肿瘤抑素抗肿瘤相关肽对肝癌细胞增殖和凋亡的影响

肿瘤抑素抗肿瘤相关肽-19肽是由肿瘤抑素185~203位氨基酸组成, 具有直接抑制黑色素瘤细胞生长作用, 但其对肝癌细胞增殖和凋亡是否有影响, 对肝癌是否具有治疗作用还需进一步研究。本研究中采用基因工程技术将合成19肽基因与载体pTYB2重组后进行蛋白表达、纯化获得19肽。通过MTT法、生长曲线观察19肽对人肝癌细胞生长抑制作用; TUNEL标记法、流式细胞仪细胞周期检测法、透射电镜观察19肽对肝癌细胞凋亡的影响; 小鼠H22腹水型转移型肝癌实体瘤抑瘤实验证明其体内的抑瘤作用。MTT实验和生长曲线实验表明随着19肽浓度的增加肝癌细胞的存活率下降。在相同19肽浓度下, 随着作用时间延长存活细胞逐渐减少。电镜观察治疗组细胞出现明显凋亡, 流式细胞仪可检测到前G1峰, TUNEL标记法也证实治疗组可见明显的凋亡细胞, 体内19肽作用的小鼠H22腹水型转移型肝癌的抑瘤率达48.46%。可见, 肿瘤抑素19肽可抑制肝癌细胞生长, 促进肝癌细胞凋亡, 对肝癌具有一定的治疗作用。     

线粒体E3泛素连接酶MARCH5表达上调促进肝癌生长

目的:膜相关锌指蛋白MARCH5(membrane-associated RING-CH 5)是定位于线粒体外膜的E3泛素连接酶,在调控线粒体分裂融合相关蛋白的表达中发挥重要作用。以往研究在多种肿瘤中证实了线粒体分裂融合的异常,但目前MARCH5在肝癌中的表达与生物学作用均不清楚。本研究旨在探讨MARCH5在肝癌组织与细胞系中的表达及其在肿瘤生长中的调控作用。方法:1).利用免疫组化实验检测62对肝癌癌与癌旁组织中MARCH5表达,以明确MARCH5在肝癌中的表达是否发生了异常改变。2).利用qRT-PCR与Western blot实验检测4株肝癌细胞(SNU-354、SNU-368、HLE与HLF)与1株正常肝细胞HL7702中MARCH5表达,进一步分析MARCH5在肝癌细胞系中的表达改变。3).下调肝癌细胞中MARCH5表达后,利用EDU实验与克隆形成实验分析对肝癌细胞增殖与克隆形成能力的影响。结果:1).MARCH5在肝癌组织中表达显著高于癌旁组织。2). MARCH5在4株肝癌细胞中的表达均显著高于正常肝细胞。3).下调MARCH5表达可显著抑制肝癌细胞的增殖与克隆形成。结论:MARCH5在肝癌中表达显著上调并通过诱导增殖与克隆形成而促进肝癌的生长。     

人IL-17F对裸鼠人肝癌移植瘤生长的影响

利用RT-PCR方法从PHA活化的人外周血单个核细胞(PBMCs)中克隆hIL-17F基因,亚克隆至逆转录病毒载体pSIV-1,与辅助病毒载体pHIT456和pHIT60脂质体法共转染293T包装细胞,获得的成熟重组逆转录病毒(RV-hIL-17F)再感染SMMC-7721人肝癌细胞,并经G418筛选建立hIL-17F转基因肝癌细胞。PCR、RT-PCR和Westernblot结果表明hIL-17F基因在肝癌细胞中能成功整合、转录和表达。MTT和FCM结果表明hIL-17F不能改变SMMC-7721肝癌细胞的增殖活力和细胞周期,但ELISA结果表明其能明显下调肝癌细胞IL-6、IL-8和VEGF的表达。转基因肝癌细胞rhIL-17F表达上清具有抑制ECV304人脐静脉内皮细胞生长的作用。裸鼠皮下成瘤试验结果表明hIL-17F转基因肝癌细胞裸鼠致瘤能力明显减弱,VEGF和CD34表达降低,血管形成显著减少。hIL-17F可通过减少肿瘤血管形成显著抑制裸鼠人肝癌移植瘤的生长,为其进一步开展肿瘤血管靶向基因治疗和开发抗血管新药提供了一定的实验依据。     

