scholarly journals Maprotiline Suppresses Cholesterol Biosynthesis and Hepatocellular Carcinoma Progression Through Direct Targeting of CRABP1

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cancan Zheng ◽  
Yidong Zhu ◽  
Qinwen Liu ◽  
Tingting Luo ◽  
Wenwen Xu
Keyword(s):  
Hepatocellular Carcinoma ◽  
Signaling Pathway ◽  
Binding Protein ◽  
Regulatory Element ◽  
Cholesterol Biosynthesis ◽  
Antitumor Effects ◽  
Element Binding Protein ◽  
Hcc Cells

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related death and has a poor prognosis worldwide, thus, more effective drugs are urgently needed. In this article, a small molecule drug library composed of 1,056 approved medicines from the FDA was used to screen for anticancer drugs. The tetracyclic compound maprotiline, a highly selective noradrenergic reuptake blocker, has strong antidepressant efficacy. However, the anticancer effect of maprotiline remains unclear. Here, we investigated the anticancer potential of maprotiline in the HCC cell lines Huh7 and HepG2. We found that maprotiline not only significantly restrained cell proliferation, colony formation and metastasis in vitro but also exerted antitumor effects in vivo. In addition to the antitumor effect alone, maprotiline could also enhance the sensitivity of HCC cells to sorafenib. The depth studies revealed that maprotiline substantially decreased the phosphorylation of sterol regulatory element-binding protein 2 (SREBP2) through the ERK signaling pathway, which resulted in decreased cholesterol biosynthesis and eventually impeded HCC cell growth. Furthermore, we identified cellular retinoic acid binding protein 1 (CRABP1) as a direct target of maprotiline. In conclusion, our study provided the first evidence showing that maprotiline could attenuate cholesterol biosynthesis to inhibit the proliferation and metastasis of HCC cells through the ERK-SREBP2 signaling pathway by directly binding to CRABP1, which supports the strategy of repurposing maprotiline in the treatment of HCC.

scholarly journals A New Role for Sterol Regulatory Element Binding Protein 1 Transcription Factors in the Regulation of Muscle Mass and Muscle Cell Differentiation

2009 ◽  
Vol 30 (5) ◽  
pp. 1182-1198 ◽  
Author(s):  
Virginie Lecomte ◽  
Emmanuelle Meugnier ◽  
Vanessa Euthine ◽  
Christine Durand ◽  
Damien Freyssenet ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Transcription Factors ◽  
Muscle Mass ◽  
Target Genes ◽  
Binding Protein ◽  
Regulatory Element ◽  
Element Binding Protein ◽  
Sterol Regulatory Element ◽  
Myogenic Program

ABSTRACT The role of the transcription factors sterol regulatory element binding protein 1a (SREBP-1a) and SREBP-1c in the regulation of cholesterol and fatty acid metabolism has been well studied; however, little is known about their specific function in muscle. In the present study, analysis of recent microarray data from muscle cells overexpressing SREBP1 suggested that they may play a role in the regulation of myogenesis. We then demonstrated that SREBP-1a and -1c inhibit myoblast-to-myotube differentiation and also induce in vivo and in vitro muscle atrophy. Furthermore, we have identified the transcriptional repressors BHLHB2 and BHLHB3 as mediators of these effects of SREBP-1a and -1c in muscle. Both repressors are SREBP-1 target genes, and they affect the expression of numerous genes involved in the myogenic program. Our findings identify a new role for SREBP-1 transcription factors in muscle, thus linking the control of muscle mass to metabolic pathways.

scholarly journals Telocytes Promote the Metastasis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma by Activating ERK Signaling Pathway and Sponging miR-942-3p to Impact MMP9

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ying Xu ◽  
Hu Tian ◽  
Chao Guang Luan ◽  
Kai Sun ◽  
peng Jin Bao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hepatocellular Carcinoma ◽  
Liver Cancer ◽  
Signaling Pathway ◽  
Erk Signaling ◽  
Cancer Tissue ◽  
Proliferative Potential ◽  
Cancer Tissues ◽  
Hcc Cells

