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BACKGROUND AIMS: The primary cilium, an organelle that protrudes from cell surfaces, is essential for sensing extracellular signals. With disturbed cellular communication and chronic liver pathologies, this organelle's dysfunctions have been linked to disorders, including polycystic liver disease (PLD) and Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). The goal of this study was to elucidate the relationship between primary cilia and the crucial regulator of cellular proliferation, the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling pathway, which has been associated with various clinical conditions. APPROACH RESULTS: The study identified aberrant EGFR signaling pathways in cholangiocytes lacking functional primary cilia. Using liver-specific IFT88 knockout mice, a Pkhd1 mutant rat model, and human cell lines that didn't have functional cilia. Cilia-deficient cholangiocytes showed persistent EGFR activation because of impaired receptor degradation, in contrast to their normal counterparts, where EGFR localization to the cilia promotes appropriate signaling. Using HDAC6 inhibitors to restore primary cilia accelerates EGFR degradation, thereby reducing maladaptive signaling. Importantly, experimental intervention with the HDAC6 inhibitor tubastatin A in an orthotopic rat model moved EGFR to cilia and reduced ERK phosphorylation. Concurrent administration of EGFR and HDAC6 inhibitors in cholangiocarcinoma and polycystic liver disease cells demonstrated synergistic anti-proliferative effects, which were associated with the restoration of functioning primary cilia. CONCLUSION: This study's findings shed light on ciliary function and robust EGFR signaling with slower receptor turnover. We could use therapies that restore the function of primary cilia to treat EGFR-driven diseases in PLD and CCA.
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It is well established that Cholangiocarcioma (CCA) drug resistance plays a crucial role in the spread and survival of cancer cells. The major enzyme in the nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide (NAD+)-mediated pathways, nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT), is essential for cancer cell survival and metastasis. Previous research has shown that the targeted NAMPT inhibitor FK866 reduces cancer cell viability and triggers cancer cell death; however, whether FK866 affects CCA cell survival has not been addressed before. We show herein that NAMPT is expressed in CCA cells, and FK866 suppresses the capacity of CCA cells to grow in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, by preventing NAMPT activity, FK866 significantly reduced the amount of NAD+ and adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) in HuCCT1, KMCH, and EGI cells. The present study's findings further show that FK866 causes changes in mitochondrial metabolism in CCA cells. Additionally, FK866 enhances the anticancer effects of cisplatin in vitro. Taken together, the results of the current study suggest that the NAMPT/NAD+ pathway may be a possible therapeutic target for CCA, and FK866 may be a useful medication targeting CCA in combination with cisplatin.
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Colangiocarcinoma , Cisplatino , Humanos , Cisplatino/farmacología , Nicotinamida Fosforribosiltransferasa/metabolismo , NAD/metabolismo , Proliferación Celular , Adenosina Trifosfato/metabolismoRESUMEN
Robust, tightly regulated DNA repair is critical to maintaining genome stability and preventing cancer. Eukaryotic DNA is packaged into chromatin, which has a profound, yet incompletely understood, regulatory influence on DNA repair and genome stability. The chromatin remodeler HELLS (helicase, lymphoid specific) has emerged as an important epigenetic regulator of DNA repair, genome stability, and multiple cancer-associated pathways. HELLS belongs to a subfamily of the conserved SNF2 ATP-dependent chromatin-remodeling complexes, which use energy from ATP hydrolysis to alter nucleosome structure and packaging of chromatin during the processes of DNA replication, transcription, and repair. The mouse homologue, LSH (lymphoid-specific helicase), plays an important role in the maintenance of heterochromatin and genome-wide DNA methylation, and is crucial in embryonic development, gametogenesis, and maturation of the immune system. Human HELLS is abundantly expressed in highly proliferating cells of the lymphoid tissue, skin, germ cells, and embryonic stem cells. Mutations in HELLS cause the human immunodeficiency syndrome ICF (Immunodeficiency, Centromeric instability, Facial anomalies). HELLS has been implicated in many types of cancer, including retinoblastoma, colorectal cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, and glioblastoma. Here, we review and summarize accumulating evidence highlighting important roles for HELLS in DNA repair, genome maintenance, and key pathways relevant to cancer development, progression, and treatment.
