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1.
Life Sci ; 351: 122794, 2024 Aug 15.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38866218

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic, recurrent, non-specific inflammatory disease, and the pathogenesis of the disease remains unclear. Ferroptosis is a form of programmed cell death characterized by the accumulation of iron-dependent lipid peroxides, which are simultaneously closely related to reactive oxygen species (ROS). Although seliciclib is highly effective against immune inflammation, its mechanism on colitis is unclear. This study demonstrated that seliciclib administration partially inhibited ferroptosis, alleviating symptoms and inflammation in experimental colitis. METHODS: The mouse UC model was induced by 3.0 % dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) for 7 days and treated with seliciclib (10 mg/kg) for 5 days. In the in vitro model, LPS (100 µg/mL) was used for induction and seliciclib (10 µM) was applied for 2 h. Meanwhile, appropriate histopathology, inflammatory response, oxidative stress, and ferroptosis regulators were measured. RESULTS: This study primarily investigated the role of seliciclib in regulating ferroptosis in UC. Bioinformatics analysis indicated that Dual oxidase 2 (DUOX2) may serve a role involved in the ferroptosis of UC. The experimental findings demonstrated that seliciclib alleviates symptoms and inflammation in DSS-induced UC mice and partially mitigates the occurrence of ferroptosis both in vivo and in vitro, possibly through the modulation of DUOX2. CONCLUSIONS: Ferroptosis is strongly associated with the development of colitis, and seliciclib plays an essential role in ferroptosis and inflammation in UC. The suppression of ferroptosis in the intestinal epithelium could be a therapeutic approach for UC.


Subject(s)
Colitis, Ulcerative , Dextran Sulfate , Ferroptosis , Mice, Inbred C57BL , Animals , Ferroptosis/drug effects , Colitis, Ulcerative/drug therapy , Colitis, Ulcerative/chemically induced , Colitis, Ulcerative/pathology , Colitis, Ulcerative/metabolism , Mice , Male , Dextran Sulfate/toxicity , Inflammation/drug therapy , Inflammation/pathology , Inflammation/metabolism , Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism , Disease Models, Animal , Oxidative Stress/drug effects
2.
Transl Oncol ; 44: 101916, 2024 Jun.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38513457

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) critically impacts the survival prognosis of patients, with the pivotal role of hepatocellular carcinoma stem cells in initiating invasive metastatic behaviors. The Flap Endonuclease 1 (FEN1) is delineated as a metallonuclease, quintessential for myriad cellular processes including DNA replication, DNA synthesis, DNA damage rectification, Okazaki fragment maturation, baseexcision repair, and the preservation of genomic stability. Furthermore, it has been recognized as an oncogene in a diverse range of malignancies. Our antecedent research has highlighted a pronounced overexpression of protein FEN1 in hepatocellular carcinoma, where it amplifies the invasiveness and metastatic potential of liver cancer cells. However, its precise role in liver cancer stem cells (LCSCs) remains an enigma and requires further investigation. METHODS: To rigorously evaluate the stemness attributes of LCSCs, we employed sphere formation assays and flow cytometric evaluations. Both CD133+ and CD133- cell populations were discerningly isolated utilizing immunomagnetic bead separation techniques. The expression levels of pertinent genes were assayed via real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) and western blot analyses, while the expression profiles in hepatocellular carcinoma tissues were gauged using immunohistochemistry. Subsequent immunoprecipitation, in conjunction with mass spectrometry, ascertained the concurrent binding of proteins FEN1 and Small ubiquitin-related modifier 2 (SUMO2) in HCC cells. Lastly, the impact of SUMO2 on proteasomal degradation pathway of FEN1 was validated by supplementing MG132. RESULTS: Our empirical findings substantiate that protein FEN1 is profusely expressed in spheroids and CD133+ cells. In vitro investigations demonstrate that the upregulation of protein FEN1 unequivocally augments the stemness of LCSCs. In a congruent in vivo context, elevation of FEN1 noticeably enhances the tumorigenic potential of LCSCs. Conversely, inhibiting protein FEN1 resulted in a marked reduction in LCSC stemness. From a mechanistic perspective, there exists a salient positive correlation between the protein expression of FEN1 and SUMO2 in liver cancer tissues. Furthermore, the level of SUMO2-mediated modification of FEN1 is pronouncedly elevated in LCSCs. Interestingly, SUMO2 has the ability to bind to FEN1, leading to a inhibition in the proteasomal degradation pathway of FEN1 and an enhancement in its protein expression. However, it is noteworthy that this interaction does not affect the mRNA level of FEN1. CONCLUSION: In summation, our research elucidates that protein FEN1 is an effector in augmenting the stemness of LCSCs. Consequently, strategic attenuation of protein FEN1 might proffer a pioneering approach for the efficacious elimination of LCSCs.

