Project description:BACKGROUND & AIMS: We performed an integrated analysis to identify microRNAs (miRNAs) and mRNAs with altered expression in liver tumors from 3 mouse models of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and human tumor tissues. METHODS: We analyzed miRNA and mRNA expression profiles of liver tissues from mice with diethylnitrosamine-induced hepatocarcinogenesis, conditional expression of lymphotoxin alpha and lymphotoxin beta , or inducible expression of a Myc transgene (Tet-O-Myc mice), as well as male C57BL/6 mice (controls). miRNA mimics were expressed and miRNAs and mRNAs were knocked down in human (Huh7, Hep3B, JHH2) hepatoma cell lines; cells were analyzed for viability, proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and invasion. Cells were grown as xenograft tumors in nude mice and analyzed. We combined in-silico target gene prediction with mRNA profiles from all 3 mouse models. We quantified miRNA levels in 146 fresh-frozen tissues from patients (125 HCCs, 17 matched non-tumor tissues, and 4 liver samples from patients without cancer) and published human data sets and tested correlations with patient survival times using Kaplan-Meier curves and the log-rank test. Levels of NUSAP1 mRNA were quantified in 237 HCCs and 5 non-tumor liver samples using the Taqman assay. RESULTS: Levels of the microRNA 193a-5p (MIR193A-5p) were reduced in liver tumors from all 3 mouse tumor models and in human HCC samples, compared with non-tumor liver tissues. Expression of a MIR193A-5p mimic in hepatoma cells reduced proliferation, survival, migration, and invasion and their growth as xenograft tumors in nude mice. We found nucleolar and spindle associated protein 1 (NUSAP1) to be a target of MIR193A-5p; HCC cells and tissues with low levels of MIR193A-5p had increased expression of NUSAP1. Increased levels of NUSAP1 in HCC samples correlated with shorter survival times of patients. Knockdown of NUSAP1 in Huh7 cells reduced proliferation, survival, migration, and growth as xenograft tumors in nude mice. Hydrodynamic tail-vein injections of a small hairpin RNA against NUSAP1 reduced growth of AKT1-MYC-induced tumors in mice. CONCLUSIONS: MIR193A-5p appears to prevent liver tumorigenesis by reducing levels of NUSAP1. Levels of MIR193A-5p are reduced in mouse and human HCC cells and tissues, leading to increased levels of NUSAP1, associated with shorter survival times of patients. Integrated analyses of miRNAs and mRNAs in tumors from mouse models can lead to identification of therapeutic targets in humans.

Project description:Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignant tumors worldwide, with unclear pathogenesis. Sphingomyelin phodiesterase acid-like 3A (SMPDL3A) affects cell differentiation and participates in immune regulation. However, its molecular biological function in HCC has not yet been elucidated. Methods：Data from 180 HCC patients were analyzed the relationship between the expression of SMPDL3A in liver cancer tissues and the prognosis of liver cancer patients. Crispr-Cas9 dual vector lentivirus was used to knock out SMPDL3A in HCC cell lines. The effects of SMPDL3A on cell viability were determined by CCK8 assay, clone formation experiment, cell cycle assay, cell scratch, TUNEL experiment and flow cytometry. Xenograft tumor assays in BALB/c nude mice confirmed that SMPDL3A promoted tumor growth and in vivo. Preliminary exploration of SMPDL3A interacting protein by mass spectrometry analysis and co-immunoprecipitation. Results: This study showed that the expression of SMPDL3A in HCC tissue differed from that in tumor-adjacent tissues. Moreover, the overall survival rate and tumor-free survival rate of patients with high-SMPDL3A expression were significantly lower than those with low-SMPDL3A expression. SMPDL3A expression was closely related to the level of protein induced by PIVKA-II, liver cirrhosis, tumor diameter, microvascular invasion, and Barcelona clinic liver cancer staging. Thus, SMPDL3A is an independent risk factor that affects the tumor-free survival rate and overall survival rate of HCC patients. In vitro study using Crispr-Cas9 genome editing technology revealed the knockout effect of SMPDL3A on cell proliferation, apoptosis, and migration. Cell counting kit-8 assay and clone formation experiment showed that sgSMPDL3A inhibited tumor cell proliferation and migration. Flow cytometry and TUNEL assay showed that sgSMPDL3A promoted apoptosis in tumors. Moreover, sgSMPDL3A inhibited tumor growth during subcutaneous tumor formation in nude mice. Immunohistochemistry of Ki67 and PNCA also indicated that sgSMPDL3A inhibited subcutaneous tumor proliferation in tumor-bearing nude mice. Further experiments showed that SMPDL3A interacts with the enhancer of rudimentary homolog (ERH). Conclusions: High-SMPDL3A expression was related to poor prognosis of patients with HCC. Knockout of SMPDL3A inhibited the proliferation and migration and accelerated the migration of HCC cells. SMPDL3A interacted with ERH to affect the tumorigenesis and progression of HCC.

