Immunohistochemical expression of stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) and CXCR4 ligand receptor system in hepatocellular carcinoma

Angiogenesis is an essential process for progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The alpha-chemokine stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) and its receptor CXCR4 have been recognized for their roles in regulating neoangiogenesis. The role of SDF-1 and CXCR4 in HCC progression has been little analyzed. The study aims to evaluate immunohistochemical expression of the SDF-land CXCR4 in HCC tissue and non-HCC tissue. Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue sections of 28 HCC, 7 hepatocellular adenoma (HA), 26 cirrotic nodules (CN) and 16 normal liver tissues (NLT) were immunostained for SDF-1 and CXCR4. SDF-1 and CXCR4 are detected in sinusoidal endothelial cells in HCC tissue, and their expressions are significantly higher than in non-HCC tissues. There was no significant correlation between SDF-1 expression and CXCR4 protein and the grade and stage of HCC. Overexpressions of SDF-1 and CXCR4 in sinusoidal endothelial cells in HCC suggest that the SDF-1/CXCR4 pathway plays a possible role in HCC progression through neoangiogenesis. Our data suggest that molecular strategies aimed at inhibiting the CXCR4/SDF-1 pathway might be of therapeutic use for the treatment of HCC.     

TIMP-1 activated carcinoma-associated fibroblasts inhibit tumor apoptosis by activating SDF1/CXCR4 signaling in hepatocellular carcinoma

Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1 (TIMP-1) is an endogenous inhibitor for MMPs that regulates the remodeling and turnover of the ECM during normal development and pathological conditions. Intriguingly, recent studies have shown that TIMP-1 plays a dual role in cancer progression. In this study, we found that TIMP-1 expression in HCC tissues is associated with advanced TNM stage, intrahepatic metastasis, portal vein invasion, and vasculature invasion. Notably, TIMP-1 expression in HCC tissue is significantly related to worse overall survival for patients with HCC after liver resection. Ectopic TIMP1 expression promoted the growth of HCC xenografts in nude mice. Both co-culture with Huh7 cells with a high level of TIMP-1 and TIMP1 treatment resulted in up-regulation of hallmarks of carcinoma-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) and accelerated cell proliferation, migration and invasion in immortalized liver fibroblasts (LFs) isolated from human normal liver tissue. By co-culture with CAFs, SDF-1/CXCR4/PI3K/AKT signaling was activated and apoptosis was markedly repressed with an increased Bcl-2/BAX ratio in Huh7 cells. Taken together, our observations suggest that TIMP-1 induces the trans-differentiation of LFs into CAFs, suppresses apoptosis via SDF-1/CXCR4/PI3K/AKT signaling and then promotes HCC progression. This protein may be a potential prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for HCC.     

SDF-1/CXCR7在肝细胞癌中的表达及临床意义

目的：研究趋化因子SDF-1及其受体CXCR7在肝细胞癌组织中的表达,探讨其表达水平与临床病理特征的关系。方法：采用SP免疫组织化学法检测55例肝细胞癌标本及28例正常肝组织标本中SDF-1、CXCR7的表达。结果：SDF-1、CXCR7在正常肝组织表达均阴性,癌组织中二者阳性表达率分别为63.6%和78.2%;SDF-1表达于癌细胞及间质上皮细胞,CXCR7主要表达于间质内皮细胞,SDF-1表达与门静脉癌栓有关,CXCR7表达与肝内病灶数目、门静脉癌栓有关。结论：SDF-1/CXCR7生物学轴通过促进新生血管生成,参与肝细胞癌的侵袭和转移。有望成为判断肝细胞癌侵袭性及预后的指标。     

Up-regulation of stromal cell-derived factor-1alpha and its receptor CXCR4 expression accompanied with epithelial-mesenchymal transition in human oral squamous cell carcinoma

Stromal cell-derived factor 1alpha (SDF-1alpha) and its receptor CXCR4 have been implicated in the tumorigenesis, proliferation, and lymph node metastasis of cancer. Here, we report that highly invasive squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) cells with a spindle cell morphology show a strong expression of both SDF-1alpha and CXCR4. CXCR4 expression and cell migratory activity were further up-regulated by treatment with SDF-1alpha or TGF-beta1 in these cells. When epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) was induced by Snail over-expression in SCC cells with an epithelial phenotype, an increased expression of SDF-1alpha was observed. Furthermore, SDF-1alpha and TGF-beta1 up-regulated the expression of CXCR4 and cell migratory activity in these cells. These results indicate that SDF-1alpha and CXCR4 expressions are possible markers of highly-invasive SCC and regulated by EMT.     

