Synthesis of Fluorinated Imidazole[4,5f][1,10]phenanthroline Derivatives as Potential Inhibitors of Liver Cancer Cell Proliferation by Inducing Apoptosis via DNA Damage.

Phenanthroline derivatives containing fluorinated imidazole ring are effective anti-neoplastic agents. Herein, a series of four fluorinated imidazole[4,5f][1,10]phenanthroline derivatives were synthesized and investigated as potential inhibitors to fight against the growth of liver cancer cells. The in vitro antitumor activity of targeted compounds have been evaluated by using MTT assay, and results showed that compound 4 (2-(2,3-difluorophenyl)-1H-imidazo[4,5-f][1,10]phenanthroline) exhibited excellent inhibitory effect against the growth of various tumor cells, particularly for HepG2 cells, with IC50 value of approximately 0.29 µM. This result has been further confirmed by colony formation assay, showing that compound 4 suppressed the proliferation of HepG2 cells. Moreover, cell apoptosis (AO/PI dual staining and flow cytometry) analyses as well as comet assay showed that compound 4 may induce apoptosis of HepG2 cells through triggering DNA damage. Furthermore, the in vivo anti-tumor activity were evaluated on zebrafish bearing HepG2 cells showed that compound 4 can observably block the growth of liver cancer cells. All in together, these compounds, particularly compound 4, may be developed as a potential agent to treat liver cancer in the future.

Aspirin-induced long-term tumor remission in hepatocellular carcinoma with adenomatous polyposis coli stop-gain mutation: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Targeted therapy based on pathway analysis of hepatitis B-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) may be a promising remedy. CASE SUMMARY: The present case involved an advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patient who did not receive local regional therapy and was intolerant to sorafenib. Total RNA extracted from the patient's tumor tissue was used to obtain the gene mutation profile. The c.3676A>T and c.4402A>T stop-gain mutations in adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) were the most prevalent (42.2% and 35.1%, respectively). MutationMapper analysis indicated that the functional domain of APC was lost in the two APC mutant genes. APC is a major suppressor of the Wnt signaling pathway. Thus, the Wnt pathway was exclusively activated due to APC dysfunction, as other elements of this pathway were not found to be mutated. Aspirin has been reported to suppress the Wnt pathway by inducing ß-catenin phosphorylation through the activation of glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta via cyclooxygenase-2 pathway inhibition. Therefore, aspirin was administered to the patient, which achieved four years of disease control. CONCLUSION: Exclusive mutations of APC of all the Wnt pathway elements could be a therapeutic target in HCC, with aspirin as an effective treatment option.

Neutrophil-to-Apolipoprotein A1 Ratio Predicted Overall Survival in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Receiving Transarterial Chemoembolization.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the predictive capability of neutrophil-to-apolipoprotein A1 ratio (NAR) for predicting overall survival (OS) among patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) receiving transarterial chemoembolization (TACE). PATIENTS AND METHODS: We investigated the clinical features of 554 patients with HCC receiving TACE and assessed NAR's predictive value for OS with 222 patients (the discovery cohort) and 332 patients (the validation cohort). The association of NAR with circulation lectin-type oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1-positive (LOX-1+ ) polymorphonuclear myeloid-derived suppressor cells (PMN-MDSCs) was illustrated. RESULTS: Multivariate Cox regression revealed that lymphocyte count; Tumor, Node, Metastasis (TNM) stage; and NAR were independent prognostic factors in the discovery cohort. The validation cohort confirmed the independent prognostic value of TNM stage and NAR. Patients with low NAR (<2.7) displayed significantly increased OS in the discovery cohort (59.8 months vs. 21 months), the validation group (38.0 months vs. 23.6 months), and the total cohort (44.1 months vs. 22.0 months). A Cox proportional hazards model was used to combine Cancer of the Liver Italian Program (CLIP) score with discretized NAR. C-index illustrated that NAR-integrated CLIP score was the best model compared with NAR and CLIP score. Furthermore, NAR-CLIP presented superior predictive capacity for 10-, 20-, 30-, 40-, 50-, and 60-month survival compared with CLIP score by survival receiver-operator characteristic analysis in the discovery cohort, validation cohort, and total cohort. NAR was significantly associated with LOX-1+ PMN-MDSCs by linear regression. CONCLUSION: This study identified NAR as an independent predictor for OS among patients with HCC receiving TACE. NAR reflected circulation LOX-1+ PMN-MDSC level. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: The present study identified neutrophil-to-apolipoprotein A1 ratio (NAR) as an independent predictor for overall survival among patients with hepatocellular carcinoma receiving transarterial chemoembolization. NAR reflected circulation level of lectin-type oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1-positive polymorphonuclear myeloid-derived suppressor cells.

Exosome-mediated miRNA delivery promotes liver cancer EMT and metastasis.

The deregulation of exosomal microRNAs (miRNAs) plays an important role in the progression of hepatocarcinogenesis. In this study, we highlight exosomes as mediators involved in modulating miRNA profiles in liver cancer cells after induction of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and metastasis. Initially, we induced EMT in a hepatocellular carcinoma cell (HCC) line (Hep3B) by stimulation with transforming growth factor-ß (TGF-ß) and confirmed by western blot detection of EMT markers such as vimentin and E-cadherin. Exosomes were then isolated from the cells and identified by nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA). The isolated exosomal particles from unstimulated Hep3B cells (Hep3B exo) or TGF-ß-stimulated EMT Hep3B cells (EMT-Hep3B exo) contained higher levels of exosome marker proteins, CD63 and TSG101. After incubation with EMT-Hep3B exo, Hep3B cell proliferation increased. EMT-Hep3B exo promoted the migration and invasion of Hep3B and 7721 cells. High-throughput sequencing of miRNAs and mRNA within the exosomes showed 119 upregulated and 186 downregulated miRNAs and 156 upregulated and 166 downregulated mRNA sequences in the EMT-Hep3B exo compared with the control Hep3B exo. The most differentially expressed miRNAs and target mRNA sequences were validated by RT-qPCR. Based on the known miRNA targets for specific mRNA sequences, we hypothesized that GADD45A was regulated by miR-374a-5p. Inhibition of miR-374a-5p in Hep3B cells resulted in exosomes that inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion of HCC cells. These results enhance our understanding of metastatic progression of liver cancer and provide a foundation for the future development of potential biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis of hepatic cancer.

Comparison of anomalous systemic artery to left lower lobe and pulmonary sequestration in left lower lobe by computed tomography.

BACKGROUND: Differentiation of anomalous systemic artery to the left lower lobe (ASALLL) from pulmonary sequestration (PS) is essential, as ASALLL can be corrected by anastomosis, embolization, or ligation of the anomalous artery. PURPOSE: To compare computed tomography (CT) findings of ASALLL and PS in the left lower lobe (LLL). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study included 16 patients with ASALLL and 25 patients with PS in LLL confirmed by operative and pathologic findings. RESULTS: Cough and sputum were more common in PS (84% and 60%, respectively) than in ASALLL (25% and 12.5%, respectively) (P < 0.05). Hemoptysis was more common in ASALLL (100%) than in PS (24%) (P < 0.05). The frequency of ground glass opacity (GGO), normal bronchial distribution, dilated left inferior pulmonary veins, and absence of the interlobar artery distal to the origin of the superior segmental artery in LLL differed significantly between ASALLL and PS. Mass was less common in ASALLL (0%) than in PS (88%) (P < 0.01). The mean diameter of the anomalous artery (11.88 ± 1.13 mm) in ASALLL was significantly larger than that (5.96 ± 0.98 mm) in PS (P < 0.01). The presence of anomalous artery arising from thoracic aorta was not different between ASALLL (100%) and PS (72%). CONCLUSION: Radiographic indications of ASALLL differ from those of PS in the LLL. Indications that may suggest ASALLL include an enlarged anomalous systemic artery arising from the thoracic aorta, dilated left inferior pulmonary veins, absence of the interlobar artery distal to the origin of the superior segmental artery, normal bronchial distribution, and GGO in the LLL.

[Effects of farnesoid X receptor on lipid metabolism in L02 cells].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of farnesoid X receptor (FXR) on lipid metabolism in human hepatic L02 cells. METHODS: A steatosis model and an intervention model were established by treating human hepatocyte line L02 cells with sodium oleate or sodium oleate and sodium chenodeoxycholate (a natural agonist of FXR) respectively. Non-treated L02 cells served as controls. At three time points of 24, 48 and 72 hours, the accumulation of lipid droplets in the hepatocytes was observed by optical microscopy after oil red O staining, and the the expression of FXR and SREBP-1c receptors was detected by RT-PCR and Western blot. RESULTS: Compared with the controls, expressions of FXR mRNA and protein were down-regulated gradually in the steatosis model at 24, 48 and 72 hours, FXR mRNA/beta-actin mRNA was 0.186+/-0.02, 0.182+/-0.028 and 0.181+/-0.022, FXR protein/beta-tubulin protein was 0.105+/-0.016, 0.103+/-0.012 and 0.103+/-0.018, F from 0.01 to 0.14; 24 h vs 48 h, 48 vs72 h: P more than 0.05. The expressions of SREBP-1c mRNA and protein were increased gradually. At 24, 48 and 72 hours, SREBP-1c mRNA/beta-actin mRNA was 0.495+/-0.062, 0.579+/-0.064 and 0.612+/-0.067, SREBP-1c protein/beta-tubulin protein was 0.394+/-0.044, 0.488+/-0.066 and 0.543+/-0.064, F from 0.80 to 4.66, 24 h vs 48 h, 48 vs 72 h: P less than 0.05. In the intervention model, expressions of FXR mRNA and protein were increased markedly compared with the steatosis model. At 24, 48 and 72 hours, FXR mRNA/beta-actin mRNA was 0.253+/-0.041, 0.298+/-0.042 and 0.334+/-0.051, and FXR protein/beta-tubulin protein was 0.221+/-0.022, 0.313+/-0.041 and 0.341+/-0.046, F from 6.41 to 50.93, intervention models vs steatosis models at the same time points: P less than 0.05-0.01. Expressions of SREBP-1 c mRNA and protein were significantly reduced. At 24, 48 and 72 hours, SREBP-1c mRNA/beta-actin mRNA was 0.296+/-0.038, 0.328+/-0.037 and 0.341+/-0.055, and FXR protein /beta-tubulin protein was 0.295+/-0.038, 0.334+/-0.047 and 0.355+/-0.054, F from 8.84 to 48.46; intervention models vs steatosis models at the same time point: P less than 0.01. Both in the steatosis model and the intervention model, content of TG and lipids accumulations were much more than those in the controls. Compared with the intervention model, levels of TG and lipids accumulation were markedly increased in the steatosis model at 24, 48, 72 hours. At 24, 48 and 72 hours, TG/cellular total protein in microg/mg was 173.0+/-20.5, 253.4+/-36.1 and 361.2+/-50.7 in the steatosis model, while in the intervention model the data was 84.1+/-17.2, 113.0+/-14.5 and 127.2+/-20.1, F from 38.70 to 268.13, intervention models vs steatosis models at the same time point: P less than 0.01. CONCLUSION: Expression of FXR is closely associated with lipid homeostasis in hepatocytes. Up-regulation of the expression of FXR may improve lipidosis in L02 cells. Its possible mechanism involves reduction of SREBP-1c expression and lipogenesis in hepatocytes.