Trx系统与肿瘤细胞凋亡及免疫微环境的关系研究

硫氧还蛋白(Thioredoxin,Trx)/硫氧还蛋白还原酶(Thioredoxin reductase,Trx R)系统在维持生物体的氧化还原平衡中起着重要的作用。Trx R在多种原发性肿瘤部位及患者血清中呈现高表达,与肿瘤的发生、发展进程密切相关。Trx R不仅通过MAPK、NF-κB等信号通路调控肿瘤细胞凋亡,还可以通过影响自噬介导细胞凋亡。此外,免疫细胞的Trx R系统通过调控肿瘤免疫微环境影响肿瘤的生长。因此,靶向Trx R抑制其活性为新型抗肿瘤药物的研究提供了一个新的治疗靶点和策略。本文围绕Trx R系统在肿瘤生物学进程及肿瘤微环境中的研究进展作一综述。     

DLC-1与肝癌关系研究

DLC-1基因是一种肿瘤抑制基因,位于人类染色体8p21．3-22。它是RhoA特异性GTP酶的激动蛋白,与调控细胞增殖和粘附的信号传导通路关系密切,在人类多种肿瘤中呈低表达或表达缺失。研究发现DLC-1基因在原发性肝癌(HCC)及肝癌细胞系中表达缺失,提示该基因在原发性肝癌中抑制了肝癌细胞的增殖。DLC-1表达的恢复引起了caspase-3介导的细胞凋亡,抑制肝癌细胞的生长和癌细胞的浸润,从而在肝细胞癌的转移、侵袭及肿瘤细胞的生物特性方面发挥作用。因其与肝癌发生,转移乃至复发关系密切,使其在肝癌早期发现,早期预测肝癌的转移复发及肝癌的预后方面发挥重要角色。     

苯胺嘧啶衍生物X-9通过下调整合素β1表达抑制肝细胞癌迁移侵袭

整合素在许多肿瘤细胞中高表达,并且参与肿瘤细胞的侵袭转移。在肝细胞癌中,整合素β1被报导高表达,并促进肿瘤细胞的侵袭。目前,对于整合素的表达调控癌细胞机制以及干预其表达进而抑制肿瘤细胞转移的研究较少。本研究探讨利用小分子化合物抑制整合素表达来抑制肿瘤细胞迁移和侵袭的可能。首先,对临床肝癌细胞患者癌组织和癌旁组织中的整合素β1的表达进行检测,发现其在癌组织中的表达显著高于癌旁组织（P<0.05）。对TCGA肿瘤数据库的生物信息学分析结果同样显示,整合素β1的高表达与肝癌的分期（P=0.019）和预后（P=0.013）相关。通过筛选发现,苯胺嘧啶衍生物X09可以抑制肝癌细胞中整合素β1的mRNA和蛋白质的表达（P<0.01）。细胞划痕愈合实验和细胞穿孔实验结果显示,苯胺嘧啶衍生物X-9能够抑制肝癌细胞的迁移和侵袭（P<0.01）。进一步的研究证实,在肝癌细胞中外源表达整合素β1可以逆转X-9对肝癌细胞迁移和侵袭的抑制;而在敲低整合素β1的细胞中,X-9对细胞的迁移和侵袭的抑制被消除。因此,鉴定出苯胺嘧啶衍生物X-9可以通过下调整合素β1表达,进而抑制肝癌细胞的迁移和侵袭。     

苯胺嘧啶衍生物X-9通过下调整合素β1表达抑制肝细胞癌迁移侵袭

整合素在许多肿瘤细胞中高表达,并且参与肿瘤细胞的侵袭转移。在肝细胞癌中,整合素β1被报导高表达,并促进肿瘤细胞的侵袭。目前,对于整合素的表达调控癌细胞机制以及干预其表达进而抑制肿瘤细胞转移的研究较少。本研究探讨利用小分子化合物抑制整合素表达来抑制肿瘤细胞迁移和侵袭的可能。首先,对临床肝癌细胞患者癌组织和癌旁组织中的整合素β1的表达进行检测,发现其在癌组织中的表达显著高于癌旁组织（P<0.05）。对TCGA肿瘤数据库的生物信息学分析结果同样显示,整合素β1的高表达与肝癌的分期（P=0.019）和预后（P=0.013）相关。通过筛选发现,苯胺嘧啶衍生物X09可以抑制肝癌细胞中整合素β1的mRNA和蛋白质的表达（P<0.01）。细胞划痕愈合实验和细胞穿孔实验结果显示,苯胺嘧啶衍生物X-9能够抑制肝癌细胞的迁移和侵袭（P<0.01）。进一步的研究证实,在肝癌细胞中外源表达整合素β1可以逆转X-9对肝癌细胞迁移和侵袭的抑制;而在敲低整合素β1的细胞中,X-9对细胞的迁移和侵袭的抑制被消除。因此,鉴定出苯胺嘧啶衍生物X-9可以通过下调整合素β1表达,进而抑制肝癌细胞的迁移和侵袭。     

紫杉醇对人肝癌SMMC7721细胞NDRG1表达及增值的影响

旨在探索紫杉醇对人肝癌SMMC7721细胞NDRG1表达的影响,及紫杉醇对肝癌SMMC7721细胞系增殖的抑制作用。分别提取紫杉醇处理前后SMMC7721细胞的RNA,进行逆转录-聚合酶链反应(RT-PCR),判断紫杉醇处理前后肝癌细胞中NDRG1表达的情况;采用蛋白印迹技术(Western blotting)分析紫杉醇处理前后肝癌细胞中NDRG1蛋白表达的情况;应用不同浓度紫杉醇处理肝癌细胞,以MTT法检测处理前后肝癌细胞的抑制率,流式细胞术(FCM)观察细胞周期变化的况。结果表明紫杉醇处理后的肝癌SMMC7721细胞中NDRG1表达下降,紫杉醇浓度越高,NDRG1表达水平越低,具有浓度依赖性。以MTT法观察紫杉醇对肝癌细胞的抑制作用,试验结果表明不同浓度的紫杉醇处理肝癌SMMC7721细胞后,癌细胞被明显抑制;以流式细胞术观察紫杉醇作用后肝癌SMMC7721细胞周期的变化,结果显示G2-M期细胞比例升高的程度随浓度增高而升高,细胞越来越多地被阻滞在G2-M期,不能继续分裂增殖。分化相关基因NDRG1的表达可能是肝癌的发病机制之一,紫杉醇可抑制肝癌SMMC 7721细胞中NDRG1的表达;同时紫杉醇能使肝癌SMMC7721细胞的生长阻滞在G2-M期,从而显著抑制SMMC7721细胞的增殖,并且具有剂量、时间依赖效应。     

壳寡糖对肝癌细胞SMMC-7721中Bcl-2和Caspase-3表达的影响

目的检测壳寡糖对人肝癌SMMC-7721细胞的抑制效果及对凋亡调控蛋白Bcl-2和Caspase-3的影响。方法采用噻唑蓝（MTT）法检测不同浓度壳寡糖对肝癌细胞SMMC-7721细胞增殖的抑制作用,并利用荧光Hoechst33258染色法检测细胞凋亡状况。最后通过免疫细胞化学方法研究壳寡糖对肝癌细胞SMMC-7721中Bcl-2和Caspase-3表达的影响。结果壳寡糖能够抑制SMMC-7721细胞增殖,并且促进SMMC-7721细胞的凋亡,并且壳寡糖能够上调促凋亡蛋白Caspase-3的表达和降低抑制凋亡蛋白Bcl-2的表达。结论壳寡糖对人肝癌SMMC-7721细胞的增殖有抑制作用,此作用可能是通过促进Caspase-3的表达和抑制Bcl-2的表达来实现的。     

eEF1A1通过HGF/c-MET通路调控肝癌细胞的迁移和侵袭能力

目的 探讨真核翻译延长因子1A1(eukaryotic translation elongation factor 1 α 1,eEF1A1)对肝癌细胞的侵袭、迁移和HGF/c-MET通路的影响及作用机制。方法 采用qRT-PCR和Western bolt检测肝癌细胞和组织中eEF1A1表达。构建eEF1A1敲除载体转染HLF和Alex肝癌细胞,CCK-8和Transwell实验检测细胞的增殖、侵袭和迁移能力。KM plotter分析患者的总体预后。通过eEF1A1基因敲除的转录组测序,Western bolt检测HGF、c-MET和p-c-MET蛋白的表达。裸鼠皮下成瘤实验检测eEF1A1对肝癌肿瘤的影响。结果 eEF1A1在肝癌细胞和组织中显著升高,敲低eEF1A1能抑制HCC细胞的增殖、迁移和侵袭。eEF1A1高表达与肝癌的不良预后相关。此外,敲除eEF1A1显著降低HGF和p-c-MET蛋白水平,抑制肝癌肿瘤的生长,但c-MET蛋白水平无显著差异。结论 eEF1A1通过抑制HGF/c-MET信号通路抑制肝癌细胞迁移和侵袭。     

Breast Cancer Metastasis Suppressor 1 Regulates Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cell Apoptosis via Suppressing Osteopontin Expression

