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Hepatology Communications Nov 2023O-GlcNAcylation is a post-translational modification catalyzed by the enzyme O-GlcNAc transferase, which transfers a single N-acetylglucosamine sugar from UDP-GlcNAc to...
BACKGROUND
O-GlcNAcylation is a post-translational modification catalyzed by the enzyme O-GlcNAc transferase, which transfers a single N-acetylglucosamine sugar from UDP-GlcNAc to the protein on serine and threonine residues on proteins. Another enzyme, O-GlcNAcase (OGA), removes this modification. O-GlcNAcylation plays an important role in pathophysiology. Here, we report that O-GlcNAcylation is essential for hepatocyte differentiation, and chronic loss results in fibrosis and HCC.
METHODS
Single-cell RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) was used to investigate hepatocyte differentiation in hepatocyte-specific O-GlcNAc transferase-knockout (OGT-KO) mice with decreased hepatic O-GlcNAcylation and in O-GlcNAcase-KO mice with increased O-GlcNAcylation in hepatocytes. Patients HCC samples and the diethylnitrosamine-induced HCC model were used to investigate the effect of modulation of O-GlcNAcylation on the development of liver cancer.
RESULTS
Loss of hepatic O-GlcNAcylation resulted in disruption of liver zonation. Periportal hepatocytes were the most affected by loss of differentiation, characterized by dysregulation of glycogen storage and glucose production. O-GlcNAc transferase-KO mice exacerbated diethylnitrosamine-induced HCC development with increased inflammation, fibrosis, and YAP signaling. Consistently, O-GlcNAcase -KO mice with increased hepatic O-GlcNAcylation inhibited diethylnitrosamine-induced HCC. A progressive loss of O-GlcNAcylation was observed in patients with HCC.
CONCLUSIONS
Our study shows that O-GlcNAcylation is a critical regulator of hepatic differentiation, and loss of O-GlcNAcylation promotes hepatocarcinogenesis. These data highlight increasing O-GlcNAcylation as a potential therapy in chronic liver diseases, including HCC.
Topics: Humans; Mice; Animals; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular; Diethylnitrosamine; Liver Neoplasms; Cell Differentiation; Fibrosis
PubMed: 37930118
DOI: 10.1097/HC9.0000000000000283 -
Cancer Cell International Jun 2023Malignant transformation from hepatic fibrosis to carcinogenesis may be a therapeutic target for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The aim of this study was to evaluate...
BACKGROUND
Malignant transformation from hepatic fibrosis to carcinogenesis may be a therapeutic target for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The aim of this study was to evaluate anti-cancer efficacy of Pien-Tze-Huang (PZH), and to investigate the underlying mechanisms by integrating transcriptional regulatory network analysis and experimental validation.
METHODS
A diethylnitrosamine (DEN)-induced HCC model in rats was established and used to evaluate the anti-cancer efficacy of PZH. After detecting a transcriptomic profiling, the "disease-related gene-drug effective target" interaction network was constructed, and the candidate targets of PZH against malignant transformation from hepatic fibrosis to HCC were identified and verified in vitro.
RESULTS
PZH effectively alleviated the pathological changes of hepatic fibrosis and cirrhosis, and inhibited tumor formation and growth in DEN-induced HCC rats. Additionally, the administration of PZH reduced the levels of various hepatic function-related serological indicators significantly. Mechanically, a ferroptosis-related SLC7A11-GSH-GPX4 axis might be one of potential targets of PZH against malignant transformation from hepatic fibrosis to HCC. Especially, high SLC7A11 expression may be associated with poor prognosis of HCC patients. Experimentally, the administration of PZH markedly increased the trivalent iron and ferrous ion, suppressed the expression levels of SLC7A11 and GPX4 proteins, and reduced the GSH/GSSG ratio in the liver tissues of DEN-induced HCC rats.
CONCLUSIONS
Our data offer an evidence that PZH may effectively improve the hepatic fibrosis microenvironment and prevent the occurrence of HCC through promoting ferroptosis in tumor cells via inhibiting the SLC7A11-GSH-GPX4 axis, implying that PZH may be a potential candidate drug for prevention and treatment of HCC at an early stage.