Abstract Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) in China is considered as a familiar malignant tumor with poor prognosis, high metastasis and disease relapse. Telocytes(TCs) have been verified to participate in progresses of tumorigenesis, invasions and migrations by secreting functional proteins and transmitting cell-to-cell information. Extracellular signal-regulared protein kinase(ERK) signal pathway is a vital mechanism driving cell proliferation, metastasis and apoptosis, but whether this molecular signaling mechanism contributes to matrix metalloproteinase-9(MMP) expression of TCs remains unclear. Methods: Telocytes and MMP9 expression in the liver cancer tissues are measured by immunohistochemistry assay, Westen blot assay and RT-PCR technique, meanwhile primary telocytes from liver para-cancer tissues are cultured in vitro. To demonstrate the function of telocytes for hepatocellular carcinoma, the metastatic cancer animal model is established by three typs of liver cancer cell-lines in vivo. Results: In our study, we elucidate that TCs in the para-cancer tissue can promote the metastasis of HCC cells by MMP-9 expression, in vitro and in vivo. PDGF derived from HCC cells has a capacity to activate Ras/ERK signaling pathway of TC as a result of accelerating MMP-9 expression, but it’s no significant for proliferative potential and apoptotic rate of TCs. While tyrosine kinase inhibitors and miR-942-3p suppress MMP-9 expression to make loss functions of TCs. Various mutations of TCs are also tested and single nucleotide polymorphisms of MMP-9 may be the potentially molecular mechanism of increasing protein expression in the invasive process of HCC. Conclusion: Our results demonstrate two potential mechanisms between HCC cells and TCs, suggesting that TC is a novel marker and target on deciphering reasons of cancer metastasis.

scholarly journals Hypoxic hepatocellular carcinoma cells acquire arsenic trioxide resistance through upregulating HIF-1α expression

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yaoting Chen ◽  
Huiqing Li ◽  
Dong Chen ◽  
Xiongying Jiang ◽  
Weidong Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hepatocellular Carcinoma ◽  
Protein Expression ◽  
Arsenic Trioxide ◽  
Therapeutic Effects ◽  
Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma ◽  
Antitumor Effects ◽  
P Glycoprotein ◽  
Hcc Cells

Abstract Background : Although arsenic trioxide (ATO) is used in the treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in clinical trials, it is not satisfactory in terms of improving HCC patients’ overall survival. Intratumoral hypoxia and overexpression of hypoxia-inducible-1α (HIF-1α) may result in ATO-resistance and tumor progression. We investigated the mechanisms involving HIF-1α expression and acquired ATO chemoresistance in HCC cells and mice. Methods: The therapeutic effects of ATO in normoxic and hypoxic HCC cells were assessed using cell viability and apoptosis assays in vitro and a xenograft model in vivo . mRNA and protein expression of HIF-1α, P-glycoprotein, and VEGF were measured by qRT-PCR and western blotting. HIF-1α inhibition was performed to investigate the mechanism of ATO-resistance. VEGF secretion was tested using ELISA and tube-formation assays. Results : Compared to normoxic cells, hypoxic HCC cells were more resistant to ATO, with higher IC 50 values and less apoptosis, and upregulated HIF-1α protein expression, accompanied with the enhancement of P-glycoprotein and VEGF synthesis after ATO treatment. VEGF secretion was elevated in the supernatant of ATO-treated HCC cells, and this change can potentiate angiogenesis in vitro . HIF-1α inhibition attenuated ATO-resistance and angiogenesis, and promoted the anticancer effects of ATO both in vitro and in vivo by downregulating therapy-induced P-glycoprotein and VEGF overexpression. Conclusions : Hypoxic HCC cells acquire ATO resistance by upregulating HIF-1α levels; thus, combining ATO with a HIF-1α-targeting agent may lead to enhanced antitumor effects in HCC.

scholarly journals Synergistic Anti-Proliferation and Anti-Angiogenesis Effects of Sevacizumab on Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells in Combination with Chemotherapy

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lin Liu ◽  
Shukui Qin ◽  
Zhengcao Liu ◽  
Yinghui Zheng ◽  
Li Han ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hepatocellular Carcinoma ◽  
Endothelial Cell ◽  
Combination Therapy ◽  
Blood Vessels ◽  
Signaling Pathway ◽  
Cell Apoptosis ◽  
Tube Formation ◽  
Hcc Cells

