ZHX2 inhibits SREBP1c-mediated de novo lipogenesis in hepatocellular carcinoma via miR-24-3p.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the leading causes of cancer-related death worldwide. Lipogenesis has been considered as a critical player in HCC initiation and progression. However, the underlying mechanism is still not fully understood. Here, we identified zinc fingers and homeoboxes 2 (ZHX2), an HCC-associated tumor suppressor, as an important repressor of de novo lipogenesis. Ectopic expression of ZHX2 significantly inhibited de novo lipogenesis in HCC cells and decreased expression of FASN, ACL, ACC1, and SCD1. In accordance with this, ZHX2 was negatively associated with SREBP1c, the master regulator of de novo lipogenesis, in HCC cell lines and human specimens. Results from silencing and overexpression demonstrated that ZHX2 inhibited de novo lipogenesis and consequent HCC progression via repression of SREBP1c. Furthermore, treatment with the SREBP1c inhibitor fatostatin dampened the spontaneous formation of tumors in liver-specific Zhx2 knockout mice. Mechanistically, ZHX2 increased expression of miR-24-3p transcriptionally, which targeted SREBP1c and led to its degradation. In conclusion, our data suggest a novel mechanism through which ZHX2 suppresses HCC progression, which may provide a new strategy for the treatment of HCC. © 2020 The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

ZHX2 emerges as a negative regulator of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation during acute liver injury.

Mitochondria dysfunction contributes to acute liver injuries, and mitochondrial regulators, such as PGC-1α and MCJ, affect liver regeneration. Therefore, identification of mitochondrial modulators may pave the way for developing therapeutic strategies. Here, ZHX2 is identified as a mitochondrial regulator during acute liver injury. ZHX2 both transcriptionally inhibits expression of several mitochondrial electron transport chain genes and decreases PGC-1α stability, leading to reduction of mitochondrial mass and OXPHOS. Loss of Zhx2 promotes liver recovery by increasing mitochondrial OXPHOS in mice with partial hepatectomy or CCl4-induced liver injury, and inhibition of PGC-1α or electron transport chain abolishes these effects. Notably, ZHX2 expression is higher in liver tissues from patients with drug-induced liver injury and is negatively correlated with mitochondrial mass marker TOM20. Delivery of shRNA targeting Zhx2 effectively protects mice from CCl4-induced liver injury. Together, our data clarify ZHX2 as a negative regulator of mitochondrial OXPHOS and a potential target for developing strategies for improving liver recovery after acute injuries.

R-spondins are involved in the ovarian differentiation in a teleost, medaka (Oryzias latipes).

BACKGROUND: In mammals, R-spondin (Rspo), an activator of the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway, has been shown to be involved in ovarian differentiation. However, the role of the Rspo/Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway in fish gonads is still unknown. RESULTS: In the present study, full-length cDNAs of Rspo1, 2 and 3 were cloned from the gonads of medaka (Oryzias latipes). The deduced amino acid sequences of mRspo1-3 were shown to have a similar structural organization. Phylogenetic analysis showed that Rspo1, 2 and 3 were specifically clustered into three distinct clads. Tissue distribution revealed that three Rspo genes were abundantly expressed in the brain and ovary. Real-time PCR analysis around hatching (S33-5dah) demonstrated that three Rspo genes were specifically enhanced in female gonads from S38. In situ hybridization (ISH) analysis demonstrated that three Rspo genes were expressed in the germ cell in ovary, but not in testis. Fluorescence multi-color ISH showed that Rspo1 was expressed in both somatic cells and germ cells at 10dah. Exposure to ethinylestradiol (EE2) in XY individuals for one week dramatically enhanced the expression of three Rspo genes both at 0dah and in adulthood. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the Rspo-activating signaling pathway is involved in the ovarian differentiation and maintenance in medaka.

ZHX2 restricts hepatocellular carcinoma by suppressing stem cell-like traits through KDM2A-mediated H3K36 demethylation.

BACKGROUND: Liver cancer stem cells (CSCs) are critical determinants of HCC relapse and therapeutic resistance, but the mechanisms underlying the maintenance of CSCs are poorly understood. We aimed to explore the role of tumor repressor Zinc-fingers and homeoboxes 2 (ZHX2) in liver CSCs. METHODS: CD133+ or EPCAM+ stem-like liver cancer cells were sorted from tumor tissues of HCC patients and HCC cell lines by flow cytometry. In addition, sorafenib-resistant cells, tumor-sphere forming cells and side population (SP) cells were respectively cultured and isolated as hepatic CSCs. The tumor-initiating and chemoresistance properties of ZHX2-overexpressing and ZHX2-knockdown cells were analyzed in vivo and in vitro. Microarray, luciferase reporter assay, chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) and ChIP-on-chip analyses were performed to explore ZHX2 target genes. The expression of ZHX2 and its target gene were determined by quantitative RT-PCR, western blot, immunofluorescence and immunohistochemical staining in hepatoma cells and tumor and adjacent tissues from HCC patients. RESULTS: ZHX2 expression was significantly reduced in liver CSCs from different origins. ZHX2 deficiency led to enhanced liver tumor progression and expansion of CSC populations in vitro and in vivo. Re-expression of ZHX2 restricted capabilities of hepatic CSCs in supporting tumor initiation, self-renewal and sorafenib-resistance. Mechanically, ZHX2 suppressed liver CSCs via inhibiting KDM2A-mediated demethylation of histone H3 lysine 36 (H3K36) at the promoter regions of stemness-associated transcription factors, such as NANOG, SOX4 and OCT4. Moreover, patients with lower expression of ZHX2 and higher expression of KDM2A in tumor tissues showed significantly poorer survival. CONCLUSION: ZHX2 counteracts stem cell traits through transcriptionally repressing KDM2A in HCC. Our data will aid in a better understanding of molecular mechanisms underlying HCC relapse and drug resistance.

Tumor suppressor ZHX2 inhibits NAFLD-HCC progression via blocking LPL-mediated lipid uptake.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) leads to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the underlying mechanism remains largely unclear. Here, we investigated the role of the tumor suppressor Zinc fingers and homeoboxes 2 (ZHX2) in the progression of NAFLD to HCC. ZHX2 expression was significantly decreased in fatty liver tissues, especially in the liver with NAFLD-HCC. ZHX2 overexpression disturbed lipid homeostasis of cultured HCC cells, and inhibited lipid deposition in hepatocytes both in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, ZHX2 inhibited uptake of exogenous lipids through transcriptional suppression of lipid lipase (LPL), leading to retarded proliferation of HCC cells. Importantly, LPL overexpression significantly reversed ZHX2-mediated inhibition of HCC cell proliferation, xenograft tumor growth, lipid deposition, and spontaneous liver tumor formation. Consistently, IHC staining demonstrated a negative correlation of ZHX2 with LPL in an HCC cohort. Collectively, ZHX2 protects hepatocytes from abnormal lipid deposition in NAFLD through transcriptional repression of LPL, which subsequently retards cell growth and NAFLD-HCC progression. These findings illustrate a novel mechanism of NAFLD progression into HCC.

Characterization of two paralogous StAR genes in a teleost, Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus).

Steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) transports cholesterol, the substrate for steroid synthesis, to the inner membranes of mitochondria. It is well known that estrogen is essential for female sex determination/differentiation in fish. However, no reports showed that the conventional StAR, which was supposed to be essential for estrogen production, was expressed in female gonads during the critical timing of sex determination/differentiation. In this study, two different StAR isoforms, named as StAR1 and StAR2, were characterized from the gonads of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Phylogenetic and synteny analysis revealed that two StAR genes existed in teleosts, Xenopus and chicken indicating that the duplication event occurred before the divergence of teleosts and tetrapods. Real-time PCR revealed that StAR1 was dominantly expressed in the testis, head kidney and kidney; while StAR2 was expressed exclusively in the gonads. In situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry demonstrated that StAR1 was expressed in the interrenal cells of the head kidney and Leydig cells of the testis; while StAR2 was expressed in the Leydig cells of the testis and the interstitial cells of the ovary. Ontogenic analysis demonstrated that StAR2 was expressed abundantly from 5 days after hatching (dah) in the somatic cells in XX gonads, whereas in XY gonads, both StARs could be detected from 30 dah until adulthood. Intraperitoneal injection of human chorionic gonadotropin experiments showed that expression of StAR1 and 2 was significantly elevated at 8h and persisted until 24h after injection in the testis. Taken together, our data suggested that StAR1 is likely to be required for cortisol production in the head kidney, and StAR2 is probably involved in estrogen production during early sex differentiation in XX gonads. In contrast, both StARs might be required for androgen production in testes. For the first time, our data demonstrated that two fish StARs might be involved in steroidogenesis in a tissue and developmental stage dependent manner.