PubMed: 37280673
DOI: 10.1186/s12935-023-02946-2 -
Arhiv Za Higijenu Rada I Toksikologiju Mar 2021In 2018, some sartan medicinal products were reported to be contaminated with nitrosamine compounds, which are potent mutagenic carcinogens. Two nitrosamines received... (Review)
Review
In 2018, some sartan medicinal products were reported to be contaminated with nitrosamine compounds, which are potent mutagenic carcinogens. Two nitrosamines received particular attention: -nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) and -nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA). These have since been confirmed in different types of medicinal products, including ranitidine and metformin. Consequently, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) started an investigation into the cause of contamination and an assessment of the risk to patients taking contaminated medicinal products. The main source of contamination were changes in production, which involves combinations of amines and nitrogen compounds and the use of specific catalysts and reagents. Withdrawals of medicinal products that took place in Croatia did not lead to a shortage of sartan- or metformin-containing medicines. Moreover, ranitidine had been preventively withdrawn all over the EU, including Croatia, creating shortages at the time, but was subsequently replaced with therapeutic alternatives.
Topics: Carcinogens; Diethylnitrosamine; Dimethylnitrosamine; Drug Contamination; Humans; Nitrosamines
PubMed: 33787187
DOI: 10.2478/aiht-2021-72-3491 -
Advances in Experimental Medicine and... 2015Alcohol is a well-established risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma, and the mechanisms by which alcohol liver cancer is complex. It has been suggested that ethanol... (Review)
Review
Alcohol is a well-established risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma, and the mechanisms by which alcohol liver cancer is complex. It has been suggested that ethanol (EtOH) metabolism may enhance tumor progression by increasing hepatocyte proliferation. To test this hypothesis, ethanol (EtOH) feeding of male mice began 7 weeks post-injection of the chemical carcinogen diethylnitrosamine (DEN), and continued for 16 weeks, with a final EtOH concentration of 28% of total calories. As expected, EtOH increased the total number of cancerous foci and liver tumors identified in situ fixed livers from the EtOH+DEN group compared to corresponding pair-fed (PF)+DEN and chow+DEN control groups. In the EtOH+DEN group, tumor multiplicity corresponded to a 3- to 4-fold increase in proliferation and immunohistochemical staining of β-catenin in non-tumorigenic hepatocytes when compared to the PF+DEN and chow+DEN groups, p<0.05. Analysis of EtOH-treated livers from a previously published rat model of chronic liver disease revealed increases in hepatocyte proliferation accompanied by a hepatic depletion of retinol and retinoic acid stores (p<0.05), nuclear accumulation of β-catenin (p<0.05), increased cytosolic expression p-GSK3β (p<0.05), significant upregulation of soluble Wnts, Wnt2, and Wnt7a, and increased expression of several β-catenin targets involved in tumor promotion and progression, cyclin D1, c-myc, WISP1, and MMP7 (p<0.05). These data suggest that chronic EtOH consumption activates the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, which increases hepatocyte proliferation thus promoting tumorigenesis following an initiating insult in the liver.
Topics: Alcohol Drinking; Animals; Diethylnitrosamine; Liver Neoplasms; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Wnt Signaling Pathway; beta Catenin
PubMed: 25427908
DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-09614-8_11 -
The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and... Jan 2022Vitamin D (VD) deficiency has been associated with increased risk for cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, a highly incident malignant neoplasia worldwide. On the...