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ADN Helicasas , Glioblastoma , Síndromes de Inmunodeficiencia , Adenosina Trifosfato , Animales , Cromatina , Ensamble y Desensamble de Cromatina , ADN Helicasas/genética , ADN Helicasas/metabolismo , Reparación del ADN , Inestabilidad Genómica , Humanos , Síndromes de Inmunodeficiencia/genética , RatonesRESUMEN
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) is a complex NAD+ -dependent protein deacetylase known to act as a tumor promoter or suppressor in different cancers. Here, we describe a mechanism of SIRT1-induced destabilization of primary cilia in cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). APPROACH AND RESULTS: A significant overexpression of SIRT1 was detected in human CCA specimens and CCA cells including HuCCT1, KMCH, and WITT1 as compared with normal cholangiocytes (H69 and NHC). Small interfering RNA (siRNA)-mediated knockdown of SIRT1 in HuCCT1 cells induced cilia formation, whereas overexpression of SIRT1 in normal cholangiocytes suppressed ciliary expression. Activity of SIRT1 was regulated by presence of NAD+ in CCA cells. Inhibition of NAD -producing enzyme nicotinamide phosphoribosyl transferase increased ciliary length and frequency in CCA cells and in SIRT1-overexpressed H69 cells. Furthermore, we also noted that SIRT1 induces the proteasomal mediated degradation of ciliary proteins, including α-tubulin, ARL13B, and KIF3A. Moreover, overexpression of SIRT1 in H69 and NHC cells significantly induced cell proliferation and, conversely, SIRT1 inhibition in HuCCT1 and KMCH cells using siRNA or sirtinol reduced cell proliferation. In an orthotopic transplantation rat CCA model, the SIRT1 inhibitor sirtinol reduced tumor size and tumorigenic proteins (glioma-associated oncogene 1, phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase, and IL-6) expression. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, these results reveal the tumorigenic role of SIRT1 through modulation of primary cilia formation and provide the rationale for developing therapeutic approaches for CCA using SIRT1 as a target.
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Neoplasias de los Conductos Biliares/metabolismo , Colangiocarcinoma/metabolismo , Cilios/metabolismo , Sirtuina 1/metabolismo , Animales , Neoplasias de los Conductos Biliares/enzimología , Neoplasias de los Conductos Biliares/patología , Línea Celular Tumoral , Colangiocarcinoma/enzimología , Colangiocarcinoma/patología , Cilios/patología , Humanos , Masculino , Trasplante de Neoplasias , Ratas , Ratas Endogámicas F344RESUMEN
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Polycystic liver diseases (PLDs) are genetic disorders characterized by progressive development of symptomatic biliary cysts. Current surgical and pharmacological approaches are ineffective, and liver transplantation represents the only curative option. Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) and histone deacetylase 6 inhibitors (HDAC6is) have arisen as promising therapeutic strategies, but with partial benefits. APPROACH AND RESULTS: Here, we tested an approach based on the design, synthesis, and validation of a family of UDCA synthetic conjugates with selective HDAC6i capacity (UDCA-HDAC6i). Four UDCA-HDAC6i conjugates presented selective HDAC6i activity, UDCA-HDAC6i #1 being the most promising candidate. UDCA orientation within the UDCA-HDAC6i structure was determinant for HDAC6i activity and selectivity. Treatment of polycystic rats with UDCA-HDAC6i #1 reduced their hepatomegaly and cystogenesis, increased UDCA concentration, and inhibited HDAC6 activity in liver. In cystic cholangiocytes UDCA-HDAC6i #1 restored primary cilium length and exhibited potent antiproliferative activity. UDCA-HDAC6i #1 was actively transported into cells through BA and organic cation transporters. CONCLUSIONS: These UDCA-HDAC6i conjugates open a therapeutic avenue for PLDs.
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Apoptosis , Quistes/tratamiento farmacológico , Hepatopatías/tratamiento farmacológico , Hígado/patología , Drogas Sintéticas/farmacología , Ácido Ursodesoxicólico/farmacología , Animales , Ácidos y Sales Biliares/metabolismo , Conductos Biliares/metabolismo , Conductos Biliares/patología , Proliferación Celular/efectos de los fármacos , Quistes/metabolismo , Quistes/patología , Modelos Animales de Enfermedad , Histona Desacetilasa 6/antagonistas & inhibidores , Hígado/efectos de los fármacos , Hígado/metabolismo , Hepatopatías/metabolismo , Hepatopatías/patología , Distribución Aleatoria , Ratas , Ácido Ursodesoxicólico/uso terapéuticoRESUMEN
Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is one of the most lethal cancers, and its rate of occurrence is increasing annually. The diagnoses of CCA patients remain elusive due to the lack of early symptoms and is misdiagnosed as HCC in a considerable percentage of patients. It is crucial to explore the underlying mechanisms of CCA carcinogenesis and development to find out specific biomarkers for early diagnosis of CCA and new promising therapeutic targets. In recent times, the reprogramming of tumor cells metabolism has been recognized as a hallmark of cancer. The modification from the oxidative phosphorylation metabolic pathway to the glycolysis pathway in CCA meets the demands of cancer cell proliferation and provides a favorable environment for tumor development. The alteration of metabolic programming in cancer cells is complex and may occur via mutations and epigenetic modifications within oncogenes, tumor suppressor genes, signaling pathways, and glycolytic enzymes. Herein we review the altered metabolism in cancer and the signaling pathways involved in this phenomena as they may affect CCA development. Understanding the regulatory pathways of glucose metabolism such as Akt/mTOR, HIF1α, and cMyc in CCA may further develop our knowledge of this devastating disease and may offer relevant information in the exploration of new diagnostic biomarkers and targeted therapeutic approaches for CCA.