4.
Inflammation ; 2023 Nov 21.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37985573

ABSTRACT

Ulcerative colitis, an inflammatory bowel disease, manifests with symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, and mucopurulent feces. The long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) ANRIL exhibits significantly reduced expression in UC, yet its specific mechanism is unknown. This study revealed that ANRIL is involved in the progression of UC by inhibiting IL-6 and TNF-α via miR-191-5P/SATB1 axis. We found that in patients with UC, interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were significantly overexpressed in inflamed colon sites, whereas ANRIL was significantly under-expressed and associated with disease severity. The downregulation of ANRIL resulted in the increased expression of IL-6 and TNF-α in LPS-treated FHCs. ANRIL directly targeted miR-191-5p, thereby inhibiting its expression and augmenting SATB1 expression. Moreover, overexpression of miR-191-5p abolished ANRIL-mediated inhibition of IL-6 and TNF-α production. Dual luciferase reporter assays revealed the specific binding of miR-191-5p to ANRIL and SATB1. Furthermore, the downregulation of ANRIL promoted DSS-induced colitis in mice. Together, we provide evidence that ANRIL plays a critical role in regulating IL-6 and TNF-α expression in UC by modulating the miR-191-5p/SATB1 axis. Our study provides novel insights into progression and molecular therapeutic strategies in UC.

5.
Mediators Inflamm ; 2023: 1073984, 2023.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37554552

ABSTRACT

Immune regulation plays a crucial role in human health and disease. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic relapse bowel disease with an increasing incidence worldwide. Clinical treatments for IBD are limited and inefficient. However, the pathogenesis of immune-mediated IBD remains unclear. This review describes the activation of innate and adaptive immune functions by intestinal immune cells to regulate intestinal immune balance and maintain intestinal mucosal integrity. Changes in susceptible genes, autophagy, energy metabolism, and other factors interact in a complex manner with the immune system, eventually leading to intestinal immune imbalance and the onset of IBD. These events indicate that intestinal immune imbalance is an alarm for IBD development, further opening new possibilities for the unprecedented development of immunotherapy for IBD.


Subject(s)
Immunity, Innate , Inflammatory Bowel Diseases , Humans , Adaptive Immunity , Intestines/pathology , Inflammatory Bowel Diseases/metabolism , Intestinal Mucosa/metabolism
6.
Mol Biol Rep ; 50(7): 5557-5564, 2023 Jul.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37155012