Vitamin D (VD) deficiency has been associated with increased risk for cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, a highly incident malignant neoplasia worldwide. On the other hand, VD supplementation has shown some beneficial effects in clinical studies and rodent models of chronic liver disease. However, preventive effects of dietary VD supplementation in cirrhosis-associated hepatocarcinogenesis is still unknow. To investigate this purpose, male Wistar rats submitted to a combined diethylnitrosamine- and thioacetamide-induced model were concomitantly supplemented with VD (5,000 and 10,000 IU/kg diet) for 25 weeks. Liver samples were collected for histological, biochemical and molecular analysis. Serum samples were used to measure 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] and alanine aminotransferase levels. Both VD interventions decreased hepatic collagen deposition and pro-inflammatory p65 protein levels, while increased hepatic antioxidant catalase and glutathione peroxidase activities and serum 25(OH)D, without a clear dose-response effect. Nonetheless, only the highest concentration of VD increased hepatic protein levels of VD receptor, while decreased the number of large preneoplastic glutathione-S-transferase- (>0.5 mm²) and keratin 8/18-positive lesions, as well the multiplicity of hepatocellular adenomas. Moreover, this intervention increased hepatic antioxidant Nrf2 protein levels and glutathione-S-transferase activity. In summary, dietary VD supplementation - in special the highest intervention - showed antifibrotic and antineoplastic properties in chemically-induced cirrhosis-associated hepatocarcinogenesis. The positive modulation of Nrf2 antioxidant axis may be mechanistically involved with these beneficial effects, and may guide future clinical studies.
Topics: Adenoma, Liver Cell; Alanine Transaminase; Animals; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular; Catalase; Chemoprevention; Collagen; Dietary Supplements; Diethylnitrosamine; Gene Expression Regulation; Glutathione Peroxidase; Glutathione Transferase; Keratins; Liver; Liver Cirrhosis; Liver Neoplasms; Male; NF-E2-Related Factor 2; Neoplasm Proteins; Nucleocytoplasmic Transport Proteins; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Receptors, Calcitriol; Thioacetamide; Vitamin D
PubMed: 34774723
DOI: 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2021.106022 -
Cancers Oct 2021The microRNA 21 (miR-21) is upregulated in almost all known human cancers and is considered a highly potent oncogene and potential therapeutic target for cancer...
The microRNA 21 (miR-21) is upregulated in almost all known human cancers and is considered a highly potent oncogene and potential therapeutic target for cancer treatment. In the liver, miR-21 was reported to promote hepatic steatosis and inflammation, but whether miR-21 also drives hepatocarcinogenesis remains poorly investigated in vivo. Here we show using both carcinogen (Diethylnitrosamine, DEN) or genetically (PTEN deficiency)-induced mouse models of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), total or hepatocyte-specific genetic deletion of this microRNA fosters HCC development-contrasting the expected oncogenic role of miR-21. Gene and protein expression analyses of mouse liver tissues further indicate that total or hepatocyte-specific miR-21 deficiency is associated with an increased expression of oncogenes such as , subtle deregulations of the MAPK, HiPPO, and STAT3 signaling pathways, as well as alterations of the inflammatory/immune anti-tumoral responses in the liver. Together, our data show that miR-21 deficiency promotes a pro-tumoral microenvironment, which over time fosters HCC development via pleiotropic and complex mechanisms. These results question the current dogma of miR-21 being a potent oncomiR in the liver and call for cautiousness when considering miR-21 inhibition for therapeutic purposes in HCC.
PubMed: 34638467
DOI: 10.3390/cancers13194983 -
Open Access Macedonian Journal of... Aug 2017Hepatocellular carcinoma is one of the most common cancers in the world, and it is influenced by agents such as DEN, 2-AAF, phenobarbital, alcohol, aflatoxin B1... (Review)
Review
Hepatocellular carcinoma is one of the most common cancers in the world, and it is influenced by agents such as DEN, 2-AAF, phenobarbital, alcohol, aflatoxin B1 metabolite or hepatitis viruses (B and C). Oxidative stress is becoming recognized as a key factor in the progression of hepatocarcinogenesis. Reactive oxygen species can play a leading role in initiation and promotion of hepatic carcinogenesis. The metabolites of DEN Diethylnitrosamine (DEN) mediate the binding of tumour promoters by covalently binding to the DNA with one or two oxidation-providing electrons. 2-AAF is the inducer of DEN, and it is involved in tumour formation in the bladder and liver. Reactive Oxygen species (ROS); carbohydrates, lipids, DNA and enzymes, such as affect all important structures. Additionally, an excessive amount of ROS is highly toxic to cells. Antioxidants are protects against ROS, toxic substances, carcinogens. This review focuses on the literature on studies of Hepatic Carcinogenesis, oxidative stress and antioxidant therapy.
