scholarly journals Characterization of the Roles of Vimentin in Regulating the Proliferation and Migration of HSCs during Hepatic Fibrogenesis

Cells ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (10) ◽  
pp. 1184 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pei-Wen Wang ◽  
Tung-Ho Wu ◽  
Tung-Yi Lin ◽  
Mu-Hong Chen ◽  
Chau-Ting Yeh ◽  
...  

The activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) manifested as proliferation and migration is the pivotal event involved in liver fibrogenesis. The vimentin network, an intermediate filament (IF) system, is one of the critical cascades by which the cell morphology, growth, and motility are modulated. However, the vimentin-mediated cytoskeletal cross talk, as well as the signaling transduction, which further coordinates the cellular responses during hepatic fibrogenesis, is poorly understood. In the current study, both messenger RNA (mRNA) and the vimentin protein were significantly increased in a time-dependent manner in the dimethylnitrosamine (DMN)-exposed liver. In particular, vimentin was highly expressed in the activated HSCs. Again, the overexpressed vimentin was observed in the plasma samples derived from patients with hepatic fibrosis/cirrhosis, suggesting that vimentin may be a key factor in regulating the progression of liver fibrosis. Meanwhile, vimentin knockdown suppressed the migratory propensity, provoked morphological changes, and disturbed the focal adhesions in the HSCs due to the breakdown of associated cytoskeletal proteins. Western blotting showed that vimentin deletion inhibited proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and arrested the Rho GTPase family, thereby impairing the HSCs’ growth as well as motility. The phosphorylated extracellular-signal regulated kinase (ERK) and AKT signals were also notably reduced in response to the silence of vimentin. Inhibitors of selected signaling pathways suppressed the migration and differentiation of activated HSCs by regulating specific serine phosphorylated sites on vimentin. Taken together, these findings revealed a novel mechanism of vimentin through which various signaling pathways controlled the proliferation, differentiation, and movement of the HSCs via the ERK/AKT and Rho cascades.

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (8) ◽  
Author(s):  
Heyun Zhang ◽  
Zhangyu Zheng ◽  
Rongqin Zhang ◽  
Yongcong Yan ◽  
Yaorong Peng ◽  
...  

AbstractHepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignancies worldwide. SET and MYND domain-containing protein 3 (SMYD3) has been shown to promote the progression of various types of human cancers, including liver cancer; however, the detailed molecular mechanism is still largely unknown. Here, we report that SMYD3 expression in HCC is an independent prognostic factor for survival and promotes the proliferation and migration of HCC cells. We observed that SMYD3 upregulated sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor 1 (S1PR1) promoter activity by methylating histone 3 (H3K4me3). S1PR1 was expressed at high levels in HCC samples, and high S1PR1 expression was associated with shorter survival. S1PR1 expression was also positively correlated with SMYD3 expression in HCC samples. We confirmed that SMYD3 promotes HCC cell growth and migration in vitro and in vivo by upregulating S1PR1 expression. Further investigations revealed that SMYD3 affects critical signaling pathways associated with the progression of HCC through S1PR1. These findings strongly suggest that SMYD3 has a crucial function in HCC progression that is partially mediated by histone methylation at the downstream gene S1PR1, which affects key signaling pathways associated with carcinogenesis and the progression of HCC.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wang Zhang ◽  
Zhendong Liu ◽  
Binchao Liu ◽  
Miaomiao Jiang ◽  
Shi Yan ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Although many biomarkers have been reported for detecting glioma, the prognosis for the disease remains poor, and therefore, new biomarkers need to be identified. GNG5, which is part of the G-protein family, has been associated with different malignant tumors, though the role of GNG5 in glioma has not been studied. Therefore, we aimed to identify the relationship between GNG5 and glioma prognosis and identify a new biomarker for the diagnosis and treatment of gliomas.Methods: We used data on more than a thousand gliomas from multiple databases and clinical data to determine the expression of GNG5 in glioma. Based on clinical data and CGGA database, we identified the correlation between GNG5 and multiple molecular and clinical features and prognosis using various analytical methods. Co-expression analysis and GSEA were performed to detect GNG5-related genes in glioma and possible signaling pathways involved. ESTIMATE, ssGSEA, and TIMER were used to detect the relationship between GNG5 and the immune microenvironment. Functional experiments were performed to explore the function of GNG5 in glioma cells.Results: GNG5 is highly expressed in gliomas, and its expression level is positively correlated with pathological grade, histological type, age, and tumor recurrence and negatively correlated with isocitrate dehydrogenase mutation, 1p/19 co-deletion, and chemotherapy. Moreover, GNG5 as an independent risk factor was negatively correlated with the overall survival time. GSEA revealed the potential signaling pathways involved in GNG5 function in gliomas, including cell adhesion molecules signaling pathway. The ssGSEA, ESTIMATE, and TIMER based analysis indicated a correlation between GNG5 expression and various immune cells in glioma. In vivo and in vitro experiments showed that GNG5 could participate in glioma cell proliferation and migration.Conclusions: Based on the large data platform and the use of different databases to corroborate results obtained using various datasets, as well as in vitro and in vivo experiments, our study reveals for the first time that GNG5, as an oncogene, is overexpressed in gliomas and can inhibit the proliferation and migration of glioma cells and lead to poor prognosis of patients. Thus, GNG5 is a potential novel biomarker for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of gliomas.


