scholarly journals USP29-mediated HIF1α stabilization is associated with Sorafenib resistance of hepatocellular carcinoma cells by upregulating glycolysis

Oncogenesis ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruize Gao ◽  
David Buechel ◽  
Ravi K. R. Kalathur ◽  
Marco F. Morini ◽  
Mairene Coto-Llerena ◽  
...  

AbstractUnderstanding the mechanisms underlying evasive resistance in cancer is an unmet medical need to improve the efficacy of current therapies. In hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), aberrant expression of hypoxia-inducible factor 1 α (HIF1α) and increased aerobic glycolysis metabolism are drivers of resistance to therapy with the multi-kinase inhibitor Sorafenib. However, it has remained unknown how HIF1α is activated and how its activity and the subsequent induction of aerobic glycolysis promote Sorafenib resistance in HCC. Here, we report the ubiquitin-specific peptidase USP29 as a new regulator of HIF1α and of aerobic glycolysis during the development of Sorafenib resistance in HCC. In particular, we identified USP29 as a critical deubiquitylase (DUB) of HIF1α, which directly deubiquitylates and stabilizes HIF1α and, thus, promotes its transcriptional activity. Among the transcriptional targets of HIF1α is the gene encoding hexokinase 2 (HK2), a key enzyme of the glycolytic pathway. The absence of USP29, and thus of HIF1α transcriptional activity, reduces the levels of aerobic glycolysis and restores sensitivity to Sorafenib in Sorafenib-resistant HCC cells in vitro and in xenograft transplantation mouse models in vivo. Notably, the absence of USP29 and high HK2 expression levels correlate with the response of HCC patients to Sorafenib therapy. Together, the data demonstrate that, as a DUB of HIF1α, USP29 promotes Sorafenib resistance in HCC cells, in parts by upregulating glycolysis, thereby opening new avenues for therapeutically targeting Sorafenib-resistant HCC in patients.

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yarong Guo ◽  
Bao Chai ◽  
Junmei Jia ◽  
Mudan Yang ◽  
Yanjun Li ◽  
...  