Project description:Hepatectomy generally offers the best chance of long-term survival for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Many studies have shown that hepatectomy accelerates tumor metastasis, but the mechanism remains unclear. In this study, palliative hepatectomy was performed in an orthotopic nude mice model of HCC (MHCC97H) with high metastatic potential. Using Human Tumor Metastasis Microarray, we screened the metastasis-related genes in tumor tissues following palliative resection, and found that Metastasis suppressor 1 (MTSS1) located in the central position of gene function net of residual HCC; MTSS1 was up-regulated in residual tumor after palliative resection. Further studies found that MTSS1 enhanced the metastasis of residual HCC. In hepatitis B-related HCC patients undergone palliative hepatectomy, those with higher MTSS1 mRNA expression accompanied by the activation of matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2) in residual HCC, had earlier residual HCC detection after hepatectomy and poorer survival when compared to those with lower MTSS1 level. In different cell lines, the levels of MTSS1 mRNA increased in parallel with metastatic potential. MTSS1 down regulation via siRNA decreased MMP2 activity, reduced invasive potentials of HCC by 28.9% in vitro, and averted the deteriorated lung metastatic extent in vivo. In conclusion, the poor prognosis of hepatitis B-related HCC patients following palliative hepatectomy associates with elevated MTSS1 mRNA expression; therefore, MTSS1 may provide a new research field for HCC diagnosis and treatment. Eighteen nude mice bearing HCC xenografts were randomized into three groups 14 days after orthotopic implantation: palliative resection group (mice received partial HCC resection with preservation of 2 mm tumor pedicles), sham operation group (mice only undergone an exposure of liver but without resection), and blank control group (mice without further surgical intervention). All mice were sacrificed by cervical dislocation 14 days following palliative resection based on pre-experimental results. The first time surgically removed HCC tissues were named tumor tissues T1; the second time surgically removed HCC tissues from sham operation group were named tumor tissues T2; Tissues from blank control group were named tumor tissues T3; Tissues from palliative resection group were named tumor tissues T4 that was residual HCC. Randomly selected 5 tumor specimens from each group were used for the screen of genes related to metastasis by microarray techniques.

Project description:Mouse models of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) simulate specific subgroups of human HCC. We investigated hepatocarcinogenesis in Mdr2-KO mice, a model of inflammation-associated HCC, using gene expression profiling and immunohistochemical analyses. Gene expression profiling demonstrated that although Mdr2-KO mice differ from other published murine HCC models, they share several important deregulated pathways and many coordinately differentially expressed genes with human HCC datasets. Analysis of genome positions of differentially expressed genes in liver tumors revealed a prolonged region of down-regulated genes on murine chromosome 8 in three of the six analyzed tumor samples. This region is syntenic to human chromosomal regions that are frequently deleted in human HCC and harbor multiple tumor suppressor genes. Real-time RT-PCR analysis of 16 tumor samples confirmed down-regulation of several tumor suppressors in most tumors. We demonstrate that in the aged Mdr2-KO mice, cyclin D1 nuclear level is increased in dysplastic hepatocytes that do not form nodules; however, it is decreased in dysplastic nodules and in liver tumors. We found that this decrease is mostly at the protein, rather than the mRNA level. These findings raise the question on the role of cyclin D1 at early stages of hepatocarcinogenesis in the Mdr2-KO HCC model. Furthermore, we show that most liver tumors in Mdr2-KO mice were characterized by the absence of b-catenin activation. In conclusion, the Mdr2-KO mouse may serve as a model for b-catenin-negative subgroup of human HCCs characterized by low nuclear cyclin D1 levels in tumor cells and by down-regulation of multiple tumor suppressor genes. Experiment Overall Design: The liver RNA samples from six Mdr2-KO tumors, six non-tumorous liver tissues (four matched and two unmatched), as well as from three control heterozygous mice at 16 months of age were subjected to gene expression profiling using the genome scale Affymetrix Mouse Genome 430 2.0 Array.