Chemokine receptor CXCR4 expression in hepatocellular carcinoma patients increases the risk of bone metastases and poor survival

Background  

The chemokine and bone marrow-homing receptor CXCR4 is implicated in metastases of various cancers. This study was conducted to analyze the association of CXCR4 expression with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) bone metastasis and patient survival.     

Regional expression of CXCL12/CXCR4 in liver and hepatocellular carcinoma and cell-cycle variation during in vitro differentiation.

The CXCL12 / CXCR4 system may be important in carcinoma. Expression of the alpha-chemokine SDF-1alpha (stromal cell derived factor-1alpha) / CXCL12 mRNA is reduced in many carcinomas, yet its tissue protein expression may guide metastasis. Here we first compare the mRNA and protein expression of CXCL12 and its receptor CXCR4 in human liver, hepatocellular carcinoma, and malignant cell lines, and then assess cell cycle variation in CXCR4 expression. CXCR4 mRNA was present in most normal human tissues and malignant cell lines; it was only marginally reduced in hepatomas, while CXCL12 was markedly reduced, P < 0.0001. Immuno-histochemical staining of adjacent non-malignant liver showed regional CXCR4 cytoplasmic and cell-surface staining, limited to those hepatocytes around the central vein, a distribution resembling that of CXCL12. CXCL12 protein was not present in hepatocellular carcinoma cells in vivo, nor was cytoplasmic CXCR4 staining; nuclear CXCR4 protein expression in some malignant hepatocytes and CXCR4 staining of capillary endothelial cells around tumor cells were noted. In some malignant cell lines that had no CXCL12 on northern blots CXCL12 was weakly detectable by RT-PCR or protein staining in the cytoplasm of a few cells. With a view to future manipulation of CXCL12 / CXCR4 expression and growth we noted that in HT-29 cells CXCR4 protein expression was less on confluent than on non-confluent cells and varied during the cell cycle. Higher expression was associated most closely with the percentage of cells in the S-phase and inversely with the percentage of cells in the G1-phase. Treatment of HT-29 cells with butyrate reduced CXCR4 cell surface expression and reduced the percentage of cells in S-phase. In summary, CXCL12 protein expression parallels its mRNA, being markedly reduced in malignant cell lines and hepatomas; in liver, the regional distributions of CXCL12 and cytoplasmic CXCR4 are similar; finally, in HT-29, CXCR4 expression correlates with the S-phase of the cell cycle and is reduced during butyrate-induced differentiation.     

Dissemination of hepatocellular carcinoma is mediated via chemokine receptor CXCR4

In different tumour entities, expression of the chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) has been linked to tumour dissemination and poor prognosis. Therefore, we evaluated, if the expression of CXCR4 exerts similar effects in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Expression analysis and functional assays were performed in vitro to elucidate the impact of CXCL12 on human hepatoma cells lines. In addition, expression of CXCR4 was evaluated in 39 patients with HCC semiquantitatively and correlated with both, tumour and patients characteristics. Human HCC and hepatoma cell lines displayed variable intensities of CXCR4 expression. Loss of p53 function did not impact on CXCR4 expression. Exposure to CXCL12 mediated a perinuclear translocation of CXCR4 in Huh7/Hep3B cells and increased the invasive potential of Huh7 cells. In HCC patients, CXCR4 expression significantly correlated with progressed local tumours (T-status; P=0.006), lymphatic metastasis (N-status; P=0.005) and distant dissemination (M-status; P=0.009), as well as with a decreased 3-year-survival rate (P=0.01). In summary, strong expression of CXCR4 is significantly associated with progressed hepatocellular cancer.     

