scholarly journals The Consumption of Cholesterol-Enriched Diets Conditions the Development of a Subtype of HCC with High Aggressiveness and Poor Prognosis

Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 1721
Author(s):  
Arturo Simoni-Nieves ◽  
Soraya Salas-Silva ◽  
Lisette Chávez-Rodríguez ◽  
Alejandro Escobedo-Calvario ◽  
Matthis Desoteux ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Poor Prognosis ◽  
Gene Expression Signature ◽  
Cholesterol Content ◽  
Specific Gene ◽  
Chow Diet ◽  
Detailed Knowledge ◽  
Rna Seq ◽  
Alcoholic Fatty Liver ◽  
Aggressive Phenotype ◽  
Molecular Alterations

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and progression to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) result as a consequence of diverse conditions, mainly unbalanced diets. Particularly, high-fat and cholesterol content, as well as carbohydrates, such as those commonly ingested in Western countries, frequently drive adverse metabolic alterations in the liver and promote NAFLD development. Lipid liver overload is also one of the main risk factors for initiation and progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but detailed knowledge on the relevance of high nutritional cholesterol remains elusive. We were aimed to characterize HCC development in mice fed with a Western diet (high in lipids and cholesterol) and to identify molecular alterations that define a subtype of liver cancer induced by lipid overload. Mice under western or high cholesterol diets more frequently developed tumors with a more aggressive phenotype than animals fed with a chow diet. Associated changes involved macrophage infiltration, angiogenesis, and stemness features. RNA-seq revealed a specific gene expression signature (Slc41a; Fabp5; Igdcc4 and Mthfd1l) resembling the adverse phenotypic features and poor clinical outcomes seen in patients with HCC. In conclusion; consumption of lipid enriched diets; particularly cholesterol; could accelerate HCC development with an aggressive phenotype and poor prognosis

scholarly journals A tumor microenvironment-specific gene expression signature predicts chemotherapy resistance in colorectal cancer patients

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaoqiang Zhu ◽  
Xianglong Tian ◽  
Linhua Ji ◽  
Xinyu Zhang ◽  
Yingying Cao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Colorectal Cancer ◽  
Tumor Microenvironment ◽  
Drug Sensitivity ◽  
Chemotherapy Resistance ◽  
Gene Expression Signature ◽  
Prediction Algorithm ◽  
Specific Gene ◽  
Chemotherapy Response ◽  
Rna Seq ◽  
Mesenchymal Transition

AbstractStudies have shown that tumor microenvironment (TME) might affect drug sensitivity and the classification of colorectal cancer (CRC). Using TME-specific gene signature to identify CRC subtypes with distinctive clinical relevance has not yet been tested. A total of 18 “bulk” RNA-seq datasets (total n = 2269) and four single-cell RNA-seq datasets were included in this study. We constructed a “Signature associated with FOLFIRI resistant and Microenvironment” (SFM) that could discriminate both TME and drug sensitivity. Further, SFM subtypes were identified using K-means clustering and verified in three independent cohorts. Nearest template prediction algorithm was used to predict drug response. TME estimation was performed by CIBERSORT and microenvironment cell populations-counter (MCP-counter) methods. We identified six SFM subtypes based on SFM signature that discriminated both TME and drug sensitivity. The SFM subtypes were associated with distinct clinicopathological, molecular and phenotypic characteristics, specific enrichments of gene signatures, signaling pathways, prognosis, gut microbiome patterns, and tumor lymphocytes infiltration. Among them, SFM-C and -F were immune suppressive. SFM-F had higher stromal fraction with epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition phenotype, while SFM-C was characterized as microsatellite instability phenotype which was responsive to immunotherapy. SFM-D, -E, and -F were sensitive to FOLFIRI and FOLFOX, while SFM-A, -B, and -C were responsive to EGFR inhibitors. Finally, SFM subtypes had strong prognostic value in which SFM-E and -F had worse survival than other subtypes. SFM subtypes enable the stratification of CRC with potential chemotherapy response thereby providing more precise therapeutic options for these patients.

