 and CK19, two well-known progenitor cell markers. Interestingly, microarray analysis revealed that DEN + 2AAF protocol differentially modified the global gene expression signature and induced the differential expression of 30 genes identified as HPC markers as early as 6 weeks of treatment. In conclusion, 2AAF induces the early appearance of HPC markers and as a result, accelerates the hepatocarcinogenesis induced by DEN in the rat. Thus, since 2AAF simultaneously administrated with DEN enriches HPC during hepatocarcinogenesis, we propose that DEN + 2AAF protocol might be a useful tool to investigate the cellular origin of HCC with progenitor features.

Chronic administration of diethylnitrosamine to induce hepatocarcinogenesis and to evaluate its synergistic effect with other hepatotoxins in mice.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) arises after a long period of exposition to etiological factors that might be either independent or collectively contributing. Several rodent models resemble human HCC; however, the major limitation of these models is the lack of chronic injury that reproducibly mimics the molecular alterations as it occurs in humans. Thus, we hypothesized that chronic administration of different DEN treatments identifies the best-fit dose to induce the HCC and/or to determine whether small DEN doses act synergistically with other known hepatotoxins to induce HCC in mice. C57BL/6 J male mice were intraperitoneally injected twice a week for 6 weeks with different DEN doses ranging from 2.5 to 40 mg/kg body weight; then, selected doses (2.5, 5 and 20 mg/kg) for 6, 10, 14, and 18 weeks. We demonstrated that DEN at 20 mg/kg promoted reactive oxygen species and 4-hydroxynonenal production, cell proliferation inflammatory infiltrate, and fibrosis, which in turn induced liver cancer by week 18. These parameters were established by evaluating histopathological changes, HCC markers such as glutathione S-transferase placental-1 (Gstp1), Cytokeratin-19 (Ck19) and prostaglandin reductase-1 (Ptgr1); that of Cyp2e1, a DEN metabolizing enzyme; and the expression of the proliferation marker Ki67. While DEN at 2.5 and 5 mg/kg increased Gstp1 and Ck19, DEN at 20 mg/kg decreased them and Cyp2e1 expression and activity. In summary, our results demonstrate that DEN chronically administrated at 20 mg/kg induces the HCC, while DEN at 2.5 and 5 mg/kg could be useful in elucidating its synergistic effect with other hepatotoxic agents in mice.

Aldo-Keto Reductases as Early Biomarkers of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Comparison Between Animal Models and Human HCC.

BACKGROUND: The intrinsic heterogeneity of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) represents a great challenge for its molecular classification and for detecting predictive biomarkers. Aldo-keto reductase (Akr) family members have shown differential expression in human HCC, while AKR1B10 overexpression is considered a biomarker; AKR7A3 expression is frequently reduced in HCC. AIMS: To investigate the time-course expression of Akr members in the experimental hepatocarcinogenesis. METHODS: Using DNA-microarray data, we analyzed the time-course gene expression profile from nodules to tumors (4-17 months) of 17 Akr members induced by the resistant hepatocyte carcinogenesis model in the rat. RESULTS: The expression of six members (Akr1c19, Akr1b10, Akr7a3, Akr1b1, Akr1cl1, and Akr1b8) was increased, comparable to that of Ggt and Gstp1, two well-known liver cancer markers. In particular, Akr7a3 and Akr1b10 expression also showed a time-dependent increment at mRNA and protein levels in a second hepatocarcinogenesis model induced with diethylnitrosamine. We confirmed that aldo-keto reductases 7A3 and 1B10 were co-expressed in nine biopsies of human HCC, independently from the presence of glypican-3 and cytokeratin-19, two well-known HCC biomarkers. Because it has been suggested that expression of Akr members is regulated through NRF2 activity at the antioxidant response element (ARE) sequences, we searched and identified at least two ARE sites in Akr1b1, Akr1b10, and Akr7a3 from rat and human gene sequences. Moreover, we observed higher NRF2 nuclear translocation in tumors as compared with non-tumor tissues. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate that Akr7a3 mRNA and protein levels are consistently co-expressed along with Akr1b10, in both experimental liver carcinogenesis and some human HCC samples. These results highlight the presence of AKR7A3 and AKR1B10 from early stages of the experimental HCC and introduce them as a potential application for early diagnosis, staging, and prognosis in human cancer.

Downregulation of sorting nexin 10 is associated with overexpression of miR-30d during liver cancer progression in rats.