CXCR4/SDF1 mediate hypoxia induced chondrosarcoma cell invasion through ERK signaling and increased MMP1 expression

Background  

Chondrosarcoma is a disease that does not respond to conventional cytotoxic chemotherapy and expression of MMP1 is a marker for a poor prognosis. The mechanism of increased MMP1 expression in chondrosarcoma is not completely known. Our goal is to identify molecular pathways that could serve as therapeutic targets. Chondrosarcoma become hypoxic as they grow, are capable of eliciting an angiogenic response, and typically metastasize to the lungs. The present study determined the effect of hypoxia and specifically HIF-1a on expression of CXCR4 and MMP1 and their role in chondrosarcoma cell invasion.     

Expression of the chemokine receptor CXCR4 in human hepatocellular carcinoma and its role in portal vein tumor thrombus

Background

This study was conducted to investigate the expression of CXCR4 in portal vein tumor thrombus (PVTT) tissue and its possible role in the invasiveness of tumor thrombus cells.

Methods

We detected differential expression of CXCR4 between PVTT and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) by an immunohistochemical assay. Lentivirus-mediated RNA interference and a migration assay were performed on human primary cells derived from PVTT to study the impact of CXCR4 on the invasiveness of HCC.

Results

The expression of CXCR4 in tumor thrombus tissue was higher than that in HCC tissue. The invasion ratio of PVTT cells was significantly decreased (P < 0.05) after being infected with a CXCR4-targeting siRNA lentivirus, indicating that downregulation of CXCR4 by lentivirus-mediated RNA interference significantly impaired the invasive potential of PVTT.

Conclusions

These results indicate that CXCR4 is an effective curative target for hepatocellular carcinomas with PVTT.     

EFNA1 ligand and its receptor EphA2: potential biomarkers for hepatocellular carcinoma

Novel biomarkers are needed for early detection and progression evaluation of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The purpose of this study was to identify useful biomolecular markers for HCC. The 26 genes that encode membrane or secretory proteins were identified from cDNA microarray data. We further examined the expression of EFNA1 and its receptor EphA2 and determined their biological implications during the development and progression of HCC. The EFNA1 mRNA was overexpressed in most HCCs as compared with its expression in corresponding nontumor tissues (36 out of 40 cases, 90%), but EphA2 expression was noted in only half of the HCC tissues (20 of 40 cases, 50%). In most of the hepatoma cell lines, the EFNA1 protein expression was positively associated with alpha‐fetoprotien (AFP) expression but inversely associated with EphA2 expression. Furthermore, EFNA1 levels were detectable in the supernatant of the cultured hepatoma cells and in the serum of patients with HCC. In contrast, EphA2 expression was prominent in highly invasive hepatoma cells, and its overexpression was significantly correlated with decreased differentiation (r = 0.0248, p < 0.010) and poor survival (p = 0.0453) for HCC patients. EFNA1 and EphA2 may be useful serum markers for the detection of HCC development and progression, respectively.     

ADAR1 mRNA在肝癌及癌旁组织的表达及意义

目的探讨ADAR1mRNA在肝细胞肝癌(HCC)及癌旁组织的表达及意义。方法采用半定量逆转录-聚合酶链反应(RT-PCR)分别检测诊断为HCC41例患者的肝癌及癌旁组织RNA编辑酶ADAR1mRNA的表达。结果所有肝癌组织RNA编辑酶ADAR1均有表达,相对表达量为3.340±0.863;所有癌旁组织有RNA编辑酶ADAR1表达,相对表达量为0.801±0.209;对照的26例正常肝组织及其他肝脏疾病标本RNA编辑酶ADAR1的相对表达量为0.880±0.226。将肝癌组织和癌旁组织的ADAR1mRNA表达量进行成组t检验,两者间存在显著性差异(t=18.30,P<0.001);肝癌组织和对照肝组织的ADAR1mRNA表达量进行成组t检验,两者间亦存在显著性差异(t=17.65,P<0.001);将癌旁组织和对照肝组织检测到的ADAR1mRNA的表达量进行成组t检验,两者间差异无统计学意义(t=1.64,P>0.10)。将从同一患者取材的肝癌组织和癌旁组织的ADAR1mRNA表达量进行配对t检验,两者间存在显著性差异(t=18.53,P<0.001)。结论ADAR1mRNA在肝癌组织的表达增高,可能在肝癌的发生机制中起一定的作用。     