scholarly journals NKL Homeobox Gene VENTX Is Part of a Regulatory Network in Human Conventional Dendritic Cells

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (11) ◽  
pp. 5902
Author(s):  
Stefan Nagel ◽  
Claudia Pommerenke ◽  
Corinna Meyer ◽  
Hans G. Drexler
Keyword(s):  
Dendritic Cells ◽  
Transcription Factors ◽  
Cell Lines ◽  
Expression Profiling ◽  
Regulatory Network ◽  
Homeobox Gene ◽  
Leukemia Cell Line ◽  
Specific Gene ◽  
Rna Seq ◽  
And Function

Recently, we documented a hematopoietic NKL-code mapping physiological expression patterns of NKL homeobox genes in human myelopoiesis including monocytes and their derived dendritic cells (DCs). Here, we enlarge this map to include normal NKL homeobox gene expressions in progenitor-derived DCs. Analysis of public gene expression profiling and RNA-seq datasets containing plasmacytoid and conventional dendritic cells (pDC and cDC) demonstrated HHEX activity in both entities while cDCs additionally expressed VENTX. The consequent aim of our study was to examine regulation and function of VENTX in DCs. We compared profiling data of VENTX-positive cDC and monocytes with VENTX-negative pDC and common myeloid progenitor entities and revealed several differentially expressed genes encoding transcription factors and pathway components, representing potential VENTX regulators. Screening of RNA-seq data for 100 leukemia/lymphoma cell lines identified prominent VENTX expression in an acute myelomonocytic leukemia cell line, MUTZ-3 containing inv(3)(q21q26) and t(12;22)(p13;q11) and representing a model for DC differentiation studies. Furthermore, extended gene analyses indicated that MUTZ-3 is associated with the subtype cDC2. In addition to analysis of public chromatin immune-precipitation data, subsequent knockdown experiments and modulations of signaling pathways in MUTZ-3 and control cell lines confirmed identified candidate transcription factors CEBPB, ETV6, EVI1, GATA2, IRF2, MN1, SPIB, and SPI1 and the CSF-, NOTCH-, and TNFa-pathways as VENTX regulators. Live-cell imaging analyses of MUTZ-3 cells treated for VENTX knockdown excluded impacts on apoptosis or induced alteration of differentiation-associated cell morphology. In contrast, target gene analysis performed by expression profiling of knockdown-treated MUTZ-3 cells revealed VENTX-mediated activation of several cDC-specific genes including CSFR1, EGR2, and MIR10A and inhibition of pDC-specific genes like RUNX2. Taken together, we added NKL homeobox gene activities for progenitor-derived DCs to the NKL-code, showing that VENTX is expressed in cDCs but not in pDCs and forms part of a cDC-specific gene regulatory network operating in DC differentiation and function.

scholarly journals Dual-specificity phosphatase 3 deletion promotes obesity, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and hepatocellular carcinoma

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sophie Jacques ◽  
Arash Arjomand ◽  
Hélène Perée ◽  
Patrick Collins ◽  
Alice Mayer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hepatocellular Carcinoma ◽  
Insulin Resistance ◽  
Metabolic Syndrome ◽  
Liver Damage ◽  
Chow Diet ◽  
Serum Triglycerides ◽  
Alcoholic Fatty Liver ◽  
Alcoholic Steatohepatitis ◽  
Dual Specificity ◽  
Dual Specificity Protein Phosphatase

