MiRNA expression profiles in the liver of a NASH-HCC model mice
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ABSTRACT: To identify miRNAs that play important roles in the liver carcinogenesis from NASH, miRNA expression profiles were examined. Some miRNAs showed aberrant expression in HCC (Hepatocellular carcinoma) from NASH (non-alcoholic steatohepatitis). These miRNAs were regulated by DNA methylation, and could be potential therapeutic targets for HCC (Hepatocellular carcinoma) from NASH (non-alcoholic steatohepatitis).
Project description:To identify miRNAs that play important roles in the liver carcinogenesis from NASH, miRNA expression profiles were examined. Some miRNAs showed aberrant expression in HCC (Hepatocellular carcinoma) from NASH (non-alcoholic steatohepatitis). These miRNAs were regulated by DNA methylation, and could be potential therapeutic targets for HCC (Hepatocellular carcinoma) from NASH (non-alcoholic steatohepatitis).
Project description:Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease/steatohepatitis (NAFLD/NASH) is a significant risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, a preclinical model of progressive NAFLD/NASH is largely lacking. Here, we report that mice with hepatocyte-specific deletion of Tid1, encoding a mitochondrial cochaperone, tended to develop NASH-dependent HCC. Mice with hepatic Tid1 deficiency showed impairing mitochondrial function and causing fatty acid metabolic dysregulation; meanwhile, sequentially developed fatty liver, NASH, and cirrhosis/HCC in a diethylnitrosamine (DEN) induced oxidative environment. The pathological signatures of human NASH, including cholesterol accumulation and activation of inflammatory and apoptotic signaling pathways, are also present in these mice. Clinically, low Tid1 expression was associated with unfavorable prognosis in patients with HCC. Empirically, hepatic Tid1 deficiency directly disrupts entire mitochondria that play a key role in the NASH-dependent HCC development. Overall, we established a new mouse model that develops NASH-dependent HCC and provides a promising approach to improve the treatment.
Project description:Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) encompasses a spectrum of disease that ranges from simple steatosis, to inflammatory form non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), cirrhosis, and up to hepatocellular carcinoma. While NASH usually takes decades to develop at a rate of one stage per seven years, in the case of post-trasplant NASH (pt-NASH) develops fibrosis much more rapidly, with almost 50% of liver transplant recipients presenting stage 3 fibrosis by 5 years post-transplant. Archived fresh-frozen transplanted liver biopsy samples from four liver biopsy samples with evidence of NASH (2 recurrent and 2 de novo), two with simple steatosis (both de novo), and five with normal histology as controls had their transcriptome sequenced in two batches for deeper coverage.
Project description:Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is now considered the most common form of chronic liver disease. It is a complex metabolic disease that silently progresses into non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). In fact, NASH is the tipping point for pericellular fibrosis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Despite being a complex metabolic disease, identification of the metabolic readout that functions in metabolic pathway perpetuation for HCC progression from NASH is still incompletely understood. With the aid of LC MS/MS this study unveiled the metabolic fingerprint of NASH and HCC-NASH patients and it illustrates a detailed map for the most predominant reprogrammed metabolic pathways that target HCC development from NASH. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24010210
Project description:Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has dismal treatment responses to systemic therapies and is caused by both, viral and non-viral etiologies, including non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) 1–5. NASH - triggered by high caloric intake and sedentary lifestyle - has become an important driver for HCC development. Immunotherapy has been recently approved for HCC but stratification of responders versus non-responders has remained an unmet need 5–8. Here, we found a progressive accumulation of non-classical activated CD8+PD-1+ T-cells in livers of NASH-affected patients and mice. PD-L1/PD-1-targeted immunotherapy of NASH-induced HCC administered either at cancer-initiation or after cancer-establishment lacked beneficial effects in mice. On the contrary, PD-1-targeted immunotherapy drove hepatic necro-inflammation and increased liver cancer incidence, tumor number, and nodule size. Anti-CD8 or anti-CD8/anti-NK1.1 treatment suppressed liver cancer development, implicating CD8+ T-cells as liver cancer drivers in the context of NASH. In line, PD-1-/- mice challenged with a NASH-inducing diet displayed early-onset of liver cancer. Mechanistically, PD-1-targeted immunotherapy triggered necro-inflammation and a pro-tumorigenic environment in the context of NASH, increasing the abundance of hepatic TOX+CXCR6+ expressing CD8+PD-1+ TNF+ T-cells. Anti-CD8/anti-PD-1 or anti-TNF/anti-PD-1, but not anti-CD4/anti-PD-1 treatment reverted anti-PD1 treatment-related increase of liver inflammation, NASH severity and tumorigenesis. Gene expression profile and increased abundance of murine hepatic CD8+PD-1+ T-cells were corroborated in human CD8+PD-1+ T cells derived from NASH patients. In a meta-analysis of clinical trials testing PD-1-targeting immune checkpoint inhibitors alone (i.e. pembrolizumab) or in combination in 1656 patients with advanced HCC, immunotherapy was not favorable over to control treatment in non-viral- when compared to viral-related HCC. Similarly, in two clinical cohorts tested, patients with NASH-driven HCC had a significantly worse overall survival with PD-1-targeted immunotherapy than HCC patients with other etiologies. Our data identify non-viral etiologies, particularly NASH, as potentially non-responsive in the context of HCC immunotherapy, providing a strong rational basis for patient stratification.