趋化因子受体CXCR4在下咽鳞癌组织中的表达及其意义

背景与目的:有研究表明,趋化因子受体CXCR4及其配体SDF-1(stromal cell-derived factor1)与肿瘤的增殖、分化和转移等恶性表现密切相关.本研究探讨趋化因子受体CXCR4在下咽鳞状细胞癌(下咽鳞癌)组织中的表达情况及其与下咽鳞癌各临床病理资料的关系,为临床治疗提供理论基础.方法:下咽鳞癌原发灶组织标本43例,其中淋巴结阳性34例,淋巴结阴性9例,通过免疫组化技术检测CXCR4表达,并取相应27例正常癌旁下咽部组织与原发灶作为对照,探讨其与下咽鳞癌的关系.结果:下咽鳞癌原发灶及正常下咽部对照组织CXCR4阳性表达率分别为95.3%和22.2%(P<0.01).淋巴结阳性转移灶CXCR4表达率(82.4%)显著高于阴性淋巴结(22.2%)(P<0.01).随着病理分化程度的降低,CXCR4阳性表达率增加(P<0.05).结论:CXER4在下咽鳞癌组织呈高表达,其表达水平与肿瘤T分期、有无淋巴结转移、病理分级有关,对评估下咽癌的生物学行为有意义.     

Reduced expression of cenp-e in human hepatocellular carcinoma

Background

CENP-E, one of spindle checkpoint proteins, plays a crucial role in the function of spindle checkpoint. Once CENP-E expression was interrupted, the chromosomes can not separate procedurally, and may result in aneuploidy which is a hallmark of most solid cancers, such as hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We investigate the expression of CENP-E in human hepatocellular carcinoma,. and analyze the effect of low CENP-E expression on chromosome separation in normal liver cell line (LO2).

Methods

We determined its levels in HCC and para-cancerous tissues, human hepatocellular carcinoma-derived cell line (HepG2) and LO2 cell line using real time quantitative PCR (QPCR) and Western blot. Further to know whether reduction in CENP-E expression impairs chromosomes separation in LO2 cells. we knocked down CENP-E using shRNA expressing vector and then count the aneuploid in LO2 cells using chromosomal counts assay.

Results

We found that both CENP-E mRNA and protein levels were significantly reduced in HCC tissues and HepG2 cells compared with para-cancerous tissues and LO2 cells, respectively. A significantly-increased proportion of aneuploid in these down-knocked LO2 cells compared with those treated with control shRNA vector.

Conclusions

Together with other results, these results reveal that CENP-E expression was reduced in human HCC tissue, and low CENP-E expression result in aneuploidy in LO2 cells.     

Expression of interferon alpha/beta receptor in human hepatocellular carcinoma

Interferon-alpha (IFNalpha) plays a crucial role in the antiproliferation and immunoregulatory activity through the specific cell surface receptor, interferon-alpha/beta receptor (IFNalpha/betaR). We examined the immunohistochemical expression of IFNalpha/betaR in 91 hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), HCV-related chronic hepatitis (n=38) and cirrhosis (n=53), dysplastic nodules (n=5), and normal liver (n=9). The level of IFNalpha/betaR increased in chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis compared with normal liver. All the dysplastic nodules showed moderate or high expression. In HCCs, 26% (24/91) of patients showed high IFNalpha/betaR expression while the remaining 38% (35/91) showed moderate, and 35% (32/91) no or faint expression. Clinicopathological survey demonstrated a significant correlation between IFNalpha/betaR expression and differentiation of carcinoma (P=0.0008) although there was no correlation between IFNalpha/betaR expression in HCC and survival or disease-free survival. Thus, IFNalpha/betaR was expressed not only in chronic hepatitis or liver cirrhosis but in HCC and its expression was significantly correlated with tissue differentiation of carcinoma.     

Association of genetic polymorphisms of CXCL12/SDF1 gene and its receptor, CXCR4, to the susceptibility and prognosis of non-small cell lung cancer

Background

The aim of this study was to evaluate the relations of chemokine CXCL12, previously known as stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF1), and its receptor, CXCR4, gene variants on non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) risk and disease severity.

Methods

Through a case-control study design, genomic DNA samples of 247 NSCLC patients and 328 age and sex-matched controls were subjected to polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. The validity of this technique was proven by direct sequencing of amplified products. Statistical analyses were conducted to explore the contribