A novel empeROR of pancreatic malignancy.

How pancreatic cancer cells acquire tumor initiating capacities remains poorly understood. A recent study by Yamazaki et al (2023) uncovers a crucial, targetable role of tyrosine kinase-like orphan receptor (ROR1) in PDAC tumor formation and progression.

The NADPH oxidase NOX4 regulates redox and metabolic homeostasis preventing HCC progression.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The NADPH oxidase NOX4 plays a tumor-suppressor function in HCC. Silencing NOX4 confers higher proliferative and migratory capacity to HCC cells and increases their in vivo tumorigenic potential in xenografts in mice. NOX4 gene deletions are frequent in HCC, correlating with higher tumor grade and worse recurrence-free and overall survival rates. However, despite the accumulating evidence of a protective regulatory role in HCC, the cellular processes governed by NOX4 are not yet understood. Accordingly, the aim of this work was to better understand the molecular mechanisms regulated by NOX4 in HCC in order to explain its tumor-suppressor action. APPROACH AND RESULTS: Experimental models: cell-based loss or gain of NOX4 function experiments, in vivo hepatocarcinogenesis induced by diethylnitrosamine in Nox4 -deficient mice, and analyses in human HCC samples. Methods include cellular and molecular biology analyses, proteomics, transcriptomics, and metabolomics, as well as histological and immunohistochemical analyses in tissues. Results identified MYC as being negatively regulated by NOX4. MYC mediated mitochondrial dynamics and a transcriptional program leading to increased oxidative metabolism, enhanced use of both glucose and fatty acids, and an overall higher energetic capacity and ATP level. NOX4 deletion induced a redox imbalance that augmented nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) activity and was responsible for MYC up-regulation. CONCLUSIONS: Loss of NOX4 in HCC tumor cells induces metabolic reprogramming in a Nrf2/MYC-dependent manner to promote HCC progression.

Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) Induced by TGF-ß in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells Reprograms Lipid Metabolism.

(1) Background: The transforming growth factor (TGF)-ß plays a dual role in liver carcinogenesis. At early stages, it inhibits cell growth and induces apoptosis. However, TGF-ß expression is high in advanced stages of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and cells become resistant to TGF-ß induced suppressor effects, responding to this cytokine undergoing epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), which contributes to cell migration and invasion. Metabolic reprogramming has been established as a key hallmark of cancer. However, to consider metabolism as a therapeutic target in HCC, it is necessary to obtain a better understanding of how reprogramming occurs, which are the factors that regulate it, and how to identify the situation in a patient. Accordingly, in this work we aimed to analyze whether a process of full EMT induced by TGF-ß in HCC cells induces metabolic reprogramming. (2) Methods: In vitro analysis in HCC cell lines, metabolomics and transcriptomics. (3) Results: Our findings indicate a differential metabolic switch in response to TGF-ß when the HCC cells undergo a full EMT, which would favor lipolysis, increased transport and utilization of free fatty acids (FFA), decreased aerobic glycolysis and an increase in mitochondrial oxidative metabolism. (4) Conclusions: EMT induced by TGF-ß in HCC cells reprograms lipid metabolism to facilitate the utilization of FFA and the entry of acetyl-CoA into the TCA cycle, to sustain the elevated requirements of energy linked to this process.

Clathrin switches transforming growth factor-ß role to pro-tumorigenic in liver cancer.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Upon ligand binding, tyrosine kinase receptors, such as epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), are recruited into clathrin-coated pits for internalization by endocytosis, which is relevant for signalling and/or receptor degradation. In liver cells, transforming growth factor-ß (TGF-ß) induces both pro- and anti-apoptotic signals; the latter are mediated by the EGFR pathway. Since EGFR mainly traffics via clathrin-coated vesicles, we aimed to analyse the potential role of clathrin in TGF-ß-induced signalling in liver cells and its relevance in liver cancer. METHODS: Real-Time PCR and immunohistochemistry were used to analyse clathrin heavy-chain expression in human (CLTC) and mice (Cltc) liver tumours. Transient knockdown (siRNA) or overexpression of CLTC were used to analyse its role on TGF-ß and EGFR signalling in vitro. Bioinformatic analysis was used to determine the effect of CLTC and TGFB1 expression on prognosis and overall survival in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). RESULTS: Clathrin expression increased during liver tumorigenesis in humans and mice. CLTC knockdown cells responded to TGF-ß phosphorylating SMADs (canonical signalling) but showed impairment in the anti-apoptotic signals (EGFR transactivation). Experiments of loss or gain of function in HCC cells reveal an essential role for clathrin in inhibiting TGF-ß-induced apoptosis and upregulation of its pro-apoptotic target NOX4. Autocrine TGF-ß signalling in invasive HCC cells upregulates CLTC expression, switching its role to pro-tumorigenic. A positive correlation between TGFB1 and CLTC was found in HCC cells and patients. Patients expressing high levels of TGFB1 and CLTC had a worse prognosis and lower overall survival. CONCLUSIONS: This work describes a novel role for clathrin in liver tumorigenesis, favouring non-canonical pro-tumorigenic TGF-ß pathways. CLTC expression in human HCC samples could help select patients that would benefit from TGF-ß-targeted therapy. LAY SUMMARY: Clathrin heavy-chain expression increases during liver tumorigenesis in humans (CLTC) and mice (Cltc), altering the cellular response to TGF-ß in favour of anti-apoptotic/pro-tumorigenic signals. A positive correlation between TGFB1 and CLTC was found in HCC cells and patients. Patients expressing high levels of TGFB1 and CLTC had a worse prognosis and lower overall survival. CLTC expression in HCC human samples could help select patients that would benefit from therapies targeting TGF-ß.

Dissecting the role of the NADPH oxidase NOX4 in TGF-beta signaling in hepatocellular carcinoma.

The NADPH oxidase NOX4 has been proposed as necessary for the apoptosis induced by the Transforming Growth Factor-beta (TGF-ß) in hepatocytes and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells. However, whether NOX4 is required for TGF-ß-induced canonical (SMADs) or non-canonical signals is not fully understood yet, neither its potential involvement in other parallel actions induced by TGF-ß. In this work we have used CRISPR Cas9 technology to stable attenuate NOX4 expression in HCC cells. Results have indicated that NOX4 is required for an efficient SMAD2/3 phosphorylation in response to TGF-ß, whereas non-canonical signals, such as the phosphorylation of the Epidermal Growth Receptor or AKT, are higher in NOX4 silenced cells. TGF-ß-mediated inhibition of cell proliferation and viability is attenuated in NOX4 silenced cells, correlating with decreased response in terms of apoptosis, and maintenance of high expression of MYC and CYCLIN D1. These results would indicate that NOX4 is required for all the tumor suppressor actions of TGF-ß in HCC. However, analysis in human HCC tumors has revealed a worse prognosis for patients showing high expression of TGF-ß1-related genes concomitant with high expression of NOX4. Deepening into other tumorigenic actions of TGF-ß that may contribute to tumor progression, we found that NOX4 is also required for TGF-ß-induced migratory effects. The Epithelial-Mesenchymal transition (EMT) program does not appear to be affected by attenuation of NOX4 levels. However, TGF-ß-mediated regulation of cytoskeleton dynamics and focal adhesions require NOX4, which is necessary for TGF-ß-induced increase in the chaperone Hsp27 and correct subcellular localization of Hic-5 within focal adhesions, as well for upregulation of the metalloprotease MMP9. All these results together point to NOX4 as a key element in the whole TGF-ß signaling in HCC cells, revealing an unknown role for NOX4 as tumor promoter in HCC patients presenting activation of the TGF-ß pathway.

The TGF-ß/NADPH Oxidases Axis in the Regulation of Liver Cell Biology in Health and Disease.

The Transforming Growth Factor-beta (TGF-ß) pathway plays essential roles in liver development and homeostasis and become a relevant factor involved in different liver pathologies, particularly fibrosis and cancer. The family of NADPH oxidases (NOXs) has emerged in recent years as targets of the TGF-ß pathway mediating many of its effects on hepatocytes, stellate cells and macrophages. This review focuses on how the axis TGF-ß/NOXs may regulate the biology of different liver cells and how this influences physiological situations, such as liver regeneration, and pathological circumstances, such as liver fibrosis and cancer. Finally, we discuss whether NOX inhibitors may be considered as potential therapeutic tools in liver diseases.

Resminostat induces changes in epithelial plasticity of hepatocellular carcinoma cells and sensitizes them to sorafenib-induced apoptosis.

Resminostat, a novel class I, IIb, and IV histone deacetylase inhibitor, was studied in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients after relapse to sorafenib (SHELTER study). In this phase I/II clinical trial, combination of sorafenib and resminostat was safe and showed early signs of efficacy. However, the molecular mechanisms behind this synergism have not been explored yet. In this work, we aimed to analyze whether resminostat regulates epithelial-mesenchymal and stemness phenotype as a mechanism of sensitization to sorafenib. Three HCC cell lines with differences in their epithelial/mesenchymal characteristics were treated with resminostat and sorafenib alone, or in combination. Resminostat prevented growth and induced cell death in the HCC cells, in a time and dose dependent manner. A collaborative effect between resminostat and sorafenib was detected in the mesenchymal HCC cells, which were insensitive to sorafenib-induced apoptosis. Expression of mesenchymal-related genes was decreased in resminostat-treated HCC cells, concomitant with an increase in epithelial-related gene expression, organized tight junctions and reduced invasive growth. Moreover, resminostat down-regulated CD44 expression, coincident with decreased capacity to form colonies at low cell density. CONCLUSION: Resminostat shifts mesenchymal cells towards a more epithelial phenotype, lower invasive and stemness properties, which may contribute to the sensitization to sorafenib-induced apoptosis.

Role of the Transforming Growth Factor-ß in regulating hepatocellular carcinoma oxidative metabolism.

Transforming Growth Factor beta (TGF-ß) induces tumor cell migration and invasion. However, its role in inducing metabolic reprogramming is poorly understood. Here we analyzed the metabolic profile of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells that show differences in TGF-ß expression. Oxygen consumption rate (OCR), extracellular acidification rate (ECAR), metabolomics and transcriptomics were performed. Results indicated that the switch from an epithelial to a mesenchymal/migratory phenotype in HCC cells is characterized by reduced mitochondrial respiration, without significant differences in glycolytic activity. Concomitantly, enhanced glutamine anaplerosis and biosynthetic use of TCA metabolites were proved through analysis of metabolite levels, as well as metabolic fluxes from U-13C6-Glucose and U-13C5-Glutamine. This correlated with increase in glutaminase 1 (GLS1) expression, whose inhibition reduced cell migration. Experiments where TGF-ß function was activated with extracellular TGF-ß1 or inhibited through TGF-ß receptor I silencing showed that TGF-ß induces a switch from oxidative metabolism, coincident with a decrease in OCR and the upregulation of glutamine transporter Solute Carrier Family 7 Member 5 (SLC7A5) and GLS1. TGF-ß also regulated the expression of key genes involved in the flux of glycolytic intermediates and fatty acid metabolism. Together, these results indicate that autocrine activation of the TGF-ß pathway regulates oxidative metabolism in HCC cells.