Breast cancer metastasis suppressor 1 (BRMS1) was originally identified as an active metastasis suppressor in human breast cancer. Loss of BRMS1 expression correlates with tumor progression, and BRMS1 suppresses several steps required for tumor metastasis. However, the role of BRMS1 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains elusive. In this study, we found that the expression level of BRMS1 was significantly down-regulated in HCC tissues. Expression of BRMS1 in SK-Hep1 cells did not affect cell growth under normal culture conditions, but sensitized cells to apoptosis induced by serum deprivation or anoikis. Consistently, knockdown of endogenous BRMS1 expression in Hep3B cells suppressed cell apoptosis. We identified that BRMS1 suppresses osteopontin (OPN) expression in HCC cells and that there is a negative correlation between BRMS1 and OPN mRNA expression in HCC tissues. Moreover, knockdown of endogenous OPN expression reversed the anti-apoptosis effect achieved by knockdown of BRMS1. Taken together, our results show that BRMS1 sensitizes HCC cells to apoptosis through suppressing OPN expression, suggesting a potential role of BRMS1 in regulating HCC apoptosis and metastasis.     

Effects of Angiotensin II Type 2 Receptor Overexpression on the Growth of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells In Vitro and In Vivo

Increasing evidence suggests that the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) plays an important role in tumorigenesis. The interaction between Angiotensin II (AngII) and angiotensin type 1 receptor (AT1R) may have a pivotal role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and therefore, AT1R blocker and angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors may have therapeutic potential in the treatment of hepatic cancer. Although the involvement of AT1R has been well explored, the role of the angiotensin II Type 2 receptor (AT2R) in HCC progression remains poorly understood. Thus, the aim of this study was to explore the effects of AT2R overexpression on HCC cells in vitro and in mouse models of human HCC. An AT2R recombinant adenoviral vector (Ad-G-AT2R-EGFP) was transduced into HCC cell lines and orthotopic tumor grafts. The results indicate that the high dose of Ad-G-AT2R-EGFP–induced overexpression of AT2R in transduced HCC cell lines produced apoptosis. AT2R overexpression in SMMC7721 cells inhibited cell proliferation with a significant reduction of S-phase cells and an enrichment of G1-phase cells through changing expression of CDK4 and cyclinD1. The data also indicate that overexpression of AT2R led to apoptosis via cell death signaling pathway that is dependent on activation of p38 MAPK, pJNK, caspase-8 and caspase-3 and inactivation of pp42/44 MAPK (Erk1/2). Finally, we demonstrated that moderately increasing AT2R expression could increase the growth of HCC tumors and the proliferation of HCC cells in vivo. Our findings suggest that AT2R overexpression regulates proliferation of hepatocellular carcinoma cells in vitro and in vivo, and the precise mechanisms of this phenomenon are yet to be fully determined.     

miR-9 inhibits the metastatic ability of hepatocellular carcinoma via targeting beta galactoside alpha-2,6-sialyltransferase 1

Glycosylation of cell surface proteins regulates critical cellular functions, including invasion and metastasis in cancer cells. Emerging evidence has shown that microRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in regulating both the glycosylation modifications on cell surface and the progression of cancer. In this study, we investigated the role of miR-9 in α-2,6-linked sialylation and the metastasis of mouse hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). According to array-based miRNA expression profiling data of HCC cell lines Hepa1–6, Hca-P, and Hca-F with different lymphatic metastatic capacities, reverse correlation was found between miR-9 expression levels and the metastatic potential in these HCC cells. Additionally, β-galactoside α-2,6-sialyltransferase 1 (St6gal1) expression level is associated negatively with miR-9 and positively with metastatic potential. Bioinformatics analysis indicated that miR-9 could target St6gal1, which was verified by luciferase reporter assays. miR-9 overexpression reduced expression of St6gal1, which subsequently suppressed HCC cells metastatic potential. Moreover, upregulation of miR-9 could inhibit integrin-β1/FAK-mediated cell motility and migration signaling in mouse HCC cells. Together, our results suggest that miR-9 could act as a tumor suppressor and regulate mouse HCC cells migration and invasion by inhibiting the α-2,6-linked sialylation. This finding may provide insight into the relationship between abnormal miRNA expression and aberrant cell surface glycosylation during tumor lymphatic metastasis.     