Abstract Background We previously found that (via inhibition of the VEGF/VEGFR signaling pathway) ckgroundSevacizumab (Sev), an anti-VEGF monoclonal antibody, was proven to have a superior inhibitory effect than bevacizumab (Bev) on the growth of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells. This study aimed to explore the anti-proliferation and anti-angiogenic effects of Sev on HCC cells in combination with oxaliplatin (OXA) or 5-fluorouracil (5-Fu). Methods In vitro HCC/endothelial cell growth in different concentration drug was analyzed by MTT assay, DAPI and flow cytometry assay. Cell scratch test, transwell assay, tube formation assay, zebrafish assay, and CAM assay were used to investigate anti-angiogenesis effect of drugs. VEGF mRNA relative expression changes of zebrafish embryos were detected by RT-PCR.A fluorescence imaging system was applied to observe the growth of transplantation tumor and blood vessels in HCC mouse xenografts. Tissue H-E staining and TEM detection were used to detect the tumor cell apoptosis. MVD was detected by immunohistochemical analysis of CD31. ELISA and western-blots were used to detect the cell VEGF/VEGFR pathway and its downstream target activity both in vitro and in vivo. Results In vitro results showed that the combination of Sev with OXA/5-Fu can synergistically inhibit the proliferation of HCC and endothelial cells. Compared with the corresponding monotherapy group, combination therapy showed a stronger effect on inducing apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. In vivo findings revealed that Sev in combination with chemotherapy can synergistically inhibit tumor growth by inducing cell apoptosis in nude mice with HCC xenografts. In addition, the wound healing and transwell migration assays demonstrated that Sev can inhibit the migration of endothelial cell lines in combination with chemotherapy. In vitro tube formation test, zebrafish and chicken embryonic-angiogenic assay, immunohistochemistry, and in vivo fluorescence imaging consistently verified that Sev and OXA/5-Fu can synergistically inhibit the growth of blood vessels, and the underlying mechanism may be associated with inhibition of the VEGF/VEGFR signaling pathway. Conclusions The combination of Sev and chemotherapy is associated with the inhibition of HCC growth and tumor angiogenesis, which may provide a significant biological rationale for evaluating the efficacy of Sev and OXA/5-Fu combination therapy on HCC.

scholarly journals The Deubiquitinase OTUD3 Stabilizes ACTN4 to Activate NF-κB Signaling Pathway in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peiyi Xie ◽  
Yanglin Chen ◽  
Hongfei Zhang ◽  
Guichao Zhou ◽  
Qing Chao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hepatocellular Carcinoma ◽  
Signaling Pathway ◽  
Protein Level ◽  
Loss Of Function ◽  
Downstream Target ◽  
Gene And Protein Expression ◽  
Hcc Cells

Abstract Background: OTUD3, a deubiquitinating enzyme, has emerged as important role in some cancer. It showed that OTUD3 plays suppressive role in breast cancer whereas oncogenic role in lung cancer. However, the function and mechanism of OTUD3 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression remain elusive. Methods: Gene and protein expression of OTUD3 in HCC tissues were determined by qRT-PCR, western blot and immunohistochemistry. A series of gain- and loss-of-function assays were used to investigated the role of OTUD3 in HCC cells progression. Moreover, mass spectroscopic analysis and RNA-seq were used to identify the downstream targets of OTUD3 in HCC cells. The interaction between OTUD3 and ACTN4 was examined through co-IP experiment and in vitro ubiquitination assay.Results: In our research, OTUD3 was significantly overexpressed in HCC tissues and higher OTUD3 expression was correlated with bigger tumor size, more distant metastasis, and worse TNM stage. Additionally, OTUD3 promoted HCC cells growth and metastasis in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, ACTN4 was identified as a downstream target of OTUD3 and ACTN4 protein level was significantly related to OTUD3 expression. Rescue experiments indicated that ACTN4 was essential for OTUD3-mediated HCC proliferation and metastasis in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, we identified that NF-κB signaling pathway was activated by OTUD3 through ACTN4 to promote HCC cells progression. Importantly, OTUD3 protein level was correlated with ACTN4 protein level and activity of NF-κB signaling pathway in HCC tissues. Conclusion: Our findings identify the oncogenic role of OTUD3 in HCC and suggest that OTUD3 can be considered as a pivotal prognostic biomarker and a potential therapeutic target.

scholarly journals SREBP-1 inhibitor Betulin enhances the antitumor effect of Sorafenib on hepatocellular carcinoma via restricting cellular glycolytic activity

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fan Yin ◽  
Fan Feng ◽  
Lei Wang ◽  
Xiaoning Wang ◽  
Zongwei Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hepatocellular Carcinoma ◽  
Metabolic Regulation ◽  
Regulatory Element ◽  
Metastatic Potential ◽  
Acid Synthesis ◽  
Antitumor Effects ◽  
Glycolytic Activity ◽  
Element Binding Protein ◽  
Negative Role ◽  
Hcc Cells