Abstract Objective Dysregulation of KLF7 participates in the development of various cancers, but it is unclear whether there is a link between HCC and aberrant expression of KLF7. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of KLF7 in proliferation and migration of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells. Methods CCK8, colony growth, transwell, cell cycle analysis and apoptosis detection were performed to explore the effect of KLF7, VPS35 and Ccdc85c on cell function in vitro. Xenografted tumor growth was used to assess in vivo role of KLF7. Chip-qPCR and luciferase reporter assays were applied to check whether KLF7 regulated VPS35 at transcriptional manner. Co-IP assay was performed to detect the interaction between VPS35 and Ccdc85c. Immunohistochemical staining and qRT-PCR analysis were performed in human HCC sampels to study the clinical significance of KLF7, VPS35 and β-catenin. Results Firstly, KLF7 was highly expressed in human HCC samples and correlated with patients’ differentiation and metastasis status. KLF7 overexpression contributed to cell proliferation and invasion of HCC cells in vitro and in vivo. KLF7 transcriptional activation of VPS35 was necessary for HCC tumor growth and metastasis. Further, co-IP studies revealed that VPS35 could interact with Ccdc85c in HCC cells. Rescue assay confirmed that overexpression of VPS35 and knockdown of Ccdc85c abolished the VPS35-medicated promotion effect on cell proliferation and invasion. Finally, KLF7/VPS35 axis regulated Ccdc85c, which involved in activation of β-catenin signaling pathway, confirmed using β-catenin inhibitor, GK974. Functional studies suggested that downregulation of Ccdc85c partly reversed the capacity of cell proliferation and invasion in HCC cells, which was regulated by VPS35 upregulation. Lastly, there was a positive correlation among KLF7, VPS35 and active-β-catenin in human HCC patients. Conclusion We demonstrated that KLF7/VPS35 axis promoted HCC cell progression by activating Ccdc85c-medicated β-catenin pathway. Targeting this signal axis might be a potential treatment strategy for HCC.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu-Chiau Shyu ◽  
Ruey-Shyang Soong ◽  
Anchoori Ravi ◽  
Richard Roden ◽  
Yi-Chan Chen ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most common malignancy and the third leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide. The development of new anticancer agents targeting different pathways is imperative to improve the advanced HCC. The aberrant metabolism and aggressive growth of cancer cells can render them particularly susceptible to proteasome inhibition, as first demonstrated by the success of bortezomib treatment for multiple myeloma. However, resistance does emerge and this 20S proteasome inhibitor has not proven active against HCC. The bis-benzylidine piperidone RA190 represents a novel class of proteasome inhibitor that covalently binds to cysteine 88 of RPN13, a ubiquitin receptor subunit of the proteasome’s 19S regulatory particle. RA190 treatment inhibits proteasome function, causing rapid accumulation of polyubiquitinated proteins. Methods Human HCC cell lines were treated by RA190 in vitro in different concentration and time frame. We checked the killing effect and the possible mechanisms that lead the tumor apoptosis. We also performed the orthotopic HCC animal model to show the RA190 had significant killing effect in vivo. Results We showed RA190 is also toxic to HCC cells by triggering the rapid build-up of polyubiquitinated proteins, resulting in endoplasmic reticulum stress and the induction of cell death via apoptosis. Considerable evidence suggests that nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) signal is essential for promoting inflammation-associated cancer. Here, we showed that RA190 inhibited the NF-κB pathway in HCC by preventing the degradation of IκBα via the proteasome. Treatment of mice bearing an orthotopic HCC model with RA190 significantly reduced tumor growth. We therefore explored combining RA190 with a tyrosine kinase inhibitor currently used to the treat HCC, Sorafenib. Conclusions RA190 and Sorafenib exhibited synergetic killing of HCC cells in vitro, suggesting further exploration of such a combination treatment of HCC is warranted.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yarong Guo ◽  
Bao Chai ◽  
Junmei Jia ◽  
Mudan Yang ◽  
Yanjun Li ◽  
...  

Abstract Objective: Dysregulation of KLF7 participates in the development of various cancers, but it is unclear whether there is a link between HCC and aberrant expression of KLF7. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of KLF7 in proliferation and migration of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells. Methods: CCK8, colony growth, transwell, cell cycle analysis and apoptosis detection were performed to explore the effect of KLF7, VPS35 and Ccdc85c on cell function in vitro. Xenografted tumor growth was used to assess in vivo role of KLF7. Chip-qPCR and luciferase reporter assays were applied to check whether KLF7 regulated VPS35 at transcriptional manner. Co-IP assay was performed to detect the interaction between VPS35 and Ccdc85c. Human HCC tissues were collected to study the clinical significance VPS35 and β-catenin. Results: Firstly, KLF7 overexpression contributed to cell proliferation and invasion of HCC cells in vitro and in vivo. KLF7 transcriptional activation of VPS35 was necessary for HCC tumor growth and metastasis. Further, co-IP studies revealed that VPS35 could interact with Ccdc85c in HCC cells. Rescue assay confirmed that overexpression of VPS35 and knockdown of Ccdc85c abolished the VPS35-medicated promotion effect on cell proliferation and invasion. Finally, KLF7/VPS35 axis regulated Ccdc85c, which involved in activation of β-catenin signaling pathway, confirmed using β-catenin inhibitor, GK974. Functional studies suggested that downregulation of Ccdc85c partly reversed the capacity of cell proliferation and invasion in HCC cells, which was regulated by VPS35 upregulation. Conclusion: We demonstrated that KLF7/VPS35 axis promoted HCC cell progression by activating Ccdc85c-medicated β-catenin pathway. Targeting this signal axis might be a potential treatment strategy for HCC.