As of 2012, liver cancer was the second leading cause of death worldwide, and hepatocellular carcinoma is the most common primary cancer of the liver. The identification of molecules that might be molecular markers or therapeutic targets is urgently needed to improve clinical management. Based on a microarray analysis performed in our laboratory, we selected six genes-namely, ANXA2, DYNLT1, PFKP, PLA2G7, KRT19, and SNX10-as candidates for validation as tumor markers of liver cancer in a rat model. Their patterns of overexpression in preneoplastic lesions and established tumors at 10 different time points between 24 h and 18 months were analyzed to identify putative tumor markers for further studies. We validated the microarray results by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, which revealed high transcriptional expression for five of the genes, consistent with their high protein expression during cancer progression reported in the literature. However, studies of the association of sorting nexin 10 with different types of cancer are limited, prompting further study. The characterization of sorting nexin 10 in preneoplastic lesions and established tumors revealed messenger RNA overexpression and a simultaneous decrease in sorting nexin 10 protein expression. A group of microRNAs related to sorting nexin 10 messenger RNA were selected based on a data analysis conducted using miRDB and microrna.org . An analysis of the expression of these microRNAs revealed an increase in the transcription of microRNA-30d whenever the sorting nexin 10 protein was downregulated. These results suggest that sorting nexin 10 is a potential liver cancer marker exhibiting characteristics of a putative suppressor protein that is likely regulated by microRNA-30d.

The transmembrane transporter ABCC3 participates in liver cancer progression and is a potential biomarker.

The poor prognosis, few available treatment options, and multidrug resistance present in hepatocellular carcinoma are major problems, and new early biomarkers are needed to reduce the liver cancer death rate. ATP-binding cassette sub-family C member 3 (Abcc3) is overexpressed in different cancers and is associated with multidrug resistance and a carcinogenic stem cell phenotype. We present evidence for the first time that ABCC3 is a potential sanguine biomarker and anticancer target in hepatocellular carcinoma. Abcc3 mRNA expression was elevated in liver nodules and tumors in rat hepatocarcinogenesis model. Accordingly, the ABCC3 protein was preferentially overexpressed within the nodules and tumors during hepatocellular carcinoma progression and was secreted into the bloodstream of rat hepatocarcinogenesis model. The ABCC3 protein was expressed in human hepatoma cells and, importantly, was also present in HepG2- and Huh7-conditioned media. Furthermore, ABCC3 was overexpressed in human hepatocellular carcinoma. This report is the first to describe liver overexpression of Abcc3 during the cancer initiation, promotion, and progression periods in rat hepatocarcinogenesis model and in human hepatocellular carcinoma.

Comparative proteomic analysis of thiol proteins in the liver after oxidative stress induced by diethylnitrosamine.

Conversion of protein -SH groups to disulfides is an early event during protein oxidation, which has prompted great interest in the study of thiol proteins. Chemical carcinogenesis is strongly associated with the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The goal of this study was to detect thiol proteins that are sensitive to ROS generated during diethylnitrosamine (DEN) metabolism in the rat liver. DEN has been widely used to induce experimental hepatocellular carcinoma. We used modified redox-differential gel electrophoresis (redox-DIGE method) and mass spectrometry MALDI-TOF/TOF to identify differential oxidation protein profiles associated with carcinogen exposure. Our analysis revealed a time-dependent increase in the number of oxidized thiol proteins after carcinogen treatment; some of these proteins have antioxidant activity, including thioredoxin, peroxirredoxin 2, peroxiredoxin 6 and glutathione S-transferase alpha-3. According to functional classifications, the identified proteins in our study included chaperones, oxidoreductases, activity isomerases, hydrolases and other protein-binding partners. This study demonstrates that oxidative stress generated by DEN tends to increase gradually through DEN metabolism, causes time-dependent necrosis in the liver and has an oxidative effect on thiol proteins, thereby increasing the number of oxidized thiol proteins. Furthermore, these events occurred during the hepatocarcinogenesis initiation period.

Laser capture microdissection after γ-glutamyl transferase histochemistry: an optimization for gene expression analysis.

γ-Glutamyl transferase (GGT) is useful as a marker in pathological conditions, including several types of cancer. We optimized the histochemical detection of GGT to assay the gene expression profiles of phenotype-specific cells selected by laser capture microdissection (LCM). For optimization, we used the livers of rats subjected to hepatocarcinogenesis. This model induced nodules of hepatocytes and tumors with GGT activity. To obtain sufficient high-quality RNA after histochemistry and LCM, we included an RNase inhibitor and air-dried the tissue sections. This optimization allowed the visualization of GGT activity in situ and a yield of 1.4 to 2.0 µg of total RNA from 15 to 18 mm² of microdissected tissue (20 µm thickness). The average RNA integrity number in GGT-positive tissue, determined by chip-capillary electrophoresis, was 6.9, and the 28S/18S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) ratio was 1.4. The RNAs were processed for the Rat Gene 1.0 ST Array (Affymetrix). Comparable quality control metrics, such as signal intensity and RNA degradation plots, were found between the LCM samples and non-LCM tissue. The increased expression of Ggt1 expected in GGT-positive tissue was confirmed by microarrays and quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). This optimization provided a suitable method for whole-transcript analysis of GGT-positive tissue isolated using LCM.

Protocol to detect senescence-associated ß-galactosidase and immunoperoxidase activity in fresh-frozen murine tissues.

