RESUMO
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) is not fully investigated, and how stromal cells contribute to ICC formation is poorly understood. We aimed to uncover ICC origin, cellular heterogeneity, and critical modulators during ICC initiation/progression, and to decipher how fibroblast and endothelial cells in the stromal compartment favor ICC progression. APPROACH AND RESULTS: We performed single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) using AKT/Notch intracellular domain-induced mouse ICC tissues at early, middle, and late stages. We analyzed the transcriptomic landscape, cellular classification and evolution, and intercellular communication during ICC initiation/progression. We confirmed the findings using quantitative real-time PCR, western blotting, immunohistochemistry or immunofluorescence, and gene knockout/knockdown analysis. We identified stress-responding and proliferating subpopulations in late-stage mouse ICC tissues and validated them using human scRNA-seq data sets. By integrating weighted correlation network analysis and protein-protein interaction through least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression, we identified zinc finger, MIZ-type containing 1 (Zmiz1) and Y box protein 1 (Ybx1) as core transcription factors required by stress-responding and proliferating ICC cells, respectively. Knockout of either one led to the blockade of ICC initiation/progression. Using two other ICC mouse models (YAP/AKT, KRAS/p19) and human ICC scRNA-seq data sets, we confirmed the orchestrating roles of Zmiz1 and Ybx1 in ICC occurrence and development. In addition, hes family bHLH transcription factor 1, cofilin 1, and inhibitor of DNA binding 1 were identified as driver genes for ICC. Moreover, periportal liver sinusoidal endothelial cells could differentiate into tip endothelial cells to promote ICC development, and this was Dll4-Notch4-Efnb2 signaling-dependent. CONCLUSIONS: Stress-responding and ICC proliferating subtypes were identified, and Zmiz1 and Ybx1 were revealed as core transcription factors in these subtypes. Fibroblast-endothelial cell interaction promotes ICC development.
Assuntos
Neoplasias dos Ductos Biliares , Colangiocarcinoma , Humanos , Camundongos , Animais , Neoplasias dos Ductos Biliares/patologia , Cofilina 1/genética , Cofilina 1/metabolismo , Transcriptoma , Proteínas Proto-Oncogênicas c-akt/metabolismo , Proteína 1 de Ligação a Y-Box/metabolismo , Células Endoteliais/metabolismo , Proteínas Proto-Oncogênicas p21(ras)/genética , Camundongos Knockout , Colangiocarcinoma/patologia , Ductos Biliares Intra-Hepáticos/patologia , Fatores de Transcrição Hélice-Alça-Hélice Básicos/metabolismo , DNA/metabolismo , Linhagem Celular TumoralRESUMO
Primary liver cancer is one of the most common malignant cancers of the digestive system that lacks effective chemotherapeutic drugs in clinical settings. Camptothecin (CPT) and its derivatives have been approved for cancer treatment; however, their application is limited by their systemic toxicity. For lead optimization in new drug discovery stages, fluorination is an effective and robust approach to increase the bioavailability and optimize the pharmacokinetics of candidate compounds, thereby improving their efficacy. To obtain new and highly active CPT derivatives, we designed, synthesized, and evaluated two new fluorinated CPT derivatives, 9-fluorocamptothecin (A1) and 7-ethyl-9-fluorocamptothecin (A2), in this study. In vitro, A1 and A2 exhibited more robust anti-tumor activity than topotecan (TPT) in various cancer cells, particularly hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells. In vivo, A1 and A2 exhibited greater anti-tumor activity than TPT in both AKT/Met induced primary HCC mouse models and implanted HepG2 cell xenografts. Acute toxicity tests revealed that A1 and A2 were not lethal and did not cause significant body weight loss at high doses. Moreover, A1 and A2 exhibited no significant toxicity in the mouse liver, heart, lung, spleen, kidney, and hematopoietic systems at therapeutic doses. Mechanistically, A1 and A2 blocked HCC cell proliferation by inhibiting the enzymatic activity of Topo I, subsequently inducing DNA damage, cell cycle arrest, and apoptosis. In summary, our results indicate that fluorination improves the anti-tumor activity of CPT while decreasing its toxicity and highlight the application potential of fluorination products A1 and A2 in clinical settings.