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Reduced ciliary expression is reported in several tumors, including cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). We previously showed primary cilia have tumor suppressor characteristics, and HDAC6 is involved in ciliary loss. However, mechanisms of ciliary disassembly are unknown. Herein, we tested the hypothesis that HDAC6-dependent autophagy of primary cilia, i.e., ciliophagy, is the main mechanism driving ciliary disassembly in CCA. Using the cancer genome atlas database, human CCA cells, and a rat orthotopic CCA model, we assessed basal and HDAC6-regulated autophagy levels. The effects of RNA-silencing or pharmacological manipulations of ciliophagy on ciliary expression were assessed. Interactions of ciliary proteins with autophagy machinery was assessed by immunoprecipitations. Cell proliferation was assessed by MTS and IncuCyte. A CCA rat model was used to assess the effects of pharmacological inhibition of ciliophagy in vivo. Autophagy is increased in human CCA, as well as in a rat orthotopic CCA model and human CCA cell lines. Autophagic flux was decreased via inhibition of HDAC6, while it was increased by its overexpression. Inhibition of autophagy and HDAC6 restores cilia and decreases cell proliferation. LC3 interacts with HDAC6 and ciliary proteins, and the autophagy cargo receptor involved in targeting ciliary components to the autophagy machinery is primarily NBR1. Treatment with chloroquine, Ricolinostat (ACY-1215), or their combination decreased tumor growth in vivo. Mice that overexpress the autophagy transcription factor TFEB show a decrease of ciliary number. These results suggest that ciliary disassembly is mediated by HDAC6-regulated autophagy, i.e., ciliophagy. Inhibition of ciliophagy may decrease cholangiocarcinoma growth and warrant further investigations as a potential therapeutic approach.NEW & NOTEWORTHY This work identifies novel targets against primary ciliary disassembly that can lead to new cholangiocarcinoma therapeutic strategies. Furthermore, ciliary loss has been described in different tumors, increasing the significance of our research.
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Colangiocarcinoma/patología , Cilios/fisiología , Histona Desacetilasa 6/metabolismo , Animales , Autofagia , Línea Celular Tumoral , Proliferación Celular , Regulación Neoplásica de la Expresión Génica , Histona Desacetilasa 6/genética , Humanos , Ácidos Hidroxámicos/farmacología , Hidroxicloroquina/farmacología , Péptidos y Proteínas de Señalización Intracelular/genética , Péptidos y Proteínas de Señalización Intracelular/metabolismo , Masculino , Ratones , Proteínas Nucleares/genética , Proteínas Nucleares/metabolismo , Pirimidinas/farmacología , RatasRESUMEN
Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a highly invasive and metastatic form of carcinoma with bleak prognosis due to limited therapies, frequent relapse, and chemotherapy resistance. There is an urgent need to identify the molecular regulators of CCA in order to develop novel therapeutics and advance diseases diagnosis. Many cellular proteins including histones may undergo a series of enzyme-mediated post-translational modifications including acetylation, methylation, phosphorylation, sumoylation, and crotonylation. Histone deacetylases (HDACs) play an important role in regulating epigenetic maintenance and modifications of their targets, which in turn exert critical impacts on chromatin structure, gene expression, and stability of proteins. As such, HDACs constitute a group of potential therapeutic targets for CCA. The aim of this review was to summarize the role that HDACs perform in regulating epigenetic changes, tumor development, and their potential as therapeutic targets for CCA.
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Carcinogénesis/patología , Colangiocarcinoma/enzimología , Colangiocarcinoma/patología , Histona Desacetilasas/metabolismo , Acetilación , Productos Biológicos/farmacología , Productos Biológicos/uso terapéutico , Carcinogénesis/efectos de los fármacos , Colangiocarcinoma/tratamiento farmacológico , Humanos , Modelos BiológicosRESUMEN
The primary cilium is an organelle that nearly all cells within the body contain. Its function is to sense the extracellular environment through its abundance of receptors and linked signaling pathways, working as an antenna. Ciliary defects lead to different pathologies. In particular, many tumors lose primary cilia, and this is linked with negative implications for the cell such as an increase in malignancy. In this work we will go through the knowledge of the role of primary cilia in normal conditions, how it is involved in diverse signaling pathways, and in disease, particularly in cancer, highlighting its tumor suppressor properties.