Author(s):  
Liang Wang ◽  
Liankang Sun ◽  
Runkun Liu ◽  
Huanye Mo ◽  
Yongshen Niu ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are widely involved in human cancers’ progression by regulating tumor cells’ various malignant behaviors. MAPKAPK5-AS1 has been recognized as an oncogene in colorectal cancer. However, the biological role of MAPKAPK5-AS1 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has not been explored. Methods Quantitative real-time PCR was performed to detect the level of MAPKAPK5-AS1 in HCC tissues and cell lines. The effects of MAPKAPK5-AS1 on tumor growth and metastasis were assessed via in vitro experiments, including MTT, colony formation, EdU, flow cytometry, transwell assays, and nude mice models. The western blotting analysis was carried out to determine epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers and AKT signaling. The interaction between MAPKAPK5-AS1, miR-154-5p, and PLAGL2 were explored by luciferase reporter assay and RNA immunoprecipitation. The regulatory effect of HIF-1α on MAPKAPK5-AS1 was evaluated by chromatin immunoprecipitation. Results MAPKAPK5-AS1 expression was significantly elevated in HCC, and its overexpression associated with malignant clinical features and reduced survival. Functionally, MAPKAPK5-AS1 knockdown repressed the proliferation, mobility, and EMT of HCC cells and induced apoptosis. Ectopic expression of MAPKAPK5-AS1 contributed to HCC cell proliferation and invasion in vitro. Furthermore, MAPKAPK5-AS1 silencing suppressed, while MAPKAPK5-AS1 overexpression enhanced HCC growth and lung metastasis in vivo. Mechanistically, MAPKAPK5-AS1 upregulated PLAG1 like zinc finger 2 (PLAGL2) expression by acting as an endogenous competing RNA (ceRNA) to sponge miR-154-5p, thereby activating EGFR/AKT signaling. Importantly, rescue experiments demonstrated that the miR-154-5p/PLAGL2 axis mediated the function of MAPKAPK5-AS1 in HCC cells. Interestingly, we found that hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α), a transcript factor, could directly bind to the promoter to activate MAPKAPK5-AS1 transcription. MAPKAPK5-AS1 regulated HIF-1α expression through PLAGL2 to form a hypoxia-mediated MAPKAPK5-AS1/PLAGL2/HIF-1α signaling loop in HCC. Conclusions Our results reveal a MAPKAPK5-AS1/PLAGL2/HIF-1α signaling loop in HCC progression and suggest that MAPKAPK5-AS1 could be a potential novel therapeutic target of HCC.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wanfu Lin ◽  
Shu Li ◽  
Yongbin Meng ◽  
Guokai Huang ◽  
Shufang Liang ◽  
...  

Background: A hypoxic microenvironment may induce angiogenesis and promote the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The aim of this study was to evaluate whether ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) may inhibit hypoxic HCC cell–induced angiogenesis and the possible mechanisms.Methods: Tube formation and matrigel plug angiogenesis assays were used to evaluate angiogenesis in vitro and in vivo, respectively. Real-time PCR, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and Western blot were used to evaluate the mRNA and protein expressions of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and IL-8, respectively. Dual-luciferase reporter assay was applied to assess the reporter gene expression of hypoxia-response element (HRE).Results: UDCA antagonized hypoxic Huh 7 cell-induced tube formation of EA.hy 926 cells. In HCC cells, UDCA inhibited hypoxia-induced upregulation of VEGF and IL-8 both in mRNA and protein levels. UDCA also inhibited IL-8–induced angiogenesis in vitro and in vivo through suppressing IL-8–induced phosphorylation of ERK. The levels of HIF-1α mRNA and protein and HRE-driven luciferase activity in HCC cells were upregulated by hypoxia and were all inhibited by UDCA. The proteasome inhibitor MG132 antagonized the effect of UDCA on HIF-1α degradation. In hypoxic condition, the phosphorylation of ERK and AKT was obviously increased in HCC cells, which was suppressed by UDCA. Transfection of the HIF-1α overexpression plasmid reversed the effects of UDCA on hypoxic HCC cell–induced angiogenesis, HRE activity, and expressions of IL-8 and VEGF.Conclusions: Our results demonstrated that UDCA could inhibit hypoxic HCC cell–induced angiogenesis through suppressing HIF-1α/VEGF/IL-8–mediated intercellular signaling between HCC cells and endothelial cells.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruey-Shyang Soong ◽  
Anchoori Ravi ◽  
Richard Roden ◽  
Rou-Ling Cho ◽  
Yi-Chan Chen ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most common malignancy and the third leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide. The development of new anticancer agents targeting different pathways is imperative to improve the advanced HCC. The aberrant metabolism and aggressive growth of cancer cells can render them particularly susceptible to proteasome inhibition, as first demonstrated by the success of bortezomib treatment for multiple myeloma. However, resistance does emerge and this 20S proteasome inhibitor has not proven active against HCC. The bis-benzylidine piperidone RA190 represents a novel class of proteasome inhibitor that covalently binds to cysteine 88 of RPN13, a ubiquitin receptor subunit of the proteasome’s 19S regulatory particle. RA190 treatment inhibits proteasome function, causing rapid accumulation of polyubiquitinated proteins. Methods Human HCC cell lines were treated by RA190 in vitro in different concentration and time frame. We checked the killing effect and the possible mechanisms that lead the tumor apoptosis. We also performed the orthotopic HCC animal model to show the RA190 had significant killing effect in vivo . Results We showed RA190 is also toxic to HCC cells by triggering the rapid build-up of polyubiquitinated proteins, resulting in endoplasmic reticulum stress and the induction of cell death via apoptosis. Considerable evidence suggests that nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) signal is essential for promoting inflammation-associated cancer. Here, we showed that RA190 inhibited the NF-κB pathway in HCC by preventing the degradation of IκBα via the proteasome. Treatment of mice bearing an orthotopic HCC model with RA190 significantly reduced tumor growth. We therefore explored combining RA190 with a tyrosine kinase inhibitor currently used to the treat HCC, Sorafenib. Conclusions RA190 and Sorafenib exhibited synergetic killing of HCC cells in vitro , suggesting further exploration of such a combination treatment of HCC is warranted.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (12) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tianxiang Chen ◽  
Runkun Liu ◽  
Yongshen Niu ◽  
Huanye Mo ◽  
Hao Wang ◽  
...  

AbstractHepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common type of liver cancer with poor clinical outcomes. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are extensively involved in the tumorigenesis and progression of HCC. However, more investigations should be carried out on novel lncRNAs and their effects on HCC. Here we identified a novel lncRNA KDM4A-AS1, which was aberrantly overexpressed in HCC tissues, associated with unfavorable clinical features and poor prognosis of patients. KDM4A-AS1 promoted HCC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in vitro and contributed to HCC growth and lung metastasis in vivo. Mechanistically, KDM4A-AS1 was inversely modulated by miR-411-5p at the post-transcriptional level and facilitated Karyopherin α2 (KPNA2) expression by competitively binding miR-411-5p, thereby activating the AKT pathway. KPNA2 silencing, miR-411-5p overexpression, and AKT inhibitor (MK2206) consistently reversed KDM4A-AS1-enhanced proliferation, mobility, and EMT of HCC cells. KDM4A-AS1 was identified as a novel hypoxia-responsive gene and transactivated by hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α) in HCC cells. In turn, KDM4A-AS1 regulated HIF-1α expression through the KPNA2/AKT signaling pathway. Hence, this study revealed a novel hypoxia-responsive lncRNA, KDM4A-AS1, which contributed to HCC growth and metastasis via the KDM4A-AS1/KPNA2/HIF-1α signaling loop. Our findings provide a promising prognostic and therapeutic target for HCC.


2020 ◽  
Vol 160 (11-12) ◽  
pp. 650-658
Author(s):  
Yichen Le ◽  
Yi He ◽  
Meirong Bai ◽  
Ying Wang ◽  
Jiaxue Wu ◽  
...  