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a global health problem and there are few cell models for IBD at present. To culture a human fetal colon (FHC) cell line in vitro and establish an FHC cell inflammation model that meets the requirements for high expression of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). METHODS AND RESULTS: FHC cells were cultured with various concentrations of Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in appropriate media for 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8, 16 and 24 h to stimulate an inflammatory reaction. The viability of FHC cells was detected by a Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay. The transcriptional levels and protein expression changes of IL-6 and TNF-α in FHC cells were detected by Quantitative Real­Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR) and Enzyme­Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA), respectively. Appropriate stimulation conditions were selected (i.e., LPS concentration and treatment time), based on changes in cell survival rate, and IL-6 and TNF-α expression levels. An LPS concentration higher than 100 µg/mL or a treatment time longer than 24 h resulted in morphological changes and decreased cell survival. By contrast, expression levels of IL-6 and TNF-α significantly increased within 24 h when LPS concentration lower than 100 µg/mL and peaked at 2 h, whilst maintaining cell morphology and viability in FHC cells. CONCLUSION: The treatment of FHC cells with 100 µg/mL LPS within 24 h was optimal in terms of stimulating IL-6 and TNF-α expression.


Subject(s)
Inflammatory Bowel Diseases , Lipopolysaccharides , Humans , Lipopolysaccharides/pharmacology , Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/genetics , Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism , Interleukin-6/genetics , Interleukin-1beta/metabolism , Inflammation/chemically induced , Inflammation/metabolism , Inflammatory Bowel Diseases/chemically induced
7.
Acta Histochem ; 125(2): 152002, 2023 Feb.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36724637

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: Peroxisomal trans-2-enoyl-CoA reductase (PECR) encodes proteins related to fatty acid metabolism and synthesis. It has been confirmed that PECR has decreased expression in colon cancer and breast cancer, while the role of PECR in liver cancer is unknown. We aimed to study the role and mechanism of PECR in the genesis and development of liver cancer. METHODS: In this study, the expression of PECR was queried in the Cancer Genome Atlas Database and Western Blotting and RT-PCR experiments were carried out in paired liver cancer tissues to detect the expression of PECR. Functional tests were evaluated by cell count kit-8 (CCK-8), Flow cytometry, wound healing assay, Transwell, migration. In vivo study, we constructed a nude mouse tumorigenic model to observe the effect of PECR on the proliferation of liver cancer. And the tumor body of the mouse was taken out for histochemistry (IHC). Multiple Cox regression was used to analyze the correlation between PECR and Clinicopathology. RESULTS: We confirmed that the overexpression of PECR inhibited the proliferation, migration and invasion of hepatocellular carcinoma and promoted the apoptosis of hepatocellular carcinoma. The low expression group of PECR promoted the proliferation and metastasis of liver cancer. In vivo, overexpression of PECR inhibits the proliferation of mouse tumors. In addition, the mechanism study shows that PECR may indirectly affect the proliferation of hepatocellular carcinoma cells through ERK pathway. CONCLUSION: In general, PECR may be a new diagnostic marker and a potential therapeutic target for hepatocellular carcinoma.


Subject(s)
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular , Liver Neoplasms , MicroRNAs , Oxidoreductases Acting on CH-CH Group Donors , Animals , Mice , Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/pathology , Cell Line , Cell Line, Tumor , Cell Movement , Cell Proliferation , Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic , Liver Neoplasms/pathology , MicroRNAs/genetics , Neoplasm Invasiveness/genetics , Oxidoreductases Acting on CH-CH Group Donors/metabolism
8.
Front Oncol ; 12: 889833, 2022.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35903689

ABSTRACT

Objective: This study explored the value of different radiomic models based on multiphase computed tomography in differentiating parotid pleomorphic adenoma (PA) and basal cell tumor (BCA) concerning the predominant phase and the optimal radiomic model. Methods: This study enrolled 173 patients with pathologically confirmed parotid tumors (training cohort: n=121; testing cohort: n=52). Radiomic features were extracted from the nonenhanced, arterial, venous, and delayed phases CT images. After dimensionality reduction and screening, logistic regression (LR), K-nearest neighbor (KNN) and support vector machine (SVM) were applied to develop radiomic models. The optimal radiomic model was selected by using ROC curve analysis. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression was performed to analyze clinical-radiological characteristics and to identify variables for developing a clinical model. A combined model was constructed by integrating clinical and radiomic features. Model performances were assessed by ROC curve analysis. Results: A total of 1036 radiomic features were extracted from each phase of CT images. Sixteen radiomic features were considered valuable by dimensionality reduction and screening. Among radiomic models, the SVM model of the arterial and delayed phases showed superior predictive efficiency and robustness (AUC, training cohort: 0.822, 0.838; testing cohort: 0.752, 0.751). The discriminatory capability of the combined model was the best (AUC, training cohort: 0.885; testing cohort: 0.834). Conclusions: The diagnostic performance of the arterial and delayed phases contributed more than other phases. However, the combined model demonstrated excellent ability to distinguish BCA from PA, which may provide a non-invasive and efficient method for clinical decision-making.