2020 ◽  
Vol 168 (5) ◽  
pp. 535-546 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuepei Zou ◽  
Zhonghua Sun ◽  
Shuangming Sun

Abstract Long non-coding RNA (lnc) HCG18 has been reported to contribute progression of a variety of tumours. However, its roles in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains unknown. In the current study, we intended to uncover the biological functions of HCG18 in HCC. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was conducted to detect the expression of HCG18, microRNA-214-3p (miR-214-3p) and centromere protein M (CENPM) messenger RNA (mRNA). The role of HCG18 in the growth and migration were assessed by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay, colony formation assay, wound healing assay and flow cytometry in vitro and animal experiments in vivo. The results showed that HCG18 was highly expressed in HCC tissues. HCG18 silencing inhibited the proliferation and migration while induced the apoptosis of HCC cells. Besides, miR-214-3p was down-regulated in HCC cells. Further experiments revealed that miR-214-3p could directly bind to HCG18 and exerted an anti-tumour role to counteracted siHCG18-1-mediated influence in HCC cells. Moreover, miR-214-3p could directly interact with CENPM mRNA and down-regulating the expression of CENPM. While HCG18 could up-regulate the expression of CENPM through acting as a sponge of miR-214-3p. Therefore, those results suggested HCG18 functioned as an oncogene to promote the proliferation and migration of HCC cells via miR-214-3p/CENPM axis.


2015 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 1934578X1501000 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peng Zhang ◽  
Guohua Han ◽  
Pei Gao ◽  
Kun Qiao ◽  
Yusheng Ren ◽  
...  

For this study, peripheral blood samples were collected from human volunteers. Mononuclear cells (MNC) were separated by density centrifugation and were induced to differentiate into endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) in vitro. Different concentrations of rapamycin and silymarin were introduced to the EPCs over 24 hours and then EPCs were analyzed for proliferation, migration, apoptosis and angiogenesis. Compared with the control group, rapamycin (1, 10, 100 ng/mL) inhibited the proliferation and migration of EPCs in a concentration dependent manner ( P<0.05). Silymarin (50, 100 μg/mL) enhanced the proliferation and migration of EPCs and inhibited apoptosis in a concentration dependent manner ( P<0.05). By adding rapamycin (1 ng/mL) and silymarin (25, 50, 100 μg/mL) over 24 hours, silymarin inhibited the pro-apoptotic effect of rapamycin on EPCs, and reversed the inhibition of proliferation, migration and angiogenesis of EPCs by rapamycin ( P<0.05).


2009 ◽  
Vol 296 (3) ◽  
pp. H627-H638 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Maria Manso ◽  
Seok-Min Kang ◽  
Sergey V. Plotnikov ◽  
Ingo Thievessen ◽  
Jaewon Oh ◽  
...  

Migration and proliferation of cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) play an important role in the myocardial remodeling process. While many factors have been identified that regulate CF growth and migration, less is known about the signaling mechanisms involved in these processes. Here, we utilized Cre-LoxP technology to obtain focal adhesion kinase (FAK)-deficient adult mouse CFs and studied how FAK functioned in modulating cell adhesion, proliferation, and migration of these cells. Treatment of FAKflox/flox CFs with Ad/Cre virus caused over 70% reduction of FAK protein levels within a cell population. FAK-deficient CFs showed no changes in focal adhesions, cell morphology, or protein expression levels of vinculin, talin, or paxillin; proline-rich tyrosine kinase 2 (Pyk2) expression and activity were increased. Knockdown of FAK protein in CFs increased PDGF-BB-induced proliferation, while it reduced PDGF-BB-induced migration. Adhesion to fibronectin was not altered. To distinguish between the function of FAK and Pyk2, FAK function was inhibited via adenoviral-mediated overexpression of the natural FAK inhibitor FAK-related nonkinase (FRNK). Ad/FRNK had no effect on Pyk2 expression, inhibited the PDGF-BB-induced migration, but did not change the PDGF-BB-induced proliferation. FAK deficiency had only modest effects on increasing PDGF-BB activation of p38 and JNK MAPKs, with no alteration in the ERK response vs. control cells. These results demonstrate that FAK is required for the PDGF-BB-induced migratory response of adult mouse CFs and suggest that FAK could play an essential role in the wound-healing response that occurs in numerous cardiac pathologies.