Ajuba has been found to be mutated or aberrantly regulated in several human cancers and plays important roles in cancer progression via different signaling pathways. However, little is known about the role of Ajuba in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Here, we found an upregulation of Ajuba expression in HCC tissues compared with normal liver tissues, while a poor prognosis was observed in HCC patients with high Ajuba expression. Knockout of Ajuba in HCC cells inhibited cell growth in vitro and in vivo, suppressed cell migration, and enhanced the cell apoptosis under stress. Moreover, re-expression of Ajuba in Ajuba-deficient cells could restore the phenotype of Ajuba-deficient cells. In conclusion, these results indicate that Ajuba is upregulated in HCC and promotes cell growth and migration of HCC cells, suggesting that Ajuba could possibly be a new target for HCC diagnosis and treatment.


2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Haoting Sun ◽  
Chaoqun Wang ◽  
Beiyuan Hu ◽  
Xiaomei Gao ◽  
Tiantian Zou ◽  
...  

AbstractIntercellular cross-talk plays important roles in cancer progression and metastasis. Yet how these cancer cells interact with each other is still largely unknown. Exosomes released by tumor cells have been proved to be effective cell-to-cell signal mediators. We explored the functional roles of exosomes in metastasis and the potential prognostic values for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Exosomes were extracted from HCC cells of different metastatic potentials. The metastatic effects of exosomes derived from highly metastatic HCC cells (HMH) were evaluated both in vitro and in vivo. Exosomal proteins were identified with iTRAQ mass spectrum and verified in cell lines, xenograft tumor samples, and functional analyses. Exosomes released by HMH significantly enhanced the in vitro invasion and in vivo metastasis of low metastatic HCC cells (LMH). S100 calcium-binding protein A4 (S100A4) was identified as a functional factor in exosomes derived from HMH. S100A4rich exosomes significantly promoted tumor metastasis both in vitro and in vivo compared with S100A4low exosomes or controls. Moreover, exosomal S100A4 could induce expression of osteopontin (OPN), along with other tumor metastasis/stemness-related genes. Exosomal S100A4 activated OPN transcription via STAT3 phosphorylation. HCC patients with high exosomal S100A4 in plasma also had a poorer prognosis. In conclusion, exosomes from HMH could promote the metastatic potential of LMH, and exosomal S100A4 is a key enhancer for HCC metastasis, activating STAT3 phosphorylation and up-regulating OPN expression. This suggested exosomal S100A4 to be a novel prognostic marker and therapeutic target for HCC metastasis.


2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Junjie Xu ◽  
Lin Ji ◽  
Yuelong Liang ◽  
Zhe Wan ◽  
Wei Zheng ◽  
...  

AbstractSorafenib is the first-line chemotherapeutic therapy for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, sorafenib resistance significantly limits its therapeutic efficacy, and the mechanisms underlying resistance have not been fully clarified. Here we report that a circular RNA, circRNA-SORE (a circular RNA upregulated in sorafenib-resistant HCC cells), plays a significant role in sorafenib resistance in HCC. We found that circRNA-SORE is upregulated in sorafenib-resistant HCC cells and depletion of circRNA-SORE substantially increases the cell-killing ability of sorafenib. Further studies revealed that circRNA-SORE binds the master oncogenic protein YBX1 in the cytoplasm, which prevents YBX1 nuclear interaction with the E3 ubiquitin ligase PRP19 and thus blocks PRP19-mediated YBX1 degradation. Moreover, our in vitro and in vivo results suggest that circRNA-SORE is transported by exosomes to spread sorafenib resistance among HCC cells. Using different HCC mouse models, we demonstrated that silencing circRNA-SORE by injection of siRNA could substantially overcome sorafenib resistance. Our study provides a proof-of-concept demonstration for a potential strategy to overcome sorafenib resistance in HCC patients by targeting circRNA-SORE or YBX1.


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