Double labeling to identify different markers in the same tissue section represents a useful tool either for in situ diagnosis or characterization of molecular associations. Here, we present a protocol to detect senescence-associated ß-galactosidase (SA-ßGal) and immunoperoxidase (IPO) activity in fresh-frozen murine tissues. We describe steps for tissue collection, solution preparation, SA-ßGal staining, IPO staining, hematoxylin counterstaining, microscopic observation, and signal quantification. This protocol can be used to detect in situ proteins alongside SA-ßGal activity. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Pacheco-Rivera et al.1.

Identification of key markers for the stages of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: An integrated bioinformatics analysis and experimental validation.

BACKGROUND: The identification of biomarkers for the early diagnosis of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is urgently needed. Here, we aimed to identify NAFLD biomarkers in the early stages of steatosis (SS) and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) based on differential gene expression from bioinformatics data. METHODS: A meta-analysis was performed from transcriptomic databases retrieved from public repositories containing data from biopsies of patients at various stages of NAFLD development. The status of the selected molecules was validated in the serum of patients with NAFLD by ELISA. RESULTS: We identified 121 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) associated with SS and 402 associated with NASH. Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment revealed that the altered genes were primarily associated with dysfunction of primary cellular processes, and pathway analyses were mainly related to cholesterol metabolism. We identified ACSS2, PCSK9, and CYP7A1 as candidate biomarkers for SS and ANGPTL3, CD36, CYP51A1, FASN, FAS, FDFT1, and LSS as candidate biomarkers for NASH. CONCLUSIONS: By experimental validation of bioinformatics data from patients with NAFLD, we identified promising biomarkers for detecting SS and NASH that might be useful for screening and diagnosing early NAFLD stages in humans.

Iron-saturated bovine lactoferrin: a promising chemopreventive agent for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a tumor with minimal chance of cure due to underlying liver diseases, late diagnosis, and inefficient treatments. Thus, HCC treatment warrants the development of additional strategies. Lactoferrin (Lf) is a mammalian multifunctional iron-binding glycoprotein of the innate immune response and can be found as either a native low iron form (native-Lf) or a high iron form (holo-Lf). Bovine Lf (bLf), which shares many functions with human Lf (hLf), is safe for humans and has several anticancer activities, including chemotherapy boost in cancer. We found endogenous hLf is downregulated in HCC tumors compared with normal liver, and decreased hLf levels in HCC tumors are associated with shorter survival of HCC patients. However, the chemoprotective effect of 100% iron saturated holo-bLf on experimental hepatocarcinogenesis has not yet been determined. We aimed to evaluate the chemopreventive effects of holo-bLf in different HCC models. Remarkably, a single dose (200 mg kg-1) of holo-bLf was effective in preventing early carcinogenic events in a diethylnitrosamine induced HCC in vivo model, such as necrosis, ROS production, and the surge of facultative liver stem cells, and eventually, holo-bLf reduced the number of preneoplastic lesions. For an established HCC model, holo-bLf treatment significantly reduced HepG2 tumor burden in xenotransplanted mice. Finally, holo-bLf in combination with sorafenib, the advanced HCC first-line treatment, synergistically decreased HepG2 viability by arresting cells in the G0/G1 phase of the cell cycle. Our findings provide the first evidence suggesting that holo-bLf has the potential to prevent HCC or to be used in combination with treatments for established HCC.

A model of alcoholic liver disease based on different hepatotoxics leading to liver cancer.

The worst-case scenario related to alcoholic liver disease (ALD) arises after a long period of exposure to the harmful effect of alcohol consumption along with other hepatotoxics. ALD encompasses a broad spectrum of liver-associated disorders, such as steatosis, steatohepatitis, fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Based on the chronic administration of different hepatotoxics, including ethanol, sucrose, lipopolysaccharide, and low doses of diethylnitrosamine over a short period, here we aimed to develop a multiple hepatotoxic (MHT)-ALD model in the mouse that recapitulates the human ALD-associated disorders. We demonstrated that the MHT-ALD model induces ADH1A and NXN, an ethanol metabolizer and a redox-sensor enzyme, respectively; promotes steatosis associated with the induction of the lipid droplet forming FSP27, inflammation identified by the infiltration of hepatic neutrophils-positive to LY-6G marker, and the increase of MYD88 level, a protein involved in inflammatory response; and stimulates the early appearance of cellular senescence identified by the senescence markers SA-ß-gal activity and p-H2A.XSer139. It also induces fibrosis associated with increased desmin, a marker of hepatic stellate cells whose activation leads to the deposition of collagen fibers, accompanied by cell death and compensatory proliferation revealed by increased CASP3-mediated apoptosis, and KI67- and PCNA-proliferation markers, respectively. It also induces histopathological traits of malignancy and the level of the HCC marker, GSTP1. In conclusion, we provide a useful model for exploring the chronological ALD-associated alterations and stages, and addressing therapeutic approaches.