11.
Sci Rep ; 10(1): 7437, 2020 May 04.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32366895

ABSTRACT

Impedance matching is an important factor for the electromagnetic resonators used to construct metasurfaces with perfect absorption and transmission properties. However, these resonators usually exhibit narrowband characteristics, thus greatly restricting their potential for application to metasurfaces to obtain excellent absorption and transmission performances. Therefore, realization of impedance matching over a wider range is of major importance. In this work, we demonstrate broadband impedance matching both theoretically and experimentally through use of coupled inductor-capacitor (LC) resonant coils, which are typical electromagnetic resonators. By adding a third resonant coil into the conventional system composed of two completely mismatched resonant coils, the new system realizes broadband impedance matching when the reflected impedances of the first two coils with respect to the third resonant coil are equal. The results in this work can provide useful guidance for realization of metasurfaces with broadband perfect absorption and transmission constructed using any type of electromagnetic resonator.

12.
Mol Cancer Res ; 18(7): 992-1003, 2020 07.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32229502

ABSTRACT

Liver cancer stem cells (LCSCs) play a critical role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) by virtue of their aggressive behavior and association with poor prognoses. Aquaporin-9 (AQP9) is a transmembrane protein that transports water and reportedly transports H2O2. Recent studies have shown that AQP9 expression has a negative effect on HCC cell invasion by inhibiting the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. However, the role of AQP9 in LCSCs remains obscure. We performed spheroid formation assay and flow cytometric analysis to investigate LCSCs stemness. CD133+ and CD133- cells were isolated by flow cytometry. Real-time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR), Western blot analysis, and immunofluorescence assay were used to estimate gene expression. The protein association of ß-catenin with TCF4 and the interaction of ß-catenin with FOXO3a were detected by immunoprecipitation (IP). Here, we found that AQP9 was preferentially decreased in LCSCs. Upregulated AQP9 significantly suppressed LCSCs stemness. In contrast, the inhibition of AQP9 had the opposite effect. Mechanistically, AQP9 was shown to be downregulated by insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2), which was widely reported to contribute to maintaining CSCs stemness. Furthermore, AQP9 overexpression was found to result in reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, which inhibited ß-catenin activity by attenuating the interaction of ß-catenin with TCF4 while concurrently enhancing the association of ß-catenin with FOXO3a, ultimately inhibiting LCSCs stemness. Our study implies that stimulation of the AQP9 signaling axis may be a novel preventive and/or therapeutic approach for eliminating LCSCs. IMPLICATIONS: Our findings demonstrate that AQP9 signaling axis may be a novel preventive and/or therapeutic approach for eliminating LCSCs.


Subject(s)
Aquaporins/metabolism , Insulin-Like Growth Factor II/metabolism , Liver Neoplasms/pathology , Neoplastic Stem Cells/pathology , Signal Transduction , Animals , Aquaporins/genetics , Cell Line, Tumor , Cell Proliferation , Down-Regulation , Forkhead Box Protein O3/metabolism , Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic , Humans , Liver Neoplasms/genetics , Liver Neoplasms/metabolism , Male , Mice , Neoplasm Transplantation , Neoplastic Stem Cells/metabolism , Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism , beta Catenin/metabolism
13.
Aging (Albany NY) ; 12(2): 1527-1544, 2020 01 22.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31969493