PubMed: 28932315
DOI: 10.3889/oamjms.2017.101 -
BMC Cancer Feb 2018Diethylnitrosamine is a well known carcinogen that induces cancers of various organs in mice and rats. Using FVB/N mouse strain, here we show that diethylnitrosamine...
BACKGROUND
Diethylnitrosamine is a well known carcinogen that induces cancers of various organs in mice and rats. Using FVB/N mouse strain, here we show that diethylnitrosamine induces primarily lung adenocarcinomas with modest tumor development in the liver, offering a new model to study chemical carcinogenesis in the lung.
METHODS
Animals were exposed to a single high dose of diethylnitrosamine, and more than 70% of the mice developed lung cancer. To obtain a new transplantable tumor line, pieces of primary tumors were inoculated and maintained subcutaneously in the same mouse strain. We used immunohistochemistry to characterize the tumor for main lung adenocarcinoma markers. We searched for mutations in KRAS exon 2 and EGFR exon 19, 21 with Sanger sequencing. We also compared the normal lung tissue with the diethylnitrosamine induced primary adenocarcinoma, and with the subcutaneously maintained adenocarcinoma using Western blot technique for main cell cycle markers and to identify the main pathways.
RESULTS
Primary and subcutaneous tumors express cytokeratin-7 and thyroid transcription factor-1, markers characteristic to lung adenocarcinoma. In addition, no mutations were found in the hot spot regions of KRAS and EGFR genes. We found high mTOR activation, but the level of p-Akt Ser473 and p-Akt Thr308 decreased in the tumorous samples.
CONCLUSIONS
We established a new lung adenocarcinoma model using FVB/N mouse strain and diethylnitrosamine. We believe that this new model system would be highly useful in lung cancer research.
Topics: Adenocarcinoma; Animals; Base Sequence; Biomarkers, Tumor; Diethylnitrosamine; Disease Models, Animal; ErbB Receptors; Female; Humans; Keratin-7; Lung; Lung Neoplasms; Male; Mice; Mutation; Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras); Thyroid Nuclear Factor 1
PubMed: 29415661
DOI: 10.1186/s12885-018-4068-4 -
Nature Communications Sep 2021Although psycho-social stress is a well-known factor that contributes to the development of cancer, it remains largely unclear whether and how environmental eustress...
Although psycho-social stress is a well-known factor that contributes to the development of cancer, it remains largely unclear whether and how environmental eustress influences malignant diseases and regulates cancer-related therapeutic responses. Using an established eustress model, we demonstrate that mice living in an enriched environment (EE) are protected from carcinogen-induced liver neoplasia and transplantable syngeneic liver tumors, owning to a CD8 T cell-dependent tumor control. We identify a peripheral Neuro-Endocrine-Immune pathway in eustress, including Sympathetic nervous system (SNS)/β-adrenergic receptors (β-ARs)/CCL2 that relieves tumor immunosuppression and overcomes PD-L1 resistance to immunotherapy. Notably, EE activates peripheral SNS and β-ARs signaling in tumor cells and tumor infiltrated myeloid cells, leading to suppression of CCL2 expression and activation of anti-tumor immunity. Either blockade of CCL2/CCR2 or β-AR signaling in EE mice lose the tumor protection capability. Our study reveales that environmental eustress via EE stimulates anti-tumor immunity, resulting in more efficient tumor control and a better outcome of immunotherapy.
Topics: Animals; B7-H1 Antigen; Carbon Tetrachloride; Chemokine CCL2; Diethylnitrosamine; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; Hepatic Stellate Cells; Hepatocytes; Humans; Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors; Liver; Liver Neoplasms, Experimental; Male; Mice; Neuroimmunomodulation; Organoids; Receptors, Adrenergic, beta; Receptors, CCR2; Signal Transduction; Stress, Psychological; Sympathetic Nervous System; Tumor Escape; Tumor Microenvironment
PubMed: 34593796
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-25967-9