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Cilios/metabolismo , Líquido Extracelular/metabolismo , Neoplasias/metabolismo , Orgánulos/metabolismo , Proteínas Supresoras de Tumor/metabolismo , Animales , Cilios/genética , Genes Supresores de Tumor/fisiología , Humanos , Neoplasias/genética , Neoplasias/patología , Orgánulos/genética , Transducción de Señal/fisiología , Proteínas Supresoras de Tumor/genéticaRESUMEN
SPARC, also known as osteonectin and BM-40, is a matricellular protein with a number of biological functions. Hepatic SPARC expression is induced in response to thioacetamide, bile-duct ligation, and acute injuries such as concanavalin A and lipopolysacharide (LPS)/D-galactosamine. We have previously demonstrated that the therapeutic inhibition of SPARC or SPARC gene deletion protected mice against liver injury. We investigated the mechanisms involved in the protective effect of SPARC inhibition in mice. We performed a proteome analysis of livers from SPARC+/+ and SPARC-/- mice chronically treated with thioacetamide. Catalase activity, carbonylation levels, oxidative stress response, and mitochondrial function were studied. Genomic analysis revealed that SPARC-/- mice had an increased expression of cell proliferation genes. Proteins involved in detoxification of reactive oxygen species such as catalase, peroxirredoxine-1, and glutathione-S-transferase P1 and Mu1 were highly expressed as evidenced by proteome analysis; hepatic catalase activity was increased in SPARC-/- mice. Oxidative stress response and carbonylation levels were lower in livers from SPARC-/- mice. Hepatic mitochondria showed lower levels of nitrogen reactive species in the SPARC-/- concanavalin A-treated mice. Mitochondrial morphology was preserved, and its complex activity reduced in SPARC-/- mice. In conclusion, our data suggest that the protection associated with SPARC gene deletion may be partially due to a higher proliferative capacity of hepatocytes and an enhanced oxidative stress defense in SPARC-/- mice after liver injury.
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Cholangiocytes, the epithelial cells lining the biliary tree in the liver, express primary cilia that can detect several kinds of environmental signals and then transmit this information into the cell. We have reported that cilia are significantly reduced in cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) and that the experimental deciliation of normal cells induces a malignant-like phenotype with increased proliferation, anchorage-independent growth, invasion, and migration. Here, we tested the hypothesis that the chemosensory function of cholangiocyte primary cilia acts as a mechanism for tumor suppression. We found that in the presence of extracellular nucleotides cilia-dependent chemosensation of the nucleotides inhibited migration and invasion in normal ciliated cholangiocytes through a P2Y11 receptor and liver kinase B1 (LKB1)-phosphatase and tensin homolog-AKT-dependent mechanism. In contrast, in normal deciliated cholangiocytes and CCA cells, the nucleotides induced the opposite effects, i.e., increased migration and invasion. As activation of LKB1 through a cilia-dependent mechanism was required for the nucleotide-mediated inhibitory effects on migration and invasion, we attempted to activate LKB1 directly, independent of ciliary expression, using the compound hesperidin methyl chalcone (HMC). We found that HMC induced activation of LKB1 in both ciliated and deciliated cells in vitro, resulting in the inhibition of migration and proliferation. Furthermore, using a rat syngeneic orthotopic CCA model, we found that HMC inhibited tumor growth in vivo. Conclusion: These findings highlight the importance of the chemosensory function of primary cilia for the control of migration and invasion and suggest that, by directly activating LKB1 and bypassing the need for primary cilia, it is possible to emulate this chemosensory function in CCA cells; these data warrant further studies evaluating the possibility of using HMC as therapy for CCA.