ABSTRACT

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common type of liver cancer worldwide, and it is the second leading cause of cancer-related mortality. Aquaporin 9 (AQP9) is an essential aquaporin in the liver and located in the basolateral membrane of hepatocytes, but its roles on HCC has not been completely elucidated. This study investigated the regulatory functions of AQP9 in the pathogenesis of HCC. The expression levels of AQP9 were significantly down-regulated in HCC tissues and cells, which was also correlated with tumor size and number, TNM stage, five-year survival rate, lymphatic and distal metastasis within the patients. Furthermore, overexpressed AQP9 suppressed the proliferation, migration and invasion of HCC cells. The levels of PCNA, E-cad, N-cad, α-SMA, DVL2, GSK-3ß, cyclinD1 and ß-catenin in HCC cells were reduced by overexpressed AQP9, while cell apoptosis was remarkably enhanced. Additionally, following the treatment with Wnt/ß-catenin signaling inhibitor (XAV939), the proliferative activity of HCC cells was significantly inhibited; PCNA and EMT-related markers were down-regulated; migration and invasion of cells were notably suppressed; cell apoptotic rate was decreased. Vice versa, after the cells were treated with Wnt/ß-catenin inducer (SKL2001), the effects caused by overexpressed AQP9 were abrogated. In vivo studies indicated that tumor volume and weight were remarkably decreased in AQP9 overexpression group, where the levels of Wnt/ß-catenin signaling- and EMT-associated molecules were also reduced. Taken together, our results suggested that overexpressed AQP9 could inhibit growth and metastasis of HCC cells via Wnt/ß-catenin pathway. AQP9 may be a promising therapeutic target for the treatment of patients with HCC.


Subject(s)
Aquaporins/metabolism , Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/metabolism , Liver Neoplasms/metabolism , Wnt Signaling Pathway , Adult , Aged , Apoptosis/genetics , Aquaporins/genetics , Biomarkers, Tumor , Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/genetics , Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/mortality , Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/pathology , Cell Line, Tumor , Female , Humans , Liver Neoplasms/genetics , Liver Neoplasms/mortality , Liver Neoplasms/pathology , Male , Middle Aged , Neoplasm Grading , Neoplasm Metastasis , Neoplasm Staging
14.
PeerJ ; 7: e7619, 2019.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31534853

ABSTRACT

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common yet deadly form of malignant cancer. However, the specific mechanisms involved in HCC diagnosis have not yet fully elucidated. Herein, we screened four publically available Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) expression profiles (GSE14520, GSE29721, GSE45267 and GSE60502), and used them to identify 409 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), including 142 and 267 up- and down-regulated genes, respectively. The DAVID database was used to look for functionally enriched pathways among DEGs, and the STRING database and Cytoscape platform were used to generate a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network for these DEGs. The cytoHubba plug-in was utilized to detect 185 hub genes, and three key clustering modules were constructed with the MCODE plug-in. Gene functional enrichment analyses of these three key clustering modules were further performed, and nine core genes including BIRC5, DLGAP5, DTL, FEN1, KIAA0101, KIF4A, MCM2, MKI67, and RFC4, were identified in the most critical cluster. Subsequently, the hierarchical clustering and expression of core genes in TCGA liver cancer tissues were analyzed using the UCSC Cancer Genomics Browser, and whether elevated core gene expression was linked to a poor prognosis in HCC patients was assessed using the GEPIA database. The PPI of the nine core genes revealed an interaction between FEN1, MCM2, RFC4, and BIRC5. Furthermore, the expression of FEN1 was positively correlated with that of three other core genes in TCGA liver cancer tissues. FEN1 expression in HCC and other tumor types was assessed with the FIREBROWSE and ONCOMINE databases, and results were verified in HCC samples and hepatoma cells. FEN1 levels were also positively correlated with tumor size, distant metastasis and vascular invasion. In conclusion, we identified nine core genes associated with HCC development, offering novel insight into HCC progression. In particular, the aberrantly elevated FEN1 may represent a potential biomarker for HCC diagnosis and treatment.