Sirt3 inhibits hepatocellular carcinoma cell growth through reducing Mdm2-mediated p53 degradation

Sirt3 is a member of the mammalian sirtuin family that is localized to mitochondria and plays a role in the control of the metabolic activity. Recently, Sirt3 has been reported to be associated with the deregulating metabolism of cancer cells. However, the role of Sirt3 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has never been studied. In this study, we found that Sirt3 protein expression was downregulated in human HCC tissue. We also showed that overexpression of Sirt3 using adenovirus inhibited HCC cell growth (two cell lines: HepG2 and HuH-7 cells) and induced apoptosis, which was evidenced by the increase of LDH leakage, enhancement of TUNEL-positive cells number and promotion of AIF translocation to nuclei. Sirt3 overexpression reduced the intracellular NAD(+) level, repressed the ERK1/2 signaling pathway, and activated the Akt and JNK signaling pathways. Furthermore, Sirt3 overexpression upregulated p53 protein level through downregulating Mdm2 and thereby slowing p53 degradation. Collectively, our data suggests that Sirt3 may play an important role in HCC development and progression and may be a promising therapeutic target for HCC.     

Overexpression of RhoGDI,a novel predictor of distant metastasis,promotes cell proliferation and migration in hepatocellular carcinoma

RhoGDI (Rho GDP-dissociation inhibitor alpha, or RhoGDIα) was identified as a regulator of Rho GTPases, but its role in cancer remains controversial. In this study, increased expression of RhoGDI was detected in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell lines and tissues with highly metastatic potential. RhoGDI overexpression correlated with postoperative distant metastasis. Enforced expression of RhoGDI in HCC cells significantly enhanced cell proliferation and migration. Conversely, knockdown of RhoGDI caused an inhibition of the aggressive phenotypes of HCC cells. Furthermore, RhoGDI up-regulated Rho, but not Rac, and enhanced PI3K/AKT and MAPK pathway activity. Our findings suggest that RhoGDI overexpression is a predictor of distant metastasis and plays an important role in the progression of HCC.     

The Overexpression of IQGAP1 and β-Catenin Is Associated with Tumor Progression in Hepatocellular Carcinoma In Vitro and In Vivo

The IQ-domain GTPase-activating protein 1 (IQGAP1) is a multifunctional scaffold protein, which interacts with diverse proteins to regulate cell adhesion and cell migration. The abnormal expression of IQGAP1 widely exists in many cancers, but biological roles of IQGAP1 cooperation with its interacting proteins to involve in tumorigenesis remain to clarify. In this study, we have found that IQGAP1 interacts with β-catenin and regulates β-catenin expression in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells. The expression levels of IQGAP1 and β-catenin and their associations have a positive correlation with cell metastasis ability in several HCC cell lines. The up-regulation of IQGAP1 and β-catenin improves cell proliferation and migration ability of HCC cells, whereas the knockdown of IQGAP1 by small interfering RNA can decrease β-catenin expression, which results in the reduction of cell proliferation and migration ability in vitro. In addition, a significantly higher expression of IQGAP1 and β-catenin also usually exists in human HCC tissues, especially their overexpression is clinicopathologically associated with tumor malignancy. Generally the overexpression and interactions of IQGAP1 and β-catenin contribute to HCC progression by promoting cell proliferation and migration.     

Interplay between Trx‐1 and S100P promotes colorectal cancer cell epithelial–mesenchymal transition by up‐regulating S100A4 through AKT activation

We previously reported a novel positive feedback loop between thioredoxin‐1 (Trx‐1) and S100P, which promotes the invasion and metastasis of colorectal cancer (CRC). However, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain poorly understood. In this study, we examined the roles of Trx‐1 and S100P in CRC epithelial‐to‐mesenchymal transition (EMT) and their underlying mechanisms. We observed that knockdown of Trx‐1 or S100P in SW620 cells inhibited EMT, whereas overexpression of Trx‐1 or S100P in SW480 cells promoted EMT. Importantly, S100A4 and the phosphorylation of AKT were identified as potential downstream targets of Trx‐1 and S100P in CRC cells. Silencing S100A4 or inhibition of AKT phosphorylation eliminated S100P‐ or Trx‐1‐mediated CRC cell EMT, migration and invasion. Moreover, inhibition of AKT activity reversed S100P‐ or Trx‐1‐induced S100A4 expression. The expression of S100A4 was higher in human CRC tissues compared with their normal counterpart tissues and was significantly correlated with lymph node metastasis and poor survival. The overexpression of S100A4 protein was also positively correlated with S100P or Trx‐1 protein overexpression in our cohort of CRC tissues. In addition, overexpression of S100P reversed the Trx‐1 knockdown‐induced inhibition of S100A4 expression, EMT and migration and invasion in SW620 cells. The data suggest that interplay between Trx‐1 and S100P promoted CRC EMT as well as migration and invasion by up‐regulating S100A4 through AKT activation, thus providing further potential therapeutic targets for suppressing the EMT in metastatic CRC.