2016 ◽  
Vol 38 (6) ◽  
pp. 2375-2388 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hongyang Hu ◽  
Min Chen ◽  
Guangzu Dai ◽  
Guoqing Du ◽  
Xuezong Wang ◽  
...  

Background/Aims: Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are responsible for new bone formation during adulthood. Accumulating evidences showed that Osthole promotes the osteogenic differentiation in primary osteoblasts. The aim of this study was to investigate whether Osthole exhibits a potential to stimulate the osteogenic differentiation of MSCs and the underlying mechanism. Methods: MSCs were treated with a gradient concentration of Osthole (6.25 µM, 12.5 µM, and 25 µM). Cell proliferation was assessed by western blotting with the proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and Cyclin D1 antibodies, fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS), and cell counting kit 8 (CCK8). MSCs were cultured in osteogenesis-induced medium for one or two weeks. The osteogenic differentiation of MSCs was estimated by Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) staining, Alizarin red staining, Calcium influx, and quantitative PCR (qPCR). The underlying mechanism of Osthole-induced osteogenesis was further evaluated by western blotting with antibodies in Wnt/β-catenin, PI3K/Akt, BMPs/smad1/5/8, and MAPK signaling pathways. Results: Osthole inhibited proliferation of rat MSCs in a dose-dependent manner. Osthole suppressed osteogenic differentiation of rat MSCs by down-regulating the activities of Wnt/β-catenin and Erk1/2-MAPK signaling. Conclusions: Osthole inhibits the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of rat MSCs, which might be mediated through blocking the Wnt/β-catenin and Erk1/2-MAPK signaling pathways.


2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhihui Xiao ◽  
Wenjun Wu ◽  
Vladimir Poltoratsky

Chronic inflammation is associated with cancer. CXCL8 promotes tumor microenvironment construction through recruiting leukocytes and endothelial progenitor cells that are involved in angiogenesis. It also enhances tumor cell proliferation and migration. Metformin, type II diabetes medication, demonstrates anticancer properties via suppressing inflammation, tumor cell proliferation, angiogenesis, and metastasis. This study intended to address the role of metformin in regulation of CXCL8 expression and cell proliferation and migration. Our data indicated that metformin suppressed LPS-induced CXCL8 expression in a dose-dependent manner through inhibiting NF-κB, but not AP-1 and C/EBP, activities under the conditions we used. This inhibitory effect of metformin is achieved through dampening LPS-induced NF-κB nuclear translocation. Cell migration was inhibited by metformin under high dose (10 mM), but not cell proliferation.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aurore Dumond ◽  
Etienne Brachet ◽  
Jérôme Durivault ◽  
Valérie Vial ◽  
Anna K. Puszko ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Despite the improvement of relapse-free survival mediated by anti-angiogenic drugs like sunitinib (Sutent ®), or by combinations of anti-angiogenic drugs with immunotherapy, metastatic clear cell Renal Cell Carcinoma (mccRCC) remain incurable. Hence, new relevant treatments are urgently needed. The VEGFs coreceptors, Neuropilins 1, 2 (NRP1, 2) are expressed on several tumor cells including ccRCC. We analysed the role of the VEGFs/NRPs signaling in ccRCC aggressiveness and evaluated the relevance to target this pathway.Methods: We correlated the NRP1, 2 levels to patients’ survival using online available data base. Human and mouse ccRCC cells were knocked-out for the NRP1 and NRP2 genes by a CRISPR/Cas9 method. Their proliferation and migration were evaluated by XTT or impedance tests and by wound closure. Production of VEGFA and VEGFC was evaluated by ELISA. Experimental ccRCC were performed in immuno-competent/deficient mice. The effects of a competitive inhibitor of NRP1, 2, NRPa-308, was tested in vitro and in vivo with the above-mentioned tests and on experimental ccRCC. NRPa-308 docking on both NRPs was performed.Results: Invalidation of the NRP1 and NRP2 genes inhibited cell proliferation and migration and stimulated the expression of VEGFA or VEGFC, respectively. NRPa-308 presented a higher affinity for NRP2 than for NRP1. It decreased cell proliferation and migration more efficiently than sunitinib and the commercially available NRP inhibitor EG00229. NRPa-308 presented a robust inhibition of experimental ccRCC growth in immunocompetent and immunodeficient mice in a reverse dose dependent manner. Such inhibition was associated with a decreased expression of several pro-tumoral factors. Analysis of the TCGA database showed that NRP2, more than NRP1 correlates with tumor aggressiveness only in metastatic patients.Conclusion: Our study strongly suggests that inhibiting NRP is a good therapeutic strategy for mccRCC patients in therapeutic impasses and NRPa-308 represents a relevant hit.


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