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Neoplasias de los Conductos Biliares/etiología , Células Quimiorreceptoras/fisiología , Colangiocarcinoma/etiología , Cilios/fisiología , Quinasas de la Proteína-Quinasa Activada por el AMP , Adenosina Trifosfato/metabolismo , Adenilil Ciclasas/metabolismo , Animales , Línea Celular Tumoral , Movimiento Celular , Proteínas Quinasas Dependientes de AMP Cíclico/metabolismo , Humanos , Fosfohidrolasa PTEN/metabolismo , Proteínas Serina-Treonina Quinasas/metabolismo , Proteínas Proto-Oncogénicas c-akt/metabolismo , Ratas , Receptores Purinérgicos P2/metabolismoRESUMEN
Cholangiocytes normally express primary cilia, a multisensory organelle that detects signals from the cellular environment. Cilia are significantly reduced in cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) by a mechanism involving overexpression of histone deacetylase 6 (HDAC6). Despite HDAC6 overexpression in CCA, we found no differences in its mRNA level, suggesting a posttranscriptional regulation, possibly involving microRNAs (miRNAs). Here, we describe that at least two HDAC6-targeting miRNAs, miR-433 and miR-22, are down-regulated in CCA both in vitro and in vivo. Experimental restoration of these miRNAs in CCA cells reduced HDAC6 expression, induced ciliary restoration, and decreased the malignant phenotype. Furthermore, in contrast to the mature forms, levels of precursor forms of these miRNAs were higher in CCA compared to normal cholangiocytes and accumulated in the nuclei, suggesting a defective nuclear export. We assessed the expression of Exportin-5, the protein responsible for transporting miRNA precursors out of the nucleus, and found it to be reduced by 50% in CCA compared to normal cholangiocytes. Experimental overexpression of Exportin-5 in CCA cells restored precursor and mature forms of these miRNAs to normal levels, inducing a decrease in the expression of HDAC6 and a decrease in the malignant phenotype. Conversely, short hairpin RNA (shRNA) depletion of Exportin-5 in normal cholangiocytes resulted in increased nuclear retention of precursor miRNAs, decreased mature miRNAs, increased cell proliferation, and shorter cilia. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that down-regulated Exportin-5 impairs the nuclear export of miR-433 and miR-22 precursor forms, causing a decrease in levels of mature miR-433 and miR-22 forms, and leading to overexpression of HDAC6 and ciliary loss in CCA. (Hepatology 2018).
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Neoplasias de los Conductos Biliares/metabolismo , Colangiocarcinoma/metabolismo , Histona Desacetilasa 6/metabolismo , MicroARNs/metabolismo , Neoplasias de los Conductos Biliares/patología , Western Blotting , Línea Celular Tumoral , Proliferación Celular , Colangiocarcinoma/patología , Cilios , Técnica del Anticuerpo Fluorescente , Regulación Neoplásica de la Expresión Génica , Humanos , Hibridación Fluorescente in Situ , Carioferinas/metabolismo , Reacción en Cadena en Tiempo Real de la PolimerasaRESUMEN
Mechanisms that control progression from simple steatosis to steato-hepatitis and fibrosis in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) are unknown. SPARC, a secreted matricellular protein, is over-expressed in the liver under chronic injury. Contribution of SPARC accumulation to disease severity is largely unknown in NAFLD. We assessed the hypothesis that SPARC is increased in livers with more necrosis and inflammation and could be associated with more fibrosis. qrt-PCR, immunohistochemistry, and ELISA were employed to localize and quantify changes in SPARC in 62 morbidly obese patients with NAFLD/NASH and in a mouse model of diet-induced-NASH. Results were correlated with the severity of NAFLD/NASH. In obese patients 2 subgroups were identified with either high SPARC expression (n = 16) or low SPARC expression (n = 46) in the liver, with a cutoff of 1.2 fold expression. High expression of SPARC paralleled hepatocellular damage and increased mRNA expression of pro-fibrogenic factors in the liver. In line with these findings, in the NASH animal model SPARC knockout mice were protected from inflammatory injury, and showed less inflammation and fibrosis. Hepatic SPARC expression is associated with liver injury and fibrogenic processes in NAFLD. SPARC has potential as preventive or therapeutic target in NAFLD patients.
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Enfermedad del Hígado Graso no Alcohólico/patología , Osteonectina/análisis , Animales , Modelos Animales de Enfermedad , Ensayo de Inmunoadsorción Enzimática , Femenino , Humanos , Inmunohistoquímica , Masculino , Ratones Noqueados , Persona de Mediana Edad , Reacción en Cadena en Tiempo Real de la Polimerasa , Reacción en Cadena de la Polimerasa de Transcriptasa InversaRESUMEN
Cholangiocytes, like most cells, express primary cilia extending from their membranes. These organelles function as antennae which detect stimuli from bile and transmit the information into cells regulating several signaling pathways involved in secretion, proliferation and apoptosis. The ability of primary cilia to detect different signals is provided by ciliary associated proteins which are expressed in its membrane. Defects in the structure and/or function of these organelles lead to cholangiociliopathies that result in cholangiocyte hyperproliferation, altered fluid secretion and absorption. Since primary cilia dysfunction has been observed in several epithelial tumors, including cholangiocarcinoma (CCA), primary cilia have been proposed as tumor suppressor organelles. In addition, the loss of cilia is associated with dysregulation of several molecular pathways resulting in CCA development and progression. Thus, restoration of the primary cilia may be a potential therapeutic approach for several ciliopathies and CCA.
