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| 2. |
- Bellomo, Claudia, et al.
(författare)
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Snail mediates crosstalk between TGFβ and LXRα in hepatocellular carcinoma
- 2018
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Ingår i: Cell Death and Differentiation. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1350-9047 .- 1476-5403. ; 25:5, s. 885-903
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Understanding the complexity of changes in differentiation and cell survival in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is essential for the design of new diagnostic tools and therapeutic modalities. In this context, we have analyzed the crosstalk between transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) and liver X receptor α (LXRα) pathways. TGFβ is known to promote cytostatic and pro-apoptotic responses in HCC, and to facilitate mesenchymal differentiation. We here demonstrate that stimulation of the nuclear LXRα receptor system by physiological and clinically useful agonists controls the HCC response to TGFβ. Specifically, LXRα activation antagonizes the mesenchymal, reactive oxygen species and pro-apoptotic responses to TGFβ and the mesenchymal transcription factor Snail mediates this crosstalk. In contrast, LXRα activation and TGFβ cooperate in enforcing cytostasis in HCC, which preserves their epithelial features. LXRα influences Snail expression transcriptionally, acting on the Snail promoter. These findings propose that clinically used LXR agonists may find further application to the treatment of aggressive, mesenchymal HCCs, whose progression is chronically dependent on autocrine or paracrine TGFβ.
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| 3. |
- Bellomo, Claudia, et al.
(författare)
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Transforming growth factor beta as regulator of cancer stemness and metastasis
- 2016
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Ingår i: British Journal of Cancer. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0007-0920 .- 1532-1827. ; 115:7, s. 761-769
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Key elements of cancer progression towards metastasis are the biological actions of cancer stem cells and stromal cells in the tumour microenvironment. Cross-communication between tumour and stromal cells is mediated by secreted cytokines, one of which, the transforming growth factor beta (TGF beta), regulates essentially every cell within the malignant tissue. In this article, we focus on the actions of TGF beta on cancer stem cells, cancer-associated fibroblasts and immune cells that assist the overall process of metastatic dissemination. We aim at illustrating intricate connections made by various cells in the tumour tissue and which depend on the action of TGF beta.
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| 4. |
- Bertran, Esther, et al.
(författare)
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Overactivation of the TGF-β pathway confers a mesenchymal-like phenotype and CXCR4-dependent migratory properties to liver tumor cells
- 2013
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Ingår i: Hepatology. - : Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health). - 0270-9139 .- 1527-3350. ; 58:6, s. 2032-44
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- UNLABELLED: Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) is an important regulatory suppressor factor in hepatocytes. However, liver tumor cells develop mechanisms to overcome its suppressor effects and respond to this cytokine by inducing other processes, such as the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), which contributes to tumor progression and dissemination. Recent studies have placed chemokines and their receptors at the center not only of physiological cell migration but also of pathological processes, such as metastasis in cancer. In particular, CXCR4 and its ligand, stromal cell-derived factor 1α (SDF-1α) / chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 12 (CXCL12) have been revealed as regulatory molecules involved in the spreading and progression of a variety of tumors. Here we show that autocrine stimulation of TGF-β in human liver tumor cells correlates with a mesenchymal-like phenotype, resistance to TGF-β-induced suppressor effects, and high expression of CXCR4, which is required for TGF-β-induced cell migration. Silencing of the TGF-β receptor1 (TGFBR1), or its specific inhibition, recovered the epithelial phenotype and attenuated CXCR4 expression, inhibiting cell migratory capacity. In an experimental mouse model of hepatocarcinogenesis (diethylnitrosamine-induced), tumors showed increased activation of the TGF-β pathway and enhanced CXCR4 levels. In human hepatocellular carcinoma tumors, high levels of CXCR4 always correlated with activation of the TGF-β pathway, a less differentiated phenotype, and a cirrhotic background. CXCR4 concentrated at the tumor border and perivascular areas, suggesting its potential involvement in tumor cell dissemination.CONCLUSION: A crosstalk exists among the TGF-β and CXCR4 pathways in liver tumors, reflecting a novel molecular mechanism that explains the protumorigenic effects of TGF-β and opens new perspectives for tumor therapy.
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| 5. |
- Bertran, Esther, et al.
(författare)
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Role of CXCR4/SDF-1 alpha in the migratory phenotype of hepatoma cells that have undergone epithelial-mesenchymal transition in response to the transforming growth factor-beta.