15.
Aging (Albany NY) ; 11(15): 5593-5612, 2019 08 10.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31402791

ABSTRACT

Flap Endonuclease 1 (FEN1) is a known oncogene in an array of cancers, but its role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains obscure. In this study, we report that FEN1 expression was elevated in the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database which was verified in HCC tissue and hepatoma cell lines. Pearson correlation analysis indicated that FEN1 was involved in HCC metastasis. We demonstrated that FEN1 silencing inhibits HCC cell epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), invasion and migration in vitro and significantly suppressed tumor growth and metastasis in vivo. Conversely, FEN1 overexpression in HCC cells enhanced these metastatic processes. We further confirmed that FEN1 was a direct target of miR-140-5p, which was down-regulated in HCC tissues, and negatively correlated with FEN1 expression. Moreover, low miR-140-5p levels and high FEN1 expression predicted a poor clinical outcome. The effects of FEN1 overexpression could be partially abolished by miR-140-5p. miR-140-5p down-regulation and FEN1 overexpression were observed in a TGFß1 induced EMT model. TGFß1 mediated EMT could be blocked by miR-140-5p overexpression or FEN1 silencing. Taken together, our findings suggest that FEN1 is regulated by the TGFß1- miR-140-5p axis and promotes EMT in HCC.


Subject(s)
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/genetics , Flap Endonucleases/biosynthesis , Liver Neoplasms/genetics , MicroRNAs/genetics , Transforming Growth Factor beta1/genetics , Animals , Cell Line, Tumor , Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition/genetics , Flap Endonucleases/genetics , Gene Silencing , Humans , Mice , Mice, Inbred BALB C , Neoplasm Metastasis/genetics , Neoplasm Transplantation , Prognosis , Treatment Outcome , Up-Regulation/genetics
16.
Gene ; 698: 9-18, 2019 May 25.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-30825595

ABSTRACT

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one type of the most common malignancies. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms involved in the development of HCC remain unknown. To identify the candidate genes in the progression of HCC, gene expression profiles GSE14520, GSE54236, GSE57957 and GSE64041 were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus database (GEO). A total of 405 tumor and 399 para-carcinoma samples from patients with HCC were examined to identify the differentially expressed genes (DEGs), followed by function enrichment analyses including Gene Ontology (GO) functions and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways. A total of 78 DEGs were screened, including 62 downregulated genes and 16 upregulated genes. Subsequently, the protein-protein interaction network (PPI) was constructed using the Search Tool for Retrieval of Interacting Genes (STRING) database. The module analysis and Hub genes validation were performed using Cytoscape software. Hierarchical clustering of hub genes was evaluated using UCSC Cancer Genomics Browser. Survival analyses of Hub genes were performed using Kaplan Meier Plotter database. Genes specifically expressed in the liver were analyzed using GENEVESTIGATOR database. CYP2C8 was identified as one of the most promising molecules among all the candidate genes. The expression profile of CYP2C8 in HCC was analyzed using ONCOMINE and UALCAN database. The expression levels of CYP2C8 in HCC samples and hepatoma cells were verified using reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and immunohistochemistry analysis. In summary, DEGs and hub genes were identified in the present study, which provides novel insight on the development of HCC. CYP2C8 was downregulated in HCC and could be a potential prognostic biomarker.


Subject(s)
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/genetics , Computational Biology/methods , Cytochrome P-450 CYP2C8/genetics , Biomarkers, Tumor/genetics , Cluster Analysis , Cytochrome P-450 CYP2C8/metabolism , Databases, Genetic , Gene Expression Profiling/methods , Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic/genetics , Gene Ontology , Gene Regulatory Networks/genetics , Humans , Liver Neoplasms/genetics , Prognosis , Protein Interaction Mapping/methods , Protein Interaction Maps/genetics , Software , Survival Analysis , Transcriptome/genetics
17.
Oncotarget ; 7(28): 44161-44170, 2016 Jul 12.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-27329843

ABSTRACT

Aquaporin 9 (AQP9) is the main aquaglyceroporin in the liver. Few studies have been performed regarding the role of AQP9 in liver cancer. Here we report AQP9 expression and function in liver cancer. We found that AQP9 mRNA and protein levels were reduced in human hepatocellular cancer compared to the para-tumor normal liver tissues. Human hepatoma cell line SMMC7721 expressed low basal levels of AQP9. When AQP9 was overexpressed in SMMC7721 cell line, cell proliferation was inhibited due to cell cycle arrest at G1 phase and increased apoptosis. At the molecular level, AQP9 overexpression decreased the protein levels of phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K), leading to reduced phosphorylation of Akt. Subsequently, the protein levels of forkhead box protein O1 (FOXO1) were increased, resulting in down-regulation of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) expression and up-regulation of caspase-3 expression. AQP9 overexpression inhibited growth of subcutaneously xenografted liver tumors in nude mice. These findings suggest that AQP9 expression is down-regulated in liver cancer compared to the normal liver tissue and restoration of AQP9 expression can inhibit development of liver cancer.


Subject(s)
Aquaporins/genetics , Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/genetics , Forkhead Box Protein O1/genetics , Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic , Liver Neoplasms/genetics , Adult , Animals , Aquaporins/metabolism , Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/metabolism , Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/pathology , Cell Line, Tumor , Female , Forkhead Box Protein O1/metabolism , Humans , Liver Neoplasms/metabolism , Liver Neoplasms/pathology , Male , Mice, Inbred BALB C , Mice, Nude , Middle Aged , Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases/metabolism , Phosphorylation , Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/metabolism , Transplantation, Heterologous , Up-Regulation
18.
Cancer Lett ; 378(2): 111-9, 2016 08 10.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-27216981

ABSTRACT

Aquaporin 9 (AQP9) is the main aquaglyceroporin in the liver. Few studies have been performed regarding the role of AQP9 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Here, we report the expression and function of AQP9 in HCC tissues and cell lines. We found that AQP9 mRNA and protein levels were down-regulated in HCC tissues and human hepatoma cell lines compared to the para-cancer normal liver tissues and normal hepatocyte line, respectively. In a human HCC SMMC-7721 cell line, over-expression of AQP9 suppressed cell invasion in vitro and xenograft tumor growth in vivo. AQP9 over-expression increased the expression of E-cadherin and decreased the expression of N-cadherin in SMMC-7721 cells and xenografted tumors, which was correlated with decreased levels of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) and p-Akt. Conversely, using siRNA to knock down AQP9 over-expression could reverse the phenotype caused by AQP9 over-expression. Our findings suggest that AQP9 is down-regulated in hepatocellular carcinoma and its over-expression suppresses hepatoma cell invasion through inhibiting epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition.


Subject(s)
Aquaporins/metabolism , Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/metabolism , Cell Movement , Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition , Liver Neoplasms/metabolism , Lung Neoplasms/metabolism , Adult , Animals , Aquaporins/genetics , Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/genetics , Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/secondary , Female , Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic , Hep G2 Cells , Humans , Liver Neoplasms/genetics , Liver Neoplasms/pathology , Lung Neoplasms/genetics , Lung Neoplasms/prevention & control , Lung Neoplasms/secondary , Male , Mice, Nude , Middle Aged , Neoplasm Invasiveness , Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase/metabolism , Phosphorylation , Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/metabolism , RNA Interference , Signal Transduction , Time Factors , Transfection , Tumor Burden
19.
Mol Med Rep ; 13(6): 5283-9, 2016 Jun.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-27121567