Project description:Background & Aims. Resection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tumors by partial hepatectomy (PHx) is associated with promoting hepatocarcinogenesis. We have previously reported that PHx promotes hepatocarcinogenesis in the Mdr2-knockout (Mdr2-KO) mouse, a model for inflammation-mediated HCC. Now, we explored the molecular mechanisms underlying the tumor-promoting effect of PHx in these mice. Methods. Using microarrays-based techniques, we compared genomic and transcriptomic profiles of HCC tumors developing in the Mdr2-KO mice either spontaneously or following PHx. Results. PHx accelerated HCC development in these mice by four months. PHx-induced tumors had only amplifications affecting multiple chromosomes and locating mainly near the acrocentric centromeres of murine chromosomes. Four different chromosomal regions were amplified each in at least three tumors. All tumors of untreated mice had chromosomal aberrations, including both deletions and amplifications. Comparison of gene expression profiles revealed a significantly enriched expression of oncogenes, chromosomal instability markers and E2F1 targets in the post-PHx compared to spontaneous tumors. Both tumor groups shared the same frequent amplification at chromosome 18. Here, we demonstrated that one of the regulatory genes encoded by this amplified region, Crem, was over-expressed in the nuclei of murine and human HCC cells in vivo, and that it stimulated proliferation of human HCC cells in vitro. Conclusions: PHx of a chronically inflamed liver directed tumor development to a discrete pathway characterized by amplification of specific chromosomal regions and expression of specific tumor-promoting genes. Crem is a new candidate HCC oncogene frequently amplified in this model and frequently over-expressed in human HCC. To explore the mechanisms of the accelerated HCC development by PHx, we compared liver tumors and their matched non-tumor liver tissues between 9-month-old hepatectomized and 13-14-month-old untreated Mdr2-KO mice. RNA was isolated from frozen liver tissues and subjected to gene expression profiling using GeneChip Mouse Gene 1.0 ST Array

Project description:Background & Aims: Cirrhosis and chronic inflammation precede development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in approximately 80% of cases. We investigated immune-related gene expression patterns in liver tissues surrounding early-stage HCCs and chemopreventive agents that might alter these patterns to prevent liver tumorigenesis. Methods: We analyzed gene expression profiles of non-tumor liver tissues from 392 patients with early-stage HCC (training set, n=167 and validation set, n=225) and liver tissue from patients with cirrhosis without HCC (n=216, controls) to identify changes in expression of genes that regulate the immune response that could contribute to hepatocarcinogenesis. We defined 172 genes as markers for this deregulated immune response, which we called the immune-mediated cancer field (ICF). We analyzed the expression data of liver tissues from 216 patients with cirrhosis without HCC and investigated the association between this gene expression signature and development of HCC and outcomes of patients (median follow-up 10 years). Human liver tissues were also analyzed by histology. C57BL/6J mice were given a single injection of N-nitrosodiethylamine followed by weekly doses of carbon tetrachloride to induce liver fibrosis and tumorigenesis. Mice were then given orally the multiple tyrosine inhibitor nintedanib or vehicle (controls); liver tissues were collected and histology, transcriptome, and protein analyses were performed. We also analyzed transcriptomes of liver tissues collected from mice on a choline-deficient high-fat diet, which developed chronic liver inflammation and tumors, given orally aspirin and clopidogrel or the anti-inflammatory agent sulindac vs mice on a chow (control) diet. Results: We found the ICF gene expression pattern in 50% of liver tissues from patients with cirrhosis without HCC and in 60% of non-tumor liver tissues from patients with early-stage HCC. The liver tissues with the ICF gene expression pattern had 3 different features: increased numbers of effector T cells; increased expression of genes that suppress the immune response and activation of transforming growth factor beta signaling; or expression of genes that promote inflammation and activation of interferon gamma signaling. Patients with cirrhosis and liver tissues with the immunosuppressive profile (10% of cases) had a higher risk of HCC (hazard ratio, 2.41; 95% 1.21–4.80). Mice with chemically-induced fibrosis or diet-induced steatohepatitis given nintedanib or aspirin and clopidogrel downregulated the ICF gene expression pattern in liver and developed fewer and smaller tumors than mice given vehicle. Conclusions: We identified an immune-related gene expression pattern in liver tissues of patients with early-stage HCC, called the ICF, that associates with risk of HCC development in patients with cirrhosis. Administration of nintedanib or aspirin and clopidogrel to mice with chronic liver inflammation caused loss of this gene expression pattern and developed fewer and smaller liver tumors. Agents that alter immune regulatory gene expression patterns associated with carcinogenesis might be tested as chemopreventive agents in patients with cirrhosis.