Abstract Lipid metabolism that correlates tightly to the glucose metabolic regulation in malignant cells includes hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells. The transcription factor Sterol Regulatory Element Binding Protein 1 (SREBP-1), a regulator of fatty acid synthesis, has been shown to pivotally regulate the proliferation and metastasis of HCC cells. However, the intrinsic mechanism by which SREBP-1 regulates the survival of HCC cells remains unclear. In this study, among HCC patients who had dismal responses to Sorafenib, a high SREBP-1 level was found in the tumors and correlated to poor survival. This observation suggested the negative role of SREBP-1 in clinical HCC prognosis. Our mechanistical studies reveal that the inhibition of SREBP-1 via its inhibitor Betulin suppresses cellular glucose metabolism. In addition to the reduced glycolytic activity, a thwarted metastatic potential was observed in HCC cells upon Betulin administration. Moreover, our data show that SREBP-1 inhibition facilitated the antitumor effects of Sorafenib on HCC cells and xenograft tumors.

scholarly journals PNO1 regulates autophagy and apoptosis of hepatocellular carcinoma via the MAPK signaling pathway

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhiqiang Han ◽  
Dongming Liu ◽  
Lu Chen ◽  
Yuchao He ◽  
Xiangdong Tian ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hepatocellular Carcinoma ◽  
Signaling Pathway ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Rna Binding ◽  
Mapk Signaling ◽  
Mapk Signaling Pathway ◽  
Rna Seq ◽  
Hcc Cells

Abstract Background Some studies have reported that the activated ribosomes are positively associated with malignant tumors, especially in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The RNA-binding protein PNO1, as a critical ribosome has been rarely reported in human tumors. Thus, the roles of PNO1 in HCC should be explored. Methods We collected 150 formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded (FFPE) samples and 8 fresh samples to explore the expression and prognosis of PNO1 in HCC by immunohistochemistry, Western Blotting and RT-PCR. Public databases (TCGA and GEO) were used to verify the expression and prognosis. The functions of PNO1 in HCC was verified by in vitro and in vivo experiments. The underlying molecular mechanisms of PNO1 were examined by RNA-seq analysis and a series of functional experiments. Results PNO1 expression was considerably higher in HCC tissues and the higher expression of PNO1 was associated with poor prognosis of HCC patients. In vitro experiments indicated that PNO1 overexpression promoted proliferation and depressed apoptosis of HCC cells. In addition, high expression of PNO1 increased autophagy of HCC cells. Consistent results were also observed in vivo experiments. The results of the RNA-seq analysis indicted that PNO1 as an oncogene promoted HCC progression through the MAPK signaling pathway. The results were also verified by in vivo experiments. Conclusions PNO1 was overexpressed in HCC, promoted autophagy and inhibited apoptosis of HCC cells via the MAPK signaling pathway.

scholarly journals Hypoxic hepatocellular carcinoma cells acquire arsenic trioxide resistance through upregulating HIF-1α expression

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yaoting Chen ◽  
Huiqing Li ◽  
Dong Chen ◽  
Xiongying Jiang ◽  
Weidong Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hepatocellular Carcinoma ◽  
Protein Expression ◽  
Arsenic Trioxide ◽  
Therapeutic Effects ◽  
Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma ◽  
Antitumor Effects ◽  
P Glycoprotein ◽  
Hcc Cells

Abstract Background : Although arsenic trioxide (ATO) is used in the treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in clinical trials, it is not satisfactory in terms of improving HCC patients’ overall survival. Intratumoral hypoxia and overexpression of hypoxia-inducible-1α (HIF-1α) may result in ATO-resistance and tumor progression. We investigated the mechanisms involving HIF-1α expression and acquired ATO chemoresistance in HCC cells and mice. Methods: The therapeutic effects of ATO in normoxic and hypoxic HCC cells were assessed using cell viability and apoptosis assays in vitro and a xenograft model in vivo . mRNA and protein expression of HIF-1α, P-glycoprotein, and VEGF were measured by qRT-PCR and western blotting. HIF-1α inhibition was performed to investigate the mechanism of ATO-resistance. VEGF secretion was tested using ELISA and tube-formation assays. Results : Compared to normoxic cells, hypoxic HCC cells were more resistant to ATO, with higher IC 50 values and less apoptosis, and upregulated HIF-1α protein expression, accompanied with the enhancement of P-glycoprotein and VEGF synthesis after ATO treatment. VEGF secretion was elevated in the supernatant of ATO-treated HCC cells, and this change can potentiate angiogenesis in vitro . HIF-1α inhibition attenuated ATO-resistance and angiogenesis, and promoted the anticancer effects of ATO both in vitro and in vivo by downregulating therapy-induced P-glycoprotein and VEGF overexpression. Conclusions : Hypoxic HCC cells acquire ATO resistance by upregulating HIF-1α levels; thus, combining ATO with a HIF-1α-targeting agent may lead to enhanced antitumor effects in HCC.