ABSTRACT

Aquaglyceroporins (AQPs) are a subset of the aquaporin family, and are permeable to water and glycerol. The aim of the present study was to determine the expression and clinical significance of three AQPs, AQP3, 7 and 9 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Fresh HCC and adjacent non­tumorous liver tissues were collected from 68 patients diagnosed with HCC. The expression levels of AQP3, 7 and 9 were detected by reverse transcription­quantitative polymerase chain reaction, western blotting and immunohistochemical analysis. The association between the expression of AQPs and clinicopathological parameters of HCC were investigated. Compared with non­tumorous liver tissue, HCC tissues exhibited a significant (P<0.05) increase in the expression of AQP3 and a concomitant reduction in the expression levels of AQP7 and AQP9, at both the mRNA and protein levels. Immunohistochemistry revealed that AQP9 was dominantly localized on the plasma membrane of hepatocytes, while AQP3 and AQP7 exhibited a predominantly cytoplasmic and nuclear distribution. High expression of AQP3 was significantly (P<0.05) associated with low expression levels of AQP7 and AQP9. High expression of AQP3 was correlated with tumor grade (P=0.017), tumor stage (P=0.010) and lymphatic metastasis (P=0.031). Low expression of AQP7 was correlated with tumor grade (P=0.043). AQP3 was upregulated, and AQP7 and AQP9 were downregulated in HCC. A high expression of AQP3 and low expression of AQP7 was significantly associated with the aggressive features of HCC.


Subject(s)
Aquaglyceroporins/biosynthesis , Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/metabolism , Cell Membrane/metabolism , Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic , Hepatocytes/metabolism , Liver Neoplasms/metabolism , Neoplasm Proteins/biosynthesis , Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/pathology , Cell Membrane/pathology , Female , Hepatocytes/pathology , Humans , Liver Neoplasms/pathology , Male
20.
J Mater Chem B ; 4(23): 4164-4181, 2016 Jun 21.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32264619

ABSTRACT

The integration of multimodal contrast-enhanced diagnostic imaging techniques with noninvasive high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) synergistic therapy could allow the real-time guidance, monitoring, and assessment of cancer therapeutic procedures and effects. Herein, we investigated the use of folate-targeted perfluorohexane nanoparticles carrying bismuth sulfide (Bi2S3) (FLBS-PFH-NPs) as a dual-modal contrast agent for ultrasound/computed tomography (US/CT) imaging and aimed to targeted increase the therapeutic efficiency of HIFU for cervical cancer treatment. FLBS-PFH-NPs were fabricated to investigate their potential as theranostic nanoplatforms. Their characteristics, phase-transformation properties, and cytotoxicities were also studied in this work. Sequential modifications with polyethylene glycol (PEG) endowed the FLBS-PFH-NPs with excellent stability and good biocompatibility. Moreover, compared with a non-folate-targeted group, the experimental group that received folate ligands had higher internalization efficiency and specificity. We sequentially investigated the effectiveness of these nanoparticles when used as dual-modal contrast agents in US and CT imaging in vitro and in vivo. The capsulated PFH could undergo a phase transition and form microbubbles upon ultrasonic irradiation, which enhanced the cavitation effects of HIFU in the targeted regions. Then, they were applied to in vitro bovine liver samples; the composite nanoparticles improved the efficiency of HIFU synergistic ablation. Our in vivo results also revealed that the coagulative necrosis volumes of tumors in the folate-targeted groups with HIFU ablation after FLBS-PFH-NP administration were significantly greater than those of the non-folate-targeted groups. Pathological and immunohistochemical examinations were systematically performed to further verify these results. In brief, FLBS-PFH-NPs may serve as a dual-modal contrast agent to enhance US/CT imaging and HIFU synergistic therapy. Novel nanosized multifunctional contrast agents would be of great value and could provide more comprehensive diagnostic information for more accurate and effective cancer therapy.

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