Project description:Background & Aims: Cirrhosis and chronic inflammation precede development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in approximately 80% of cases. We investigated immune-related gene expression patterns in liver tissues surrounding early-stage HCCs and chemopreventive agents that might alter these patterns to prevent liver tumorigenesis. Methods: We analyzed gene expression profiles of non-tumor liver tissues from 392 patients with early-stage HCC (training set, n=167 and validation set, n=225) and liver tissue from patients with cirrhosis without HCC (n=216, controls) to identify changes in expression of genes that regulate the immune response that could contribute to hepatocarcinogenesis. We defined 172 genes as markers for this deregulated immune response, which we called the immune-mediated cancer field (ICF). We analyzed the expression data of liver tissues from 216 patients with cirrhosis without HCC and investigated the association between this gene expression signature and development of HCC and outcomes of patients (median follow-up 10 years). Human liver tissues were also analyzed by histology. C57BL/6J mice were given a single injection of N-nitrosodiethylamine followed by weekly doses of carbon tetrachloride to induce liver fibrosis and tumorigenesis. Mice were then given orally the multiple tyrosine inhibitor nintedanib or vehicle (controls); liver tissues were collected and histology, transcriptome, and protein analyses were performed. We also analyzed transcriptomes of liver tissues collected from mice on a choline-deficient high-fat diet, which developed chronic liver inflammation and tumors, given orally aspirin and clopidogrel or the anti-inflammatory agent sulindac vs mice on a chow (control) diet. Results: We found the ICF gene expression pattern in 50% of liver tissues from patients with cirrhosis without HCC and in 60% of non-tumor liver tissues from patients with early-stage HCC. The liver tissues with the ICF gene expression pattern had 3 different features: increased numbers of effector T cells; increased expression of genes that suppress the immune response and activation of transforming growth factor beta signaling; or expression of genes that promote inflammation and activation of interferon gamma signaling. Patients with cirrhosis and liver tissues with the immunosuppressive profile (10% of cases) had a higher risk of HCC (hazard ratio, 2.41; 95% 1.21–4.80). Mice with chemically-induced fibrosis or diet-induced steatohepatitis given nintedanib or aspirin and clopidogrel downregulated the ICF gene expression pattern in liver and developed fewer and smaller tumors than mice given vehicle. Conclusions: We identified an immune-related gene expression pattern in liver tissues of patients with early-stage HCC, called the ICF, that associates with risk of HCC development in patients with cirrhosis. Administration of nintedanib or aspirin and clopidogrel to mice with chronic liver inflammation caused loss of this gene expression pattern and developed fewer and smaller liver tumors. Agents that alter immune regulatory gene expression patterns associated with carcinogenesis might be tested as chemopreventive agents in patients with cirrhosis. To assess the impact of sulindac or aspirin/clopidogrel treatment on the immune-mediated cancer field, we collected samples from a choline-deficient high-fat diet fed mouse model developing NASH, HCC and fibrosis, previously published (Malehmir M et al, Nat Med, 2019) . We analyzed gene expression profiling of non-tumor liver samples from mice fed a CD-HFD for 12 weeks treated with vehicle that presented HCC and fibrosis (considered as high-risk group) (n=4); as well as mice fed a CD-HFD for 12 weeks treated with sulindac (n=10) or aspirin/clopidogrel (n=6). As controls, we analyzed samples from mice fed a chow-diet for 12 weeks (considered as healthy group) (n=5).