Assuntos
Antineoplásicos , Carcinoma Hepatocelular , Neoplasias Hepáticas , Humanos , Animais , Camundongos , Camptotecina/farmacologia , Camptotecina/uso terapêutico , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/tratamento farmacológico , DNA Topoisomerases Tipo I/metabolismo , Neoplasias Hepáticas/tratamento farmacológico , Topotecan/farmacologia , Inibidores da Topoisomerase I/farmacologia , Inibidores da Topoisomerase I/uso terapêutico , Antineoplásicos/farmacologia , Antineoplásicos/uso terapêuticoRESUMO
Resveratrol (RES), a natural polyphenol phytoalexin, has been reported to attenuate nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, its roles on protection of liver from lipotoxicity and underlying mechanism are not fully understood. In this study, we investigated the impacts of RES on alleviating hepatic lipotoxicity and corresponding molecular mechanism. Impacts of RES on oleic acid (OA)-induced lipotoxicity were assessed in L02 cells and C57BL/6J mice, respectively. In L02 cells, lipotoxicity was assessed by detection of apoptosis, mitochondrial function, oxidative stress and ROS-related signaling. In mice, lipotoxicity was evaluated by detecting hepatic function, serum enzyme activity, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. We found that RES reduced OA-induced apoptosis, mitochondrial dysfunction, ROS generation, and DNA damage in L02 cells. RES also decreased expression of cleaved caspase-3 and p53 and increased expression of B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2). Importantly, RES protected mice from high-fat diet-induced hepatic lipotoxicity, demonstrated by reduced ROS levels and lipid peroxidation. Mechanically, B lymphoma Mo-MLV insertion region 1 (Bmi-1) expression and antioxidative superoxide dismutase were increased after RES treatment. Further mechanistic analysis indicated that protection effects of RES against OA-induced lipotoxicity were abrogated by Bmi-1 small interference RNA (siRNA) in L02 cells. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Results from clinical studies about the effect of RES on NAFLD are inconsistent and inconclusive. This study confirms the protective role of RES as an anti-ROS agent and its ability to alleviate DNA damage through a pathway involving p53/p21 signaling. Further mechanistic analysis indicated that protection effects of RES were relative with Bmi-1. This is the first study on the role of Bmi-1 in the pathogenesis of NAFLD and the target of resveratrol against NAFLD.
Assuntos
Dieta Hiperlipídica , Hepatopatia Gordurosa não Alcoólica , Animais , Dieta Hiperlipídica/efeitos adversos , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BL , Hepatopatia Gordurosa não Alcoólica/metabolismo , Estresse Oxidativo , Espécies Reativas de Oxigênio/metabolismo , Resveratrol/farmacologia , Proteína Supressora de Tumor p53/metabolismoRESUMO
Kinsenoside (KD) exhibits anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive effects. Dendritic cells (DCs) are critical regulators of the pathologic inflammatory milieu in liver fibrosis (LF). Herein, we explored whether and how KD repressed development of LF via DC regulation and verified the pathway involved in the process. Given our analysis, both KD and adoptive transfer of KD-conditioned DCs conspicuously reduced hepatic histopathological damage, proinflammatory cytokine release and extracellular matrix deposition in CCl4-induced LF mice. Of note, KD restrained the LF-driven rise in CD86, MHC-II, and CCR7 levels and, simultaneously, upregulated PD-L1 expression on DCs specifically, which blocked CD8+T cell activation. Additionally, KD reduced DC glycolysis, maintained DCs immature, accompanied by IL-12 decrease in DCs. Inhibiting DC function by KD disturbed the communication of DCs and HSCs with the expression or secretion of α-SMA and Col-I declined in the liver. Mechanistically, KD suppressed the phosphorylation of PI3K-AKT driven by LF or PI3K agonist, followed by enhanced nuclear transport of FoxO1 and upregulated interaction of FoxO1 with the PD-L1 promoter in DCs. PI3K inhibitor or si-IL-12 acting on DC could relieve LF, HSC activation and diminish the effect of KD. In conclusion, KD suppressed DC maturation with promoted PD-L1 expression via PI3K-AKT-FoxO1 and decreased IL-12 secretion, which blocked activation of CD8+T cells and HSCs, thereby alleviating liver injury and fibro-inflammation in LF.