AbstractNon-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common chronic hepatic pathology in Western countries. It encompasses a spectrum of conditions ranging from simple steatosis to more severe and progressive non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) that can lead to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Obesity and related metabolic syndrome are important risk factors for the development of NAFLD, NASH and HCC. DUSP3 is a small dual-specificity protein phosphatase with a poorly known physiological function. We investigated its role in metabolic syndrome manifestations and in HCC using a mouse knockout (KO) model. While aging, DUSP3-KO mice became obese, exhibited insulin resistance, NAFLD and associated liver damage. These phenotypes were exacerbated under high fat diet (HFD). In addition, DEN administration combined to HFD led to rapid HCC development in DUSP3-KO compared to wild type (WT) mice. DUSP3-KO mice had more serum triglycerides, cholesterol, AST and ALT compared to control WT mice under both regular chow diet (CD) and HFD. The level of fasting insulin was higher compared to WT mice, though, fasting glucose as well as glucose tolerance were normal. At the molecular level, HFD led to decreased expression of DUSP3 in WT mice. DUSP3 deletion was associated with increased and consistent phosphorylation of the insulin receptor (IR) and with higher activation of the downstream signaling pathway. In conclusion, our results support a new role for DUSP3 in obesity, insulin resistance, NAFLD and liver damage.

scholarly journals The combined detection of Amphiregulin, Cyclin A1 and DDX20/Gemin3 expression predicts aggressive forms of oral squamous cell carcinoma

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ekaterina Bourova-Flin ◽  
Samira Derakhshan ◽  
Afsaneh Goudarzi ◽  
Tao Wang ◽  
Anne-Laure Vitte ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Squamous Cell ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Biomarker Discovery ◽  
Gene Expression Signature ◽  
Predictive Biomarkers ◽  
Specific Gene ◽  
Specific Expression ◽  
Intrinsic Nature ◽  
Independent Cohort

Abstract Background Large-scale genetic and epigenetic deregulations enable cancer cells to ectopically activate tissue-specific expression programmes. A specifically designed strategy was applied to oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCC) in order to detect ectopic gene activations and develop a prognostic stratification test. Methods A dedicated original prognosis biomarker discovery approach was implemented using genome-wide transcriptomic data of OSCC, including training and validation cohorts. Abnormal expressions of silent genes were systematically detected, correlated with survival probabilities and evaluated as predictive biomarkers. The resulting stratification test was confirmed in an independent cohort using immunohistochemistry. Results A specific gene expression signature, including a combination of three genes, AREG, CCNA1 and DDX20, was found associated with high-risk OSCC in univariate and multivariate analyses. It was translated into an immunohistochemistry-based test, which successfully stratified patients of our own independent cohort. Discussion The exploration of the whole gene expression profile characterising aggressive OSCC tumours highlights their enhanced proliferative and poorly differentiated intrinsic nature. Experimental targeting of CCNA1 in OSCC cells is associated with a shift of transcriptomic signature towards the less aggressive form of OSCC, suggesting that CCNA1 could be a good target for therapeutic approaches.

scholarly journals Sex-dependent dynamics of metabolism in primary mouse hepatocytes

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luise Hochmuth ◽  
Christiane Körner ◽  
Fritzi Ott ◽  
Daniela Volke ◽  
Kaja Blagotinšek Cokan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Amino Acid ◽  
Sexual Dimorphism ◽  
New Drugs ◽  
Model Systems ◽  
Specific Gene ◽  
Primary Hepatocytes ◽  
Alcoholic Fatty Liver ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Primary Mouse