- 2009
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Ingår i: Cellular Signalling. - : Elsevier BV. - 0898-6568 .- 1873-3913. ; 21:11, s. 1595-1606
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Treatment of FaO rat hepatoma cells with TGF-beta selects cells that survive to its apoptotic effect and undergo epithelial-mesenchymal transitions (EMT). We have established a cell line (T beta T-FaO, from TGF-beta-treated FaO) that shows a mesenchymal, de-differentiated, phenotype in the presence of TGF-beta and is refractory to its suppressor effects. In the absence of this cytokine, cells revert to an epithelial phenotype in 3-4 weeks and recover the response to TGF-beta. T beta T-FaO show higher capacity to migrate than that observed in the parental FaO cells. We found that FaO cells express low levels of CXCR4 and do not respond to SDF-1 alpha. However, TGF-beta up-regulates CXCR4, through a NF kappaB-dependent mechanism, and T beta T-FaO cells show elevated levels of CXCR4, which is located in the presumptive migration front. A specific CXCR4 antagonist (AMD3100) attenuates the migratory capacity of T beta T-FaO cells on collagen gels. Extracellular SDF-1 alpha activates the ERKs pathway in T beta T-FaO, but not in FaO cells, increasing cell scattering and protecting cells from apoptosis induced by serum deprivation. Targeted knock-down of CXCR4 with specific siRNA blocks the T beta T-FaO response to SDF-1 alpha. Thus, the SDF-1/CXCR4 axis might play an important role in mediating cell migration and survival after a TGF-beta-induced EMT in hepatoma cells.
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| 6. |
- Caja, Laia, et al.
(författare)
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Context-dependent action of transforming growth factor β family members on normal and cancer stem cells
- 2012
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Ingår i: Current pharmaceutical design. - : Bentham Science Publishers Ltd.. - 1873-4286 .- 1381-6128. ; 18:27, s. 4072-4086
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) family embraces many growth factors including the Activins and bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs). The pathways mediated by these growth factors are implicated in many fundamental biological processes such as early embryonic development, organ morphogenesis and adult tissue homeostasis and in a large number of pathologies including cancer. The action of these pathways is often contextual, which means that different cell types present different physiological responses to these ligands or that the response of one cell type to a certain ligand differs depending on the presence of other signaling proteins that stimulate the target cell together with TGFβ/BMP. The latter usually reflects developmental stage or progression to a specific pathological stage. Not only diverse growth factors and cytokines can influence the response of tissues to TGFβ/BMP, but a single cell type may also show drastically different physiological outcomes to TGFβ or Activin signaling as compared to BMP signaling. This review describes differential physiological outcomes of TGFβ and BMP signaling in normal embryonic or adult stem cells and eventually in cancer stem cells and the process of epithelial-mesenchymal transition. We also summarize evidence on the mechanistic antagonism between TGFβ and BMP signaling as established in vascular differentiation and the progression of tissue fibrosis and cancer. The article ends by discussing possible advantages that the acquired knowledge of these signaling mechanisms offers to new regimes of cancer therapy and the ever-lasting problem of drug resistance elicited by tumor initiating cells.
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| 7. |
- Caja, Laia, et al.
(författare)
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Differential intracellular signalling induced by TGF-beta in rat adult hepatocytes and hepatoma cells : implications in liver carcinogenesis.
- 2007
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Ingår i: Cellular Signalling. - : Elsevier BV. - 0898-6568 .- 1873-3913. ; 19:4, s. 683-94
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) regulates hepatocyte growth, inhibiting proliferation and inducing apoptosis. Indeed, escaping from the TGF-beta suppressor actions might be a prerequisite for liver tumour progression. In this work we show that TGF-beta plays a dual role in regulating apoptosis in FaO rat hepatoma cells, since, in addition to its pro-apoptotic effect, TGF-beta also activates survival signals, such as AKT, the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) being required for its activation. TGF-beta induces the expression of the EGFR ligands transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha) and heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor (HB-EGF) and induces intracellular re-localization of the EGFR. Cells that overcome the apoptotic effects of TGF-beta undergo morphological changes reminiscent of an epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process. In contrast, TGF-beta does not activate AKT in adult hepatocytes, which correlates with lack of EGFR transactivation and no response to EGFR inhibitors. Although TGF-beta induces TGF-alpha and HB-EGF in adult hepatocytes, these cells show very low expression of TACE/ADAM 17 (TNF-alpha converting enzyme), which is required for EGFR ligand proteolysis and activation. Furthermore, adult hepatocytes do not undergo EMT processes in response to TGF-beta, which might be due, at least in part, to the fact that F-actin re-organization induced by TGF-beta in FaO cells require the EGFR pathway. Finally, results indicate that EGFR transactivation does not block TGF-beta-induced cell cycle arrest in FaO cells, but must be interfering with the pro-apoptotic signalling. In conclusion, TGF-beta is a suppressor factor for adult quiescent hepatocytes, but not for hepatoma cells, where it plays a dual role, both suppressing and promoting carcinogenesis.