Assuntos
Hepatite , Fosfatidilinositol 3-Quinases , 4-Butirolactona/análogos & derivados , Animais , Antígeno B7-H1 , Células Dendríticas/metabolismo , Proteína Forkhead Box O1 , Inflamação/tratamento farmacológico , Interleucina-12 , Camundongos , Monossacarídeos , Fosfatidilinositol 3-Quinases/metabolismo , Proteínas Proto-Oncogênicas c-akt/metabolismoRESUMO
Based on the structural skeleton of natural products boeravinones, two types of 6H-chromeno[3,4-b]quinoline derivatives were designed and synthesized by nitrogen atom substitution strategy. Then, their cytotoxic activities were evaluated against six human tumor cell lines including HepG2 (hepatocellular carcinoma), A2780 (ovarian cancer), Hela (cervical cancer), HCT116 (colorectal cancer), SW1990 (pancreatic cancer), and MCF7 (breast cancer). The results showed that compounds ZML-8 and ZML-14 exhibited robust inhibitory activities against HepG2 cells with IC50 values of 0.58 and 1.94 µM, respectively. In addition, ZML-8 and ZML-14 showed higher selectivity against HepG2 and L-02 cells than Topotecan. Mechanistically, ZML-8 and ZML-14 not only induced cell cycle arrest in the G2/M phase and cell apoptosis, but also dose-dependently inhibited topoisomerase I activity and induced DNA damage in HepG2 cells. Molecular docking showed that ZML-8 and ZML-14 could interact with topoisomerase I-DNA complex with a similar binding mode to Topotecan. Inhibitory activities of these two compounds on topoisomerase I were then confirmed in both cell-free systems and in whole-cell lysates. Taken together, compounds ZML-8 and ZML-14 merit further development as a new generation of non-camptothecin topoisomerase I inhibitors for the treatment of cancer.
Assuntos
Antineoplásicos , Neoplasias Ovarianas , Antineoplásicos/química , Apoptose , Linhagem Celular Tumoral , Proliferação de Células , Desenho de Fármacos , Ensaios de Seleção de Medicamentos Antitumorais , Feminino , Humanos , Simulação de Acoplamento Molecular , Inibidores da Topoisomerase I , Inibidores da Topoisomerase II/farmacologiaRESUMO
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) are the most prevalent types of primary liver cancer. Compared with HCC, for which several drugs have been approved, ICC is associated with shorter survival, and no drug has been approved for this type. Previously, we reported that Bmi1 drives HCC and is required for HCC development and growth. However, whether Bmi1 plays a critical role in ICC is not clear, although it reportedly is highly expressed in ICC. Therefore, we investigated its role in ICC. Here, we report that Bmi1 promotes ICC initiation and progression independent of the Ink4A/Arf pathway, a canonical downstream pathway of Bmi1. We found that Bmi1 is overexpressed in human ICC. Co-expression of Bmi1 and NRas induced ICC formation in mice. Knockdown or inactivation of Bmi1 inhibited ICC growth in vitro. Liver-specific knockout or inactivation of Bmi1 remarkably suppressed ICC tumor formation and development in vivo. Mechanistically, no correlation between Bmi1 and Ink4A/Arf levels was found in mouse and human ICC tissues. Together, our data indicate that Bmi1 functions as an oncogene independent of repression of the Ink4A/Arf locus in ICC and that it can serve as a target for ICC treatment.
Assuntos
Neoplasias dos Ductos Biliares/metabolismo , Colangiocarcinoma/metabolismo , Complexo Repressor Polycomb 1/metabolismo , Animais , Neoplasias dos Ductos Biliares/genética , Linhagem Celular , Colangiocarcinoma/genética , Inibidor p16 de Quinase Dependente de Ciclina/genética , Inibidor p16 de Quinase Dependente de Ciclina/metabolismo , Feminino , Humanos , Fígado/metabolismo , Camundongos Endogâmicos BALB C , Camundongos Nus , Camundongos Transgênicos , Complexo Repressor Polycomb 1/genéticaRESUMO
29 novel 20(S)-aminophosphonate derivatives of camptothecin were synthesized via a FeCl3 - catalyzed one-pot reaction. All of these compounds displayed similar or superior cytotoxic activity in comparison with that of Irinotecan against Hep3B, MCF-7, A-549, MDA-MB-231, KB, and multidrug-resistant (MDR) KB-vin cell lines. Out of them, compound B07 exhibited significant cytotoxicity and 10-fold improvement in activity compared to Irinotecan. Mechanistically, B07 not only induced cell apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in Hep3B and MCF-7 cells, but also inhibited Topoisomerase I activity in the cell and cell-free system in a manner similar to that of Irinotecan. In both xenograft and primary HCC mouse models, B07 showed significant anti-tumor activity and was more potent than Irinotecan. Additionally, the acute toxicity assay showed that B07 had no apparent toxicity to the mouse liver, kidney, and hemopoietic system of the FVB/N mice. Therefore, these findings indicate that compound B07 could be a potential Topoisomerase I poison drug candidate for further clinical trial.