AbstractThe liver is one of the most sexually dimorphic organs. The hepatic metabolic pathways that are subject to sexual dimorphism include xenobiotic, amino acid and lipid metabolism. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma are among diseases with sex-dependent prevalence, progression and outcome. Although male and female livers differ in their abilities to metabolize foreign compounds, including drugs, sex-dependent treatment and pharmacological dynamics are rarely applied in all relevant cases. Therefore, it is important to consider hepatic sexual dimorphism when developing new treatment strategies and to understand the underlying mechanisms in model systems. We isolated primary hepatocytes from male and female C57BL6/N mice and examined the sex-dependent transcriptome, proteome and extracellular metabolome parameters in the course of culturing them for 96 h. The sex-specific gene expression of the general xenobiotic pathway altered and the female-specific expression of Cyp2b13 and Cyp2b9 was significantly reduced during culture. Sex-dependent differences of several signaling pathways increased, including genes related to serotonin and melatonin degradation. Furthermore, the ratios of male and female gene expression were inversed for other pathways, such as amino acid degradation, beta-oxidation, androgen signaling and hepatic steatosis. Because the primary hepatocytes were cultivated without the influence of known regulators of sexual dimorphism, these results suggest currently unknown modulatory mechanisms of sexual dimorphism in vitro. The large sex-dependent differences in the regulation and dynamics of drug metabolism observed during cultivation can have an immense influence on the evaluation of pharmacodynamic processes when conducting initial preclinical trials to investigate potential new drugs.

scholarly journals Promoter G-quadruplexes and transcription factors cooperate to shape the cell type-specific transcriptome

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara Lago ◽  
Matteo Nadai ◽  
Filippo M. Cernilogar ◽  
Maryam Kazerani ◽  
Helena Domíniguez Moreno ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Transcription Factors ◽  
Binding Sites ◽  
Specific Gene ◽  
Open Chromatin ◽  
Rna Seq ◽  
Transcript Levels ◽  
Promoter Sequences ◽  
G Quadruplex ◽  
Cell Type Specific ◽  
Folding State

AbstractCell identity is maintained by activation of cell-specific gene programs, regulated by epigenetic marks, transcription factors and chromatin organization. DNA G-quadruplex (G4)-folded regions in cells were reported to be associated with either increased or decreased transcriptional activity. By G4-ChIP-seq/RNA-seq analysis on liposarcoma cells we confirmed that G4s in promoters are invariably associated with high transcription levels in open chromatin. Comparing G4 presence, location and transcript levels in liposarcoma cells to available data on keratinocytes, we showed that the same promoter sequences of the same genes in the two cell lines had different G4-folding state: high transcript levels consistently associated with G4-folding. Transcription factors AP-1 and SP1, whose binding sites were the most significantly represented in G4-folded sequences, coimmunoprecipitated with their G4-folded promoters. Thus, G4s and their associated transcription factors cooperate to determine cell-specific transcriptional programs, making G4s to strongly emerge as new epigenetic regulators of the transcription machinery.

scholarly journals Hepatic HuR protects against the pathogenesis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease by targeting PTEN

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mi Tian ◽  
Jingjing Wang ◽  
Shangming Liu ◽  
Xinyun Li ◽  
Jingyuan Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Glucose Metabolism ◽  
Hepatic Steatosis ◽  
Chow Diet ◽  
Alcoholic Fatty Liver ◽  
Phosphatase And Tensin Homolog ◽  
Tensin Homolog ◽  
Pten Mrna ◽  
Normal Chow ◽  
Mice Liver

AbstractThe liver plays an important role in lipid and glucose metabolism. Here, we show the role of human antigen R (HuR), an RNA regulator protein, in hepatocyte steatosis and glucose metabolism. We investigated the level of HuR in the liver of mice fed a normal chow diet (NCD) and a high-fat diet (HFD). HuR was downregulated in the livers of HFD-fed mice. Liver-specific HuR knockout (HuRLKO) mice showed exacerbated HFD-induced hepatic steatosis along with enhanced glucose tolerance as compared with control mice. Mechanistically, HuR could bind to the adenylate uridylate-rich elements of phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on the chromosome 10 (PTEN) mRNA 3′ untranslated region, resulting in the increased stability of Pten mRNA; genetic knockdown of HuR decreased the expression of PTEN. Finally, lentiviral overexpression of PTEN alleviated the development of hepatic steatosis in HuRLKO mice in vivo. Overall, HuR regulates lipid and glucose metabolism by targeting PTEN.

scholarly journals Neuromuscular junction-specific genes screening by deep RNA-seq analysis