Project description:Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is characterized by a series of pathological changes that can progress from simple fatty liver disease to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). The objective of this study is to describe changes in global gene expression associated with the progression of NAFLD. This study is focused on the expression levels of genes responsible for the absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion (ADME) of drugs. Differential gene expression between three clinically defined pathological groups; normal, steatosis and NASH was analyzed. The samples were diagnosed as normal, steatotic, NASH with fatty liver (NASH fatty) and NASH without fatty liver (NASH NF). Genome-wide mRNA levels in samples of human liver tissue were assayed with Affymetrix GeneChipM-. Human 1.0ST arrays
Project description:Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), which accounts for 90% of all primary livers tumors, is the fourth most common cancer in the world. The development of HCC is a long-term and complex process, and uncovering the molecular mechanisms associated with HCC development is critical for the disease diagnosis, prevention, and treatment. Exploring these mechanisms using human HCC samples is desirable, but frequently impractical, with a number of limitations and shortcomings. The STAMTM (Stelic Institute & Co, Tokyo, Japan) mouse model of NASH-associated liver carcinogenesis is considered a useful and relevant model for investigating the molecular pathogenesis of NASH-derived HCC. This model resembles the human HCC development associated with progression from simple steatosis to NASH, fibrosis, and HCC. In the present study, by using high-throughput whole genome microarrays (SurePrint G3 Mouse Gene Expression v2, 8x60K; Agilent Technologies, Santa Clara, CA), we examined the transcriptomic profiles in the livers of STAMTM mice at different stages of liver carcinogenesis, including steatosis (6 week time interval), NASH (8 weeks), fibrotic stage (12 weeks), and in full-fledged HCC (20 weeks). The results of microarray analyses showed significant progressive changes in hepatic gene expression during the development of HCC. A total of 970, 1462, 2742, and 2857 of differentially expressed genes were identified in the livers at 6, 8, 12, and 20 weeks, respectively. Detailed analysis of these differentially expressed genes will benefit the understanding of the underlying mechanisms of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease-derived HCC. Transcriptomic profile in the liver of STAM mice at 6 weeks (steatosis; n=3), 8 weeks (steatohepatitis; n=3) 12 weeks (fibrosis; n=4) and 20 weeks (HCC-stage tumor tissue, n=4) weeks. Age-matched control samples were also analyzed.
Project description:The extent to which PTP (Protein tyrosine phosphatase) expression may be evident and contribute to the progression to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)/metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) in obesity and the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains unknown. We conducted a comprehensive analysis of the total proteome and PTP expression patterns, using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analysis of human liver samples. The cohort included liver biopsies obtained from individuals presenting varying degrees of liver disease, encompassing steatosis, Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), HCC, and control samples from individuals without evidence of liver damage.
Project description:Immune dysregulation and inflammation by hepatic-resident leukocytes is considered a key step in disease progression of Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) toward cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Here we provide a robust protocol for isolation and characterization of liver-resident immune cells from fine needle biopsies of rodent model and human. Various downstream applications can then be applied to gain an appreciation of the functional activity of liver-resident leukocyte populations.
Project description:Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) ranges from steatosis to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), that often progresses to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) through a largely undefined mechanism. NASH and HCC both depend on inflammatory signaling whose master regulator is the NFκB transcription factor family, activated by canonical and non-canonical pathways. Here, we investigated non-canonical NFκB-inducing kinase (NIK/MAP3K14) in metabolic NASH, NASH to HCC transition as well as in DEN-induced HCC. We revealed that hepatocyte-specific NIK deficiency (NIKLKO) ameliorated metabolic NASH complications and reduced hepatocarcinogenesis however, independent of its role in NFB pathway. Instead, hepatic NIK attenuated hepatoprotective JAK2/STAT5 signaling that is a prerequisite for NASH and NASH to HCC progression in mice and humans. Our data suggest NIK-mediated inhibitory JAK2 phosphorylation at serine 633 that might be amenable for future therapeutic interventions in patients.