Assuntos
Antineoplásicos/farmacologia , Camptotecina/farmacologia , Desenho de Fármacos , Organofosfonatos/farmacologia , Antineoplásicos/síntese química , Antineoplásicos/química , Apoptose/efeitos dos fármacos , Camptotecina/síntese química , Camptotecina/química , Ciclo Celular/efeitos dos fármacos , Proliferação de Células/efeitos dos fármacos , Sobrevivência Celular/efeitos dos fármacos , Células Cultivadas , Relação Dose-Resposta a Droga , Ensaios de Seleção de Medicamentos Antitumorais , Humanos , Estrutura Molecular , Organofosfonatos/síntese química , Organofosfonatos/química , Relação Estrutura-AtividadeRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Hypoxic tumor microenvironment (TME) promotes tumor metastasis and drug resistance, leading to low efficiency of cancer chemotherapy. The development of targeted agents or multi-target therapies regulating hypoxic microenvironment is an important approach to overcome drug resistance and metastasis. METHODS: In this study, chitosan oligosaccharide (COS)-coated and sialic acid (SA) receptor-targeted nano-micelles were prepared using film dispersion method to co-deliver cisplatin (CDDP) and nitric oxide (NO) (denoted as CTP/CDDP). In addition, we explored the mechanisms by which NO reversed CDDP resistance as well as enhanced anti-metastatic efficacy in hypoxic cancer cells. RESULTS: Because of the different affinities of COS and SA to phenylboronic acid (PBA) under different pH regimes, CTP/CDDP micelles with intelligent targeting property increased cellular uptake of CDDP and enhanced cytotoxicity to tumors, but reduced systemic toxicity to normal organs or tissues. In addition, CTP/CDDP showed stimulus-responsive release in TME. In terms of anti-tumor mechanism, CTP/CDDP reduced CDDP efflux and inhibited epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process of tumor by down-regulating hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), glutathione (GSH), multidrug resistance-associated protein 2 (MRP2) and matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9) expression, thus reversing drug resistance and metastasis of hypoxic tumor cells. CONCLUSIONS: The designed micelles significantly enhanced anti-tumor effects both in vitro and in vivo. These results suggested that CTP/CDDP represented a promising strategy to treat resistance and metastatic tumors.
Assuntos
Antineoplásicos/farmacologia , Cisplatino/farmacologia , Hipóxia/tratamento farmacológico , Micelas , Óxido Nítrico/farmacologia , Animais , Antineoplásicos/química , Células 3T3 BALB , Linhagem Celular Tumoral , Quitosana/química , Sistemas de Liberação de Medicamentos , Resistencia a Medicamentos Antineoplásicos/efeitos dos fármacos , Humanos , Subunidade alfa do Fator 1 Induzível por Hipóxia , Metaloproteinase 9 da Matriz/metabolismo , Camundongos , Proteína 2 Associada à Farmacorresistência Múltipla/metabolismo , Óxido Nítrico/química , Tamanho da Partícula , Microambiente Tumoral/efeitos dos fármacosRESUMO
Resistance of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) to systemic chemotherapy is partially due to presence of drug-resistant cancer stem cells. Bmi1 protein is essential for survival and proliferation of HCC cancer stem cells (CSCs). Here, we report that Bmi1 siRNA (Bmi1siR) loaded in cationic nanocapsules of cisplatin (NPC) eliminated stem cells in situ HCC in mice. NPC/Bmi1siR was fabricated via electrostatic complexation of Bmi1 siRNA to NPCs, which had cores composed of cisplatin and were coated with cationic lipids. In vivo, NPC/Bmi1siR showed higher anti-tumor activity in HCC bearing mice compared with cisplatin or NPC. Critically, both flow cytometry (FACS) analysis in vitro and histological examination in vivo revealed that side population or CD133+ HCC cells were dramatically decreased by NPC/Bmi1siR treatment, suggesting that HCC CSCs were eliminated. Altogether, our results suggest that drug resistance of HCC can be overcome by co-delivering Bmi1 siRNA with cisplatin in cationic nanocapsules.