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tiankun Hui ◽  
Hongyang Jing ◽  
Xinsheng Lai
Keyword(s):  
Ion Channel ◽  
Neuromuscular Junctions ◽  
Gene Set Enrichment Analysis ◽  
Differentially Expressed ◽  
Muscle Membrane ◽  
Receptor Interaction ◽  
Specific Gene ◽  
Rna Seq ◽  
Channel Activity ◽  
Ppi Networks

Abstract Background Neuromuscular junctions (NMJs) are chemical synapses formed between motor neurons and skeletal muscle fibers and are essential for controlling muscle contraction. NMJ dysfunction causes motor disorders, muscle wasting, and even breathing difficulties. Increasing evidence suggests that many NMJ disorders are closely related to alterations in specific gene products that are highly concentrated in the synaptic region of the muscle. However, many of these proteins are still undiscovered. Thus, screening for NMJ-specific proteins is essential for studying NMJ and the pathogenesis of NMJ diseases. Results In this study, synaptic regions (SRs) and nonsynaptic regions (NSRs) of diaphragm samples from newborn (P0) and adult (3-month-old) mice were used for RNA-seq. A total of 92 and 182 genes were identified as differentially expressed between the SR and NSR in newborn and adult mice, respectively. Meanwhile, a total of 1563 genes were identified as differentially expressed between the newborn SR and adult SR. Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analyses, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis and gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) of the DEGs were performed. Protein–protein interaction (PPI) networks were constructed using STRING and Cytoscape. Further analysis identified some novel proteins and pathways that may be important for NMJ development, maintenance and maturation. Specifically, Sv2b, Ptgir, Gabrb3, P2rx3, Dlgap1 and Rims1 may play roles in NMJ development. Hcn1 may localize to the muscle membrane to regulate NMJ maintenance. Trim63, Fbxo32 and several Asb family proteins may regulate muscle developmental-related processes. Conclusion Here, we present a complete dataset describing the spatiotemporal transcriptome changes in synaptic genes and important synaptic pathways. The neuronal projection-related pathway, ion channel activity and neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction pathway are important for NMJ development. The myelination and voltage-gated ion channel activity pathway may be important for NMJ maintenance. These data will facilitate the understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the development and maintenance of NMJ and the pathogenesis of NMJ disorders.

scholarly journals Discovery of widespread transcription initiation at microsatellites predictable by sequence-based deep neural network

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mathys Grapotte ◽  
Manu Saraswat ◽  
Chloé Bessière ◽  
Christophe Menichelli ◽  
Jordan A. Ramilowski ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Transcription Initiation ◽  
Tandem Repeats ◽  
Specific Gene ◽  
Rna Seq ◽  
Transcription Start Sites ◽  
Long Read ◽  
Cap Analysis ◽  
Dna Tandem Repeats ◽  
Short Tandem ◽  
Str Polymorphism

AbstractUsing the Cap Analysis of Gene Expression (CAGE) technology, the FANTOM5 consortium provided one of the most comprehensive maps of transcription start sites (TSSs) in several species. Strikingly, ~72% of them could not be assigned to a specific gene and initiate at unconventional regions, outside promoters or enhancers. Here, we probe these unassigned TSSs and show that, in all species studied, a significant fraction of CAGE peaks initiate at microsatellites, also called short tandem repeats (STRs). To confirm this transcription, we develop Cap Trap RNA-seq, a technology which combines cap trapping and long read MinION sequencing. We train sequence-based deep learning models able to predict CAGE signal at STRs with high accuracy. These models unveil the importance of STR surrounding sequences not only to distinguish STR classes, but also to predict the level of transcription initiation. Importantly, genetic variants linked to human diseases are preferentially found at STRs with high transcription initiation level, supporting the biological and clinical relevance of transcription initiation at STRs. Together, our results extend the repertoire of non-coding transcription associated with DNA tandem repeats and complexify STR polymorphism.

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