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| 8. |
- Caja, Laia, et al.
(författare)
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Dissecting the effect of targeting the epidermal growth factor receptor on TGF-β-induced-apoptosis in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells.
- 2011
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Ingår i: Journal of Hepatology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0168-8278 .- 1600-0641. ; 55:2, s. 351-358
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND & AIMS: Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) induces apoptosis in hepatocytes, a process that is inhibited by the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) pathway. The aim of this work was to ablate EGFR in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells to understand its role in impairing TGF-β-induced cell death.METHODS: Response to TGF-β in terms of apoptosis was analyzed in different HCC cell lines and the effect of canceling EGFR expression was evaluated.RESULTS: TGF-β induces apoptosis in some HCC cells (such as Hep3B, PLC/PRF/5, Huh7, or SNU449), but it also mediates survival signals, coincident with the up-regulation of EGFR ligands. Inhibition of the EGFR, either by targeted knock-down with specific siRNA or by pharmacological inhibition, significantly enhances apoptotic response. TGF-β treatment in EGFR targeted knock-down cells correlates with higher levels of the NADPH oxidase NOX4 and changes in the expression profile of BCL-2 and IAP families. However, other HCC cells, such as HepG2, which show over activation of the Ras/ERKs pathway, SK-Hep1, with an endothelial phenotype, or SNU398, where the TGF-β-Smad signaling is altered, show apoptosis resistance that is not restored through EGFR blockade.CONCLUSIONS: The inhibition of EGFR in HCC may enhance TGF-β-induced pro-apoptotic signaling. However, this effect may only concern those tumors with an epithelial phenotype which do not bear alterations in TGF-β signaling nor exhibit an over-activation of the survival pathways downstream of the EGFR.
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| 9. |
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| 10. |
- Caja, Laia, et al.
(författare)
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Overactivation of the MEK/ERK pathway in liver tumor cells confers resistance to TGF-{beta}-induced cell death through impairing up-regulation of the NADPH oxidase NOX4.
- 2009
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Ingår i: Cancer Research. - 0008-5472 .- 1538-7445. ; 69:19, s. 7595-7602
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) induces apoptosis in hepatocytes, being considered a liver tumor suppressor. However, many human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells escape from its proapoptotic effects, gaining response to this cytokine in terms of malignancy. We have recently reported that the apoptosis induced by TGF-beta in hepatocytes requires up-regulation of the NADPH oxidase NOX4, which mediates reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. TGF-beta-induced NOX4 expression is inhibited by antiapoptotic signals, such as the phosphatydilinositol-3-phosphate kinase or the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathways. The aim of the present work was to analyze whether resistance to TGF-beta-induced apoptosis in HCC cells is related to the impairment of NOX4 up-regulation due to overactivation of survival signals. Results indicate that inhibition of the MAPK/ERK kinase (MEK)/ERK pathway in HepG2 cells, which are refractory to the proapoptotic effects of TGF-beta, sensitizes them to cell death through a mitochondrial-dependent mechanism, coincident with increased levels of BIM and BMF, decreased levels of BCL-XL and MCL1, and BAX/BAK activation. Regulation of BMF, BCL-XL, and MCL1 occurs at the mRNA level, whereas BIM regulation occurs post-transcriptionally. ROS production and glutathione depletion are only observed in cells treated with TGF-beta and PD98059, which correlates with NOX4 up-regulation. Targeting knockdown of NOX4 impairs ROS increase and all the mitochondrial-dependent apoptotic features by a mechanism that is upstream from the regulation of BIM, BMF, BCL-XL, and MCL1 levels. In conclusion, overactivation of the MEK/ERK pathway in liver tumor cells confers resistance to TGF-beta-induced cell death through impairing NOX4 up-regulation, which is required for an efficient mitochondrial-dependent apoptosis.
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