Project description:Patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) have an epidemiologically higher risk for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In mouse models, administration of streptozotocin (STZ) induces insulin-dependent DM by causing islet beta-cell dysfunction and also induced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after 12 weeks. We attempted to elucidate the carcinogenic mechanism in the precancerous state by using hepatic miRNAs and create precancerous marker using exosomal miRNA. Serum and liver tissues were collected from STZ mice and non-treated mice (CTL mice) at 6, 10 and 12W. Total RNA in liver and exosome were extracted. Histological examination in liver in HE stain and hepatic and exosomal miRNA analysis were serially performed. miRNA and mRNA was analyzed by next-generation sequencing (NGS). The raw data of NGS was analyzed by Principal Component analysis. No inflammation or fibrosis was found in the liver in CTL mice during the observation period. In STZ-treated mice, regeneration and inflammation of hepatocytes was found at 6W and then nodules of atypical hepatocytes were found at 10 and 12 W. Expression of let-7f-5p, miR-21a-5p, 22-3p, and 26a-5p in liver of STZ mice was significantly increased during 6-10W, and these miRNAs controlled several tumor suppressor genes as target genes. We also identified six novel miRNAs associated with precancerous status. Furthermore, miR-122-5p and miR-192-5p in exosome were significantly upregulated in STZ mice in precancerous state. The expression of miRNAs that regulate tumor suppressor genes was enhanced even before carcinogenesis, and the expression of these miRNAs was not affected by liver fibrosis. In addition, the expression pattern of miRNAs in exosome is expected to be a marker for predicting carcinogenesis. Patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) have an epidemiologically higher risk for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In mouse models, administration of streptozotocin (STZ) induces insulin-dependent DM by causing islet beta-cell dysfunction and also induced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after 12 weeks. We attempted to elucidate the carcinogenic mechanism in the precancerous state by using hepatic miRNAs and create precancerous marker using exosomal miRNA. Serum and liver tissues were collected from STZ mice and non-treated mice (CTL mice) at 6, 10 and 12W. Total RNA in liver and exosome were extracted. Histological examination in liver in HE stain and hepatic and exosomal miRNA analysis were serially performed. miRNA and mRNA was analyzed by next-generation sequencing (NGS). The raw data of NGS was analyzed by Principal Component analysis. No inflammation or fibrosis was found in the liver in CTL mice during the observation period. In STZ-treated mice, regeneration and inflammation of hepatocytes was found at 6W and then nodules of atypical hepatocytes were found at 10 and 12 W. Expression of let-7f-5p, miR-21a-5p, 22-3p, and 26a-5p in liver of STZ mice was significantly increased during 6-10W, and these miRNAs controlled several tumor suppressor genes as target genes. We also identified six novel miRNAs associated with precancerous status. Furthermore, miR-122-5p and miR-192-5p in exosome were significantly upregulated in STZ mice in precancerous state. The expression of miRNAs that regulate tumor suppressor genes was enhanced even before carcinogenesis, and the expression of these miRNAs was not affected by liver fibrosis. In addition, the expression pattern of miRNAs in exosome is expected to be a marker for predicting carcinogenesis. Patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) have an epidemiologically higher risk for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In mouse models, administration of streptozotocin (STZ) induces insulin-dependent DM by causing islet beta-cell dysfunction and also induced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after 12 weeks. We attempted to elucidate the carcinogenic mechanism in the precancerous state by using hepatic miRNAs and create precancerous marker using exosomal miRNA. Serum and liver tissues were collected from STZ mice and non-treated mice (CTL mice) at 6, 10 and 12W. Total RNA in liver and exosome were extracted. Histological examination in liver in HE stain and hepatic and exosomal miRNA analysis were serially performed. miRNA and mRNA was analyzed by next-generation sequencing (NGS). The raw data of NGS was analyzed by Principal Component analysis. No inflammation or fibrosis was found in the liver in CTL mice during the observation period. In STZ-treated mice, regeneration and inflammation of hepatocytes was found at 6W and then nodules of atypical hepatocytes were found at 10 and 12 W. Expression of let-7f-5p, miR-21a-5p, 22-3p, and 26a-5p in liver of STZ mice was significantly increased during 6-10W, and these miRNAs controlled several tumor suppressor genes as target genes. We also identified six novel miRNAs associated with precancerous status. Furthermore, miR-122-5p and miR-192-5p in exosome were significantly upregulated in STZ mice in precancerous state. The expression of miRNAs that regulate tumor suppressor genes was enhanced even before carcinogenesis, and the expression of these miRNAs was not affected by liver fibrosis. In addition, the expression pattern of miRNAs in exosome is expected to be a marker for predicting carcinogenesis.

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A comparative miRNA/mRNA analysis in distinct murine liver cancer models reveals miR-193a-5p and NUSAP1 as therapeutic targets in HCC [miRNA]

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