scholarly journals FER Regulated by miR-206 Promotes Hepatocellular Carcinoma Progression via NF-κB Signaling

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wenzhou Ding ◽  
Ye Fan ◽  
Wenbo Jia ◽  
Xiongxiong Pan ◽  
Guoyong Han ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hepatocellular Carcinoma ◽  
Western Blot ◽  
Signaling Pathway ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Metastatic Progression ◽  
Loss Of Function ◽  
Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Hcc Cells

ObjectivesFeline sarcoma-related protein (FER) is known to play a critical regulatory role in several carcinomas. However, the exact biological function of FER in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) still needs to be investigated. The primary objective of this research was to investigate the unknown function and molecular mechanisms of FER in HCC.Materials and MethodsThe expression level of FER in HCC tissue samples and cells was examined by RT-qPCR, immunohistochemistry and western blot. Cellular and animal experiments were used to explore the effect of FER on the proliferative and metastatic capacities of HCC cells. The crosstalk between FER and NF-κB signaling was explored by western blot. The upstream factors that regulate FER were evaluated through dual-luciferase experiments and western blot assays.ResultsFER was overexpressed in HCC specimens and HCC cell lines. FER expression levels were positively associated with unfavorable clinicopathological characteristics. The higher the expression of FER was, the worse the overall survival of HCC patients was. The results of loss-of-function and gain-of-function experiments indicated that knockdown of FER decreased, while overexpression of FER increased, the proliferation, invasion and metastasis of HCC cells in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, we found that FER activated the NF-κB signaling pathway and stimulated epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). We also found that FER was directly regulated by miR-206, and the downregulation of miR-206 was associated with proliferation and metastatic progression in HCC.ConclusionsThe present research was the first to reveal that a decrease in miR-206 levels results in an increase in FER expression in HCC, leading to enhanced cell growth and metastatic abilities via activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway.

scholarly journals Docosahexaenoic Acid Suppresses Expression of Adipogenic Tetranectin through Sterol Regulatory Element-Binding Protein and Forkhead Box O Protein in Pigs

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 2315
Author(s):  
Jui-Ting Yang ◽  
Yu-Jen Chen ◽  
Chao-Wei Huang ◽  
Ya-Chin Wang ◽  
Harry J. Mersmann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fatty Acids ◽  
Binding Sites ◽  
Binding Protein ◽  
Regulatory Element ◽  
Forkhead Box ◽  
Transcriptional Suppression ◽  
Element Binding Protein ◽  
Sterol Regulatory Element

Tetranectin (TN), a plasminogen-binding protein originally involved in fibrinolysis and bone formation, was later identified as a secreted adipokine from human and rat adipocytes and positively correlated with adipogenesis and lipid metabolism in adipocytes. To elucidate the nutritional regulation of adipogenic TN from diets containing different sources of fatty acids (saturated, n-6, n-3) in adipocytes, we cloned the coding region of porcine TN from a cDNA library and analyzed tissue expressions in weaned piglets fed with 2% soybean oil (SB, enriched in n-6 fatty acids), docosahexaenoic acid oil (DHA, an n-3 fatty acid) or beef tallow (BT, enriched in saturated and n-9 fatty acids) for 30 d. Compared with tissues in the BT- or SB-fed group, expression of TN was reduced in the adipose, liver and lung tissues from the DHA-fed group, accompanied with lowered plasma levels of triglycerides and cholesterols. This in vivo reduction was also confirmed in porcine primary differentiated adipocytes supplemented with DHA in vitro. Then, promoter analysis was performed. A 1956-bp putative porcine TN promoter was cloned and transcription binding sites for sterol regulatory-element binding protein (SREBP)-1c or forkhead box O proteins (FoxO) were predicted on the TN promoter. Mutating binding sites on porcine TN promoters showed that transcriptional suppression of TN by DHA on promoter activity was dependent on specific response elements for SREBP-1c or FoxO. The inhibited luciferase promoter activity by DHA on the TN promoter coincides with reduced gene expression of TN, SREBP-1c, and FoxO1 in human embryonic kidney HEK293T cells supplemented with DHA. To conclude, our current study demonstrated that the adipogenic TN was negatively regulated by nutritional modulation of DHA both in pigs in vivo and in humans/pigs in vitro. The transcriptional suppression by DHA on TN expression was partly through SREBP-1c or FoxO. Therefore, down-regulation of adipogenic tetranectin associated with fibrinolysis and adipogenesis may contribute to the beneficial effects of DHA on ameliorating obesity-induced metabolic syndromes such as atherosclerosis and adipose dysfunctions.

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