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Neoplasias de los Conductos Biliares/etiología , Conductos Biliares/fisiología , Colangiocarcinoma/etiología , Ciliopatías/etiología , Células Epiteliales/fisiología , Absorción Fisiológica/fisiología , Antineoplásicos/farmacología , Antineoplásicos/uso terapéutico , Apoptosis/efectos de los fármacos , Apoptosis/fisiología , Neoplasias de los Conductos Biliares/tratamiento farmacológico , Neoplasias de los Conductos Biliares/patología , Conductos Biliares/citología , Conductos Biliares/efectos de los fármacos , Colangiocarcinoma/tratamiento farmacológico , Colangiocarcinoma/patología , Cilios/efectos de los fármacos , Cilios/fisiología , Ciliopatías/tratamiento farmacológico , Ciliopatías/patología , Células Epiteliales/citología , Células Epiteliales/efectos de los fármacos , Histona Desacetilasa 6/antagonistas & inhibidores , Histona Desacetilasa 6/metabolismo , Inhibidores de Histona Desacetilasas/farmacología , Inhibidores de Histona Desacetilasas/uso terapéutico , Humanos , Transducción de Señal/efectos de los fármacos , Transducción de Señal/fisiologíaRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Cirrhosis is a major health problem worldwide and new therapies are needed. Hepatic macrophages (hMø) have a pivotal role in liver fibrosis, being able to act in both its promotion and its resolution. It is well-known that mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) can modulate the immune/inflammatory cells. However, the effects of MSCs over hMø in the context of liver fibrosis remain unclear. We previously described evidence of the antifibrotic effects of in vivo applying MSCs, which were enhanced by forced overexpression of insulin-like growth factor 1 (AdIGF-I-MSCs). The aim of this work was to analyze the effect of MSCs on hMø behavior in the context of liver fibrosis resolution. METHODS: Fibrosis was induced in BALB/c mice by chronic administration of thioacetamide (8 weeks). In vivo gene expression analyses, in vitro experiments using hMø isolated from the nonparenchymal liver cells fraction, and in vivo experiments with depletion of Mø were performed. RESULTS: One day after treatment, hMø from fibrotic livers of MSCs-treated animals showed reduced pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrogenic gene expression profiles. These shifts were more pronounced in AdIGF-I-MSCs condition. This group showed a significant upregulation in the expression of arginase-1 and a higher downregulation of iNOS expression thus suggesting decreased levels of oxidative stress. An upregulation in IGF-I and HGF expression was observed in hMø from AdIGF-I-MSCs-treated mice suggesting a restorative phenotype in these cells. Factors secreted by hMø, preconditioned with MSCs supernatant, caused a reduction in the expression levels of hepatic stellate cells pro-fibrogenic and activation markers. Interestingly, hMø depletion abrogated the therapeutic effect achieved with AdIGF-I-MSCs therapy. Expression profile analyses for cell cycle markers were performed on fibrotic livers after treatment with AdIGF-I-MSCs and showed a significant regulation in genes related to DNA synthesis and repair quality control, cell cycle progression, and DNA damage/cellular stress compatible with early induction of pro-regenerative and hepatoprotective mechanisms. Moreover, depletion of hMø abrogated such effects on the expression of the most highly regulated genes. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that AdIGF-I-MSCs are able to induce a pro-fibrotic to resolutive phenotype shift on hepatic macrophages, which is a key early event driving liver fibrosis amelioration.
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Factor I del Crecimiento Similar a la Insulina/metabolismo , Cirrosis Hepática/terapia , Macrófagos/citología , Células Madre Mesenquimatosas/citología , Células Madre Mesenquimatosas/metabolismo , Animales , Células Cultivadas , Regulación hacia Abajo/efectos de los fármacos , Expresión Génica/efectos de los fármacos , Células Estrelladas Hepáticas/efectos de los fármacos , Células Estrelladas Hepáticas/metabolismo , Células Estrelladas Hepáticas/fisiología , Factor de Crecimiento de Hepatocito/metabolismo , Hepatocitos/efectos de los fármacos , Hepatocitos/metabolismo , Hígado/efectos de los fármacos , Hígado/metabolismo , Cirrosis Hepática/metabolismo , Macrófagos/efectos de los fármacos , Macrófagos/metabolismo , Masculino , Ratones , Ratones Endogámicos BALB C , Tioacetamida/farmacología , Regulación hacia Arriba/efectos de los fármacosRESUMEN
We have previously demonstrated that a low dose of cyclophosphamide (Cy) combined with gene therapy of interleukin-12 (AdIL-12) has a synergistic, although limited, antitumoral effect in mice with colorectal carcinoma. The main mechanism involved in the efficacy of Cy+AdIL-12 was the induction of a specific immune response mediated by cytotoxic T lymphocytes. Our current aims were to evaluate the effects of 4-methylumbelliferone (4Mu), a selective inhibitor of hyaluronan (HA) synthesis, on tumor microenvironment (TME) and to investigate how 4Mu affects the therapeutic efficacy of Cy+AdIL-12. The results showed that 4Mu significantly reduced the amount of tumoral HA leading to a significant decrease in tumor interstitial pressure (TIP). As a consequence, tumor perfusion was improved allowing an increased adenoviral transgene expression. In addition, treatment with 4Mu boosted the number of cytotoxic T lymphocytes that reach the tumor after adoptive transfer resulting in a potent inhibition of tumor growth. Importantly, we observed complete tumor regression in 75% of mice when 4Mu was administrated in combination with Cy+AdIL-12. The triple combination 4Mu+Cy+AdIL-12 also induced a shift toward antiangiogenic factors production in tumor milieu. Our results showed that TME remodeling is an interesting strategy to increase the efficacy of anticancer immunotherapies based on gene and/or cell therapy.