Assuntos
Carcinoma Hepatocelular/terapia , Cisplatino/administração & dosagem , Neoplasias Hepáticas/terapia , Nanocápsulas/administração & dosagem , Células-Tronco Neoplásicas/efeitos dos fármacos , Complexo Repressor Polycomb 1/antagonistas & inibidores , RNA Interferente Pequeno/genética , Animais , Antineoplásicos/administração & dosagem , Antineoplásicos/farmacologia , Apoptose , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/genética , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/patologia , Cátions , Ciclo Celular , Proliferação de Células , Cisplatino/farmacologia , Terapia Combinada , Resistencia a Medicamentos Antineoplásicos , Humanos , Neoplasias Hepáticas/genética , Neoplasias Hepáticas/patologia , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos BALB C , Camundongos Nus , Nanocápsulas/química , Células-Tronco Neoplásicas/metabolismo , Células-Tronco Neoplásicas/patologia , Complexo Repressor Polycomb 1/genética , Células Tumorais Cultivadas , Ensaios Antitumorais Modelo de XenoenxertoRESUMO
MiR-139-5p has been reported to be overexpressed in many types of cancers, but its role in bladder cancer has not been elucidated yet. Here, we report that miR-139-5p functions as a tumor suppressor in bladder cancer and inhibits the cancer stem cell self-renewal by targeting Bmi1 directly. We found that miR-139-5p expression was significantly downregulated in the bladder cancer specimens compared with that in adjacent normal tissues. In vitro, restoration of miR-139-5p expression significantly inhibited the proliferation of bladder cancer cells. Mechanism analysis revealed that miR-139-5p could decrease Bmi1 protein levels by binding to the 3' untranslated region of Bmi1 messenger RNA. Stem cell-related proteins such as c-MYC, NANOG, OCT4, and KLF4 and signaling pathways such as Wnt signaling were suppressed by restoration of miR-139-5p in bladder cancer cells. In addition, miR-139-5p expression also blocked self-renewal of bladder cancer stem cells by inhibiting Bmi1. In summary, our study supports that miR-139-5p acts as a tumor suppressor in bladder cancer development and suppresses cancer stem cell property of bladder cancer. Our study also suggests that miR-139-5p has the potential to be used as a therapeutic molecule for bladder cancer treatment.
Assuntos
Proliferação de Células/genética , MicroRNAs/genética , Complexo Repressor Polycomb 1/biossíntese , Neoplasias da Bexiga Urinária/genética , Apoptose/genética , Linhagem Celular Tumoral , Movimento Celular/genética , Autorrenovação Celular/genética , Feminino , Regulação Neoplásica da Expressão Gênica , Humanos , Fator 4 Semelhante a Kruppel , Masculino , Células-Tronco Neoplásicas/patologia , Complexo Repressor Polycomb 1/genética , Neoplasias da Bexiga Urinária/patologia , Via de Sinalização Wnt/genéticaRESUMO
To overcome the P-glycoprotein (P-gp)-induced multidrug resistance (MDR) of cancer cells, a novel copolymer, chitosan-graft-D-α-tocopheryl polyethylene glycol 1000 (TPGS) (CT) was synthesized for doxorubicin (DOX) delivery by the P-gp inhibiting virtue of TPGS. DOX-loaded CT nanoparticles (NPs) were fabricated by a modified solvent extraction/evaporation method combined with ionic cross-linking to form a uniform particle size of 140-180 nm with â¼40% DOX loading efficiency. These drug-loaded CT NPs demonstrated a pH-responsive release behavior, and DOX was released more quickly under low pH values. Significant cell cytotoxicity was observed on the human hepatocarcinoma cells (HepG2 and BEL-7402) and human breast adenocarcinoma cells (MCF-7). The cell cytotoxicity and apoptosis of drug-resistant cells (MCF-7/DOX and BEL-7402/5-Fu), was greatly enhanced as compared to Adriamycin. The IC50 value showed that DOX-loaded CT NPs could be 1.5-199-fold more effective than Adriamycin. This can be attributed to the P-gp blocking and down-regulation of ATP levels by the CT NPs. The potential of these NPs to act as an oral delivery system was also investigated. Both the pharmacokinetic properties and in vivo antitumor activity of DOX-loaded CT NPs were improved compared with Adriamycin.
Assuntos
Quitosana/química , Doxorrubicina/farmacocinética , Sistemas de Liberação de Medicamentos , Resistência a Múltiplos Medicamentos/efeitos dos fármacos , Resistencia a Medicamentos Antineoplásicos/efeitos dos fármacos , Nanopartículas/química , Vitamina E/análogos & derivados , Animais , Antibióticos Antineoplásicos/farmacocinética , Apoptose/efeitos dos fármacos , Western Blotting , Neoplasias da Mama/tratamento farmacológico , Neoplasias da Mama/metabolismo , Neoplasias da Mama/patologia , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/tratamento farmacológico , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/metabolismo , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/patologia , Proliferação de Células/efeitos dos fármacos , Feminino , Citometria de Fluxo , Humanos , Neoplasias Hepáticas/tratamento farmacológico , Neoplasias Hepáticas/metabolismo , Neoplasias Hepáticas/patologia , Camundongos , Nanopartículas/administração & dosagem , Polietilenoglicóis/química , Polímeros/química , Polímeros/farmacocinética , Distribuição Tecidual , Células Tumorais Cultivadas , Vitamina E/química , Ensaios Antitumorais Modelo de XenoenxertoRESUMO
Bmi1 is a member of the polycomb group family of proteins, and it drives the carcinogenesis of various cancers and governs the self-renewal of multiple types of stem cells. Our previous studies have revealed that Bmi1 acts as an oncogene in hepatic carcinogenesis in an INK4a/ARF locus independent manner. However, whether Bmi1 can be used as a potential target for hepatocellular carcinoma treatment has not been fully confirmed yet. Here, we show that perturbation of Bmi1 expression by using short hairpin RNA can inhibit the tumorigenicity and tumor growth of hepatocellular carcinoma cells both in vitro and in vivo. Importantly, Bmi1 knockdown can block the tumor growth, both in the initiating stages and the fast growing stages. Cellular biology analysis revealed that Bmi1 knockdown induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Our findings verify Bmi1 as a qualified treatment target for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and support Bmi1 targeting treatment with chemotherapeutic agents.
Assuntos
Carcinoma Hepatocelular/patologia , Neoplasias Hepáticas/patologia , Complexo Repressor Polycomb 1/antagonistas & inibidores , Proteínas Proto-Oncogênicas/antagonistas & inibidores , RNA Interferente Pequeno/metabolismo , Animais , Antibióticos Antineoplásicos/farmacologia , Antibióticos Antineoplásicos/uso terapêutico , Apoptose/efeitos dos fármacos , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/mortalidade , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/terapia , Pontos de Checagem do Ciclo Celular/efeitos dos fármacos , Linhagem Celular Tumoral , Doxorrubicina/farmacologia , Doxorrubicina/uso terapêutico , Feminino , Humanos , Neoplasias Hepáticas/mortalidade , Neoplasias Hepáticas/terapia , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos BALB C , Camundongos Nus , Complexo Repressor Polycomb 1/genética , Complexo Repressor Polycomb 1/metabolismo , Proteínas Proto-Oncogênicas/genética , Proteínas Proto-Oncogênicas/metabolismo , Interferência de RNA , RNA Mensageiro/metabolismo , RNA Interferente Pequeno/uso terapêutico , Transplante HeterólogoRESUMO
Liver-specific Ern1 knockout impairs tumor progression in mouse models of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the mechanistic role of IRE1α in human HCC remains unclear. In this study, we show that XBP1s, the major downstream effector of IRE1α, is required for HCC cell survival both in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, XBP1s transactivates LEF1, a key co-factor of ß-catenin, by binding to its promoter. Moreover, XBP1s physically interacts with LEF1, forming a transcriptional complex that enhances classical Wnt signaling. Consistently, the activities of XBP1s and LEF1 are strongly correlated in human HCC and with disease prognosis. Notably, selective inhibition of XBP1 splicing using an IRE1α inhibitor significantly repressed the viability of tumor explants as well as the growth of tumor xenografts derived from patients with distinct Wnt/LEF1 activities. Finally, machine learning algorithms developed a powerful prognostic signature based on the activities of XBP1s/LEF1. In summary, our study uncovers a key mechanistic role for the IRE1α-XBP1s pathway in human HCC. Targeting this axis could provide a promising therapeutic strategy for HCC with hyperactivated Wnt/LEF1 signaling.
RESUMO
microRNA-203 (miR203) plays an important role in the formation and development of multiple types of cancers. However, its role in hepatic carcinogenesis has not been well studied. Mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling is known to be activated in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but there is a lack of effective drugs targeting this pathway for HCC treatment. In this study, we investigated the role of miR203 in HCC and the underlying mechanism. We found that miR203 was significantly downregulated in HCC cell lines and patient tissues compared with a hepatocyte cell line (L02) or normal liver tissues. Restoration of miR203 inhibited HCC cell growth and induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. In primary and xenograft HCC mouse models, miR203 also significantly blocked HCC growth. Bioinformatic analysis indicated that miR203 directly binds to the 3'UTR of NRas mRNA, resulting in decreased expression of NRas and inactivation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling. Activation of MAPK signaling by ectopic NRas expression rescued the cell proliferation blocked by miR203. Together, our findings illustrate the fundamental role of miR203 as a natural inhibitor of RAS/MAPK signaling in hepatic carcinogenesis in vitro and in vivo. In light of the critical and universal activation of the MAPK pathway in HCC, miR203 has the potential to serve as a nucleotide drug for the treatment of HCC with activated MAPK signaling.
RESUMO
ER-phagy is a form of autophagy that is mediated by ER-phagy receptors and selectively degrades endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Coronaviruses have been shown to use the ER as a membrane source to establish their double-membrane vesicles (DMVs). However, whether viruses modulate ER-phagy to drive viral DMV formation and its underlying molecular mechanisms remains largely unknown. Here, we demonstrate that coronavirus subverts ER-phagy by hijacking the ER-phagy receptors FAM134B and ATL3 into p62 condensates, resulting in increased viral replication. Mechanistically, we show that viral protein ORF8 binds to and undergoes condensation with p62. FAM134B and ATL3 interact with homodimer of ORF8 and are aggregated into ORF8/p62 liquid droplets, leading to ER-phagy inhibition. ORF8/p62 condensates disrupt ER-phagy to facilitate viral DMV formation and activate ER stress. Together, our data highlight how coronavirus modulates ER-phagy to drive viral replication by hijacking ER-phagy receptors.
Assuntos
Coronavirus , Proteínas de Membrana , Proteínas de Membrana/metabolismo , Peptídeos e Proteínas de Sinalização Intracelular/metabolismo , Retículo Endoplasmático/metabolismo , Estresse do Retículo Endoplasmático , Autofagia/fisiologia , Replicação ViralRESUMO
BACKGROUND/AIMS: MiR-93 was observed in various types of cancers. This study is to investigate a role of miR-93 in the carcinogenesis of HCC. METHODOLOGY: The expression of miR-93 in HepG2 cells and prima-ry human hepatocytes (PHHC) was measured by RT-PCR. HepG2 cells were transfected with miR-93 inhibitor or negative control. The cell proliferation was determined by using the CellTiter 96® Aqueous One Solution Cell Proliferation Assay kit. The migration and clonogenicity in vitro were measured by cell migration assay, colony formation analysis and anchorage-in-dependent growth assay. The apoptosis and cell cycle were detected by flow cytometry analysis. The mRNA and protein levels of transforming growth factor-beta type II receptor (TGFBR2) and integrin beta8 (ITGB8)were evaluated by RT-PCR and western blot analysis. RESULTS: MiR-93 was upregulated in HepG2 cells compared with PHHC and inhibition of miR-93 significantly suppressed HepG2 cell proliferation, migration and col-ony formation. The expressions of TGFBR2 and ITGB8 were upregulated when miR-93 was inhibited. CONCLUSIONS: Our results reveal an important contribution for miR-93 in hepatocarcinogenesis and suggest a role for TGFBR2 and ITGB8 dysregulation in this process. Thus,the use of synthetic inhibitor of miR-93 may prove to bea promising approach to liver cancer treatment.
Assuntos
Carcinoma Hepatocelular/genética , Proliferação de Células , Neoplasias Hepáticas/genética , MicroRNAs/metabolismo , Apoptose/genética , Western Blotting , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/metabolismo , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/patologia , Adesão Celular/genética , Pontos de Checagem do Ciclo Celular/genética , Movimento Celular/genética , Regulação para Baixo , Citometria de Fluxo , Regulação Neoplásica da Expressão Gênica , Células Hep G2 , Humanos , Cadeias beta de Integrinas/genética , Cadeias beta de Integrinas/metabolismo , Neoplasias Hepáticas/metabolismo , Neoplasias Hepáticas/patologia , Cultura Primária de Células , Proteínas Serina-Treonina Quinases/genética , Proteínas Serina-Treonina Quinases/metabolismo , RNA Mensageiro/metabolismo , Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase em Tempo Real , Receptor do Fator de Crescimento Transformador beta Tipo II , Receptores de Fatores de Crescimento Transformadores beta/genética , Receptores de Fatores de Crescimento Transformadores beta/metabolismo , Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase Via Transcriptase Reversa , Transfecção , Ensaio Tumoral de Célula-TroncoRESUMO
Deregulated Wnt/ß-catenin signaling is one of the main genetic alterations in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Comprehensive genomic analyses have revealed that gain-of-function mutation of CTNNB1, which encodes ß-catenin, and loss-of-function mutation of AXIN1 occur in approximately 35% of human HCC samples. Human HCCs with activation of the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway demonstrate unique gene expression patterns and pathological features. Activated Wnt/ß-catenin synergizes with multiple signaling cascades to drive HCC formation, and it functions through its downstream effectors. Therefore, strategies targeting Wnt/ß-catenin have been pursued as possible therapeutics against HCC. Here, we review the genetic alterations and oncogenic roles of aberrant Wnt/ß-catenin signaling during hepatocarcinogenesis. In addition, we discuss the implication of this pathway in HCC diagnosis, classification, and personalized treatment.
Assuntos
Carcinoma Hepatocelular/metabolismo , Neoplasias Hepáticas/metabolismo , Proteínas de Neoplasias/metabolismo , Via de Sinalização Wnt , beta Catenina/metabolismo , Proteína Axina/genética , Proteína Axina/metabolismo , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/genética , Humanos , Neoplasias Hepáticas/genética , Proteínas de Neoplasias/genética , beta Catenina/genéticaRESUMO
BACKGROUND: The presence of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) uniquely distinguishes the brain from other organs, and various brain pathologies, including cancer, can disrupt or breach the BBB. The specific implications of BBB alterations in glioma have not been sufficiently clarified. METHODS: In this study, statistical analysis of the TCGA pan-glioma dataset and four other validation cohorts was used to investigate the infiltration of BBB constituent cells (endothelial cells, pericytes and astrocytes) in the glioma tumor microenvironment (TME). RESULTS: We found that the infiltration proportions of the three BBB constituent cell types were highly collinear, which implied alteration of the BBB. Hence, we developed an index, the BBB score, which is calculated based on the infiltration proportion of BBB constituent cells. Furthermore, we observed that patients with higher BBB scores were more likely to be diagnosed with more malignant entities in the TCGA database according to significant molecular features, such as IDH mutation status and 1p/19q deletion. The BBB score was also strikingly positively correlated with WHO grade in other cohorts. More importantly, a higher BBB score correlated with shorter survival time and unfavorable prognosis in glioma patients. Finally, we showed that TME-related pathways may regulate BBB alterations and that coinhibitory immune checkpoints were enriched in samples with higher BBB scores. CONCLUSIONS: We showed that TME-related pathways may regulate BBB alterations and that coinhibitory immune checkpoints were enriched in samples with higher BBB scores. Assessing BBB alterations may help elucidate the complex role of the glioma TME and suggest new combination treatment strategies.
RESUMO
Efficacy of immunotherapy in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is blocked by its high degree of inter- and intra-tumor heterogeneity and immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. However, the correlation between tumor heterogeneity and immunosuppressive microenvironment in HCC has not been well addressed. Here, we endeavored to dissect inter- and intra-tumor heterogeneity in HCC and uncover how they contribute to the immunosuppressive microenvironment. We performed consensus molecular subtyping with non-negative matrix factorization (NMF) clustering to stratify the inter-heterogeneity profile of HCC tumors. We grouped HCC tumors from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) patients into three subtypes (S1, S2 and S3), where S1 was characterized as a 'hot tumor' profile with high expression level of T cell genes and rate of immune scores. S2 was characterized as a 'cold tumor' profile with the highest tumor purity score, and S3 as an 'immunosuppressed tumor' profile with the poorest prognosis and a high expression level of immunosuppressive genes such as cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein-4, TIGIT, and PDCD1. Moreover, we combined weighted gene co-expression network analysis and single-cell regulatory network inference and clustering (SCENIC) in the single-cell dataset of the S3-like subtype (CS3) and identified a transcription factor, BATF, which could upregulate immunosuppressive genes. Finally, we identified a cell interaction network in which a myeloid-derived suppressor cell-like macrophage subtype could promote the formation of immunosuppressive T-cells.
Assuntos
Carcinoma Hepatocelular , Neoplasias Hepáticas , Biomarcadores Tumorais/genética , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/genética , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/patologia , Humanos , Neoplasias Hepáticas/patologia , Análise de Sequência de RNA , Microambiente Tumoral/genéticaRESUMO
Objective: The efficacy of immunotherapy for cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is blocked by a high degree of tumor heterogeneity. Cell communication contributes to heterogeneity in the tumor microenvironment. This study aimed to explore critical cell signaling and biomarkers induced via cell communication during immune exhaustion in CCA. Methods: We constructed empirical Bayes and Markov random field models eLBP to determine transcription factors, interacting genes, and associated signaling pathways involved in cell-cell communication using single-cell RNAseq data. We then analyzed the mechanism of immune exhaustion during CCA progression. Results: We found that VEGFA-positive macrophages with high levels of LGALS9 could interact with HAVCR2 to promote the exhaustion of CD8+ T cells in CCA. Transcription factors SPI1 and IRF1 can upregulate the expression of LGALS9 in VEGFA-positive macrophages. Subsequently, we obtained a panel containing 54 genes through the model, which identified subtype S2 with high expression of immune checkpoint genes that are suitable for immunotherapy. Moreover, we found that patients with subtype S2 with a higher mutation ratio of MUC16 had immune-exhausted genes, such as HAVCR2 and TIGIT. Finally, we constructed a nine-gene eLBP-LASSO-COX risk model, which was designated the tumor microenvironment risk score (TMRS). Conclusion: Cell communication-related genes can be used as important markers for predicting patient prognosis and immunotherapy responses. The TMRS panel is a reliable tool for prognostic prediction and chemotherapeutic decision-making in CCA.