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Neoplasias Colorrectales/inmunología , Neoplasias Colorrectales/patología , Himecromona/farmacología , Inmunoterapia , Microambiente Tumoral/efectos de los fármacos , Microambiente Tumoral/inmunología , Adenoviridae/genética , Traslado Adoptivo , Animales , Antineoplásicos Alquilantes/farmacología , Línea Celular Tumoral , Neoplasias Colorrectales/genética , Neoplasias Colorrectales/terapia , Terapia Combinada , Ciclofosfamida/farmacología , Citotoxicidad Inmunológica , Modelos Animales de Enfermedad , Expresión Génica , Genes Reporteros , Terapia Genética/métodos , Vectores Genéticos/administración & dosificación , Vectores Genéticos/genética , Inmunoterapia/métodos , Interleucina-12/genética , Interleucina-12/metabolismo , Neoplasias Hepáticas/genética , Neoplasias Hepáticas/inmunología , Neoplasias Hepáticas/secundario , Neoplasias Hepáticas/terapia , Linfocitos Infiltrantes de Tumor/inmunología , Linfocitos Infiltrantes de Tumor/metabolismo , Masculino , Ratones , Neovascularización Patológica/genética , Neovascularización Patológica/inmunología , Neovascularización Patológica/terapia , Subgrupos de Linfocitos T/inmunología , Subgrupos de Linfocitos T/metabolismo , Transducción Genética , Transgenes , Carga Tumoral/genética , Carga Tumoral/inmunologíaRESUMEN
Cirrhosis is characterized by an excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix components including hyaluronic acid (HA) and is widely considered a preneoplastic condition for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). 4-Methylumbelliferone (4MU) is an inhibitor of HA synthesis and has anticancer activity in an orthotopic HCC model with underlying fibrosis. Our aim was to explore the effects of HA inhibition by 4MU orally administered on tumor microenvironment. Hepa129 tumor cells were inoculated orthotopically in C3H/HeJ male mice with fibrosis induced by thioacetamide. Mice were orally treated with 4MU. The effects of 4MU on angiogenesis were evaluated by immunostaining of CD31 and quantification of proangiogenic factors (vascular endothelial growth factor, VEGF, interleukin-6, IL-6 and C-X-C motif chemokine 12, CXCL12). IL-6 was also quantified in Hepa129 cells in vitro after treatment with 4MU. Migration of endothelial cells and tube formation were also analyzed. As a result, 4MU treatment decreases tumor growth and increased animal survival. Systemic levels of VEGF were significantly inhibited in 4MU-treated mice. Expression of CD31 was reduced after 4MU therapy in liver parenchyma in comparison with control group. In addition, mRNA expression and protein levels of IL-6 and VEGF were inhibited both in tumor tissue and in nontumoral liver parenchyma. Interestingly, IL-6 production was dramatically reduced in Kupffer cells isolated from 4MU-treated mice, and in Hepa129 cells in vitro. Besides, 4MU was able to inhibit endothelial cell migration and tube formation. In conclusion, 4MU has antitumor activity in vivo and its mechanisms of action involve an inhibition of angiogenesis and IL-6 production. 4MU is an orally available molecule with potential for HCC treatment.
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Antineoplásicos/farmacología , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/tratamiento farmacológico , Regulación Neoplásica de la Expresión Génica , Himecromona/farmacología , Cirrosis Hepática/tratamiento farmacológico , Neoplasias Hepáticas/tratamiento farmacológico , Neovascularización Patológica/prevención & control , Administración Oral , Animales , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/genética , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/mortalidad , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/patología , Línea Celular Tumoral , Movimiento Celular/efectos de los fármacos , Quimiocina CXCL12/genética , Quimiocina CXCL12/metabolismo , Células Endoteliales/efectos de los fármacos , Células Endoteliales/metabolismo , Células Endoteliales/patología , Interleucina-6/antagonistas & inhibidores , Interleucina-6/genética , Interleucina-6/metabolismo , Macrófagos del Hígado/efectos de los fármacos , Macrófagos del Hígado/metabolismo , Macrófagos del Hígado/patología , Cirrosis Hepática/inducido químicamente , Cirrosis Hepática/genética , Cirrosis Hepática/mortalidad , Neoplasias Hepáticas/genética , Neoplasias Hepáticas/mortalidad , Neoplasias Hepáticas/patología , Masculino , Ratones , Ratones Endogámicos C3H , Molécula-1 de Adhesión Celular Endotelial de Plaqueta/genética , Molécula-1 de Adhesión Celular Endotelial de Plaqueta/metabolismo , Transducción de Señal , Análisis de Supervivencia , Tioacetamida , Factor A de Crecimiento Endotelial Vascular/antagonistas & inhibidores , Factor A de Crecimiento Endotelial Vascular/genética , Factor A de Crecimiento Endotelial Vascular/metabolismoRESUMEN
Liver cirrhosis involves chronic wound healing and fibrotic processes. Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are multipotent adult progenitor cells that are used as vehicles of therapeutic genes. Insulin growth factor like-I (IGF-I) was shown to counteract liver fibrosis. We aimed at analyzing the effect of applying IGF-I overexpressing mouse bone marrow-derived MSCs on hepatic fibrosis. Fibrosis was induced by chronic thioacetamide application or bile duct ligation. MSCs engineered to produce green fluorescent protein (GFP) (AdGFP-MSCs) or IGF-I (AdIGF-I-MSCs) were applied systemically, and changes in collagen deposition and in the expression of key pro-fibrogenic and pro-regenerative genes/proteins were assessed. In addition, immunogenicity of transduced cells was analyzed. Liver fibrosis was further ameliorated after a single-dose application of AdIGF-I-MSCs when compared with AdGFP-MSCs and/or recombinant IGF-I treatments. Interestingly, an early and transitory upregulation in IGF-I and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) mRNA expression was found in the liver of MSC-treated animals, which was more pronounced in AdIGF-I-MSCs condition. A reduction in hepatic stellate cell activation status was found after incubation with MSCs conditioned media. In addition, the AdIGF-I-MSCs cell-free supernatant induced the expression of IGF-I and HGF in primary cultured hepatocytes. From day 1 after transplantation, the proliferation marker proliferating cell nuclear antigen was upregulated in the liver of AdIGF-I-MSCs group, mainly in hepatocytes. MSCs were in vivo traced till day 14 after injection. In addition, multiple doses of Ad-IGF-I-MSCs likely suppressed antiviral immune response and it further reduced collagen deposition. Our results uncover early events that are likely involved in the anti-fibrogenic effect of genetically modified MSCs and overall would support the use of AdIGF-I-MSCs in treatment of liver fibrosis.
Asunto(s)
Terapia Genética , Factor I del Crecimiento Similar a la Insulina/genética , Cirrosis Hepática/terapia , Hígado/patología , Trasplante de Células Madre Mesenquimatosas , Células Madre Mesenquimatosas/metabolismo , Adenoviridae/genética , Animales , Proliferación Celular , Fibrosis/terapia , Células Estrelladas Hepáticas/metabolismo , Células Estrelladas Hepáticas/fisiología , Hepatocitos/metabolismo , Hepatocitos/fisiología , Factor I del Crecimiento Similar a la Insulina/metabolismo , Masculino , Células Madre Mesenquimatosas/fisiología , Ratones , Ratones Endogámicos BALB CRESUMEN
We have shown that ex vivo pre-conditioning of bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (DC) with low molecular weight hyaluronan (LMW HA) induces antitumor immunity against colorectal carcinoma (CRC) in mice. In the present study we investigated the effects of LMW HA priming on human-tumor-pulsed monocytes-derived dendritic cells (DC/TL) obtained from healthy donors and patients with CRC. LMW HA treatment resulted in an improved maturation state of DC/TL and an enhanced mixed leucocyte reaction activity in vivo. Importantly, pre-conditioning of DC/TL with LMW HA increased their ability to migrate and reduced their attraction to human tumor derived supernatants. These effects were associated with increased CCR7 expression levels in DC. Indeed, a significant increase in migratory response toward CCL21 was observed in LMW HA primed tumor-pulsed monocyte-derived dendritic cells (DC/TL/LMW HA) when compared to LWM HA untreated cells (DC/TL). Moreover, LMW HA priming modulated other mechanisms implicated in DC migration toward lymph nodes such as the metalloproteinase activity. Furthermore, it also resulted in a significant reduction in DC migratory capacity toward tumor supernatant and IL8 in vitro. Consistently, LMW HA dramatically enhanced in vivo DC recruitment to tumor-regional lymph nodes and reduced DC migration toward tumor tissue. This study shows that LMW HA--a poorly immunogenic molecule--represents a promising candidate to improve human DC maturation protocols in the context of DC-based vaccines development, due to its ability to enhance their immunogenic properties as well as their migratory capacity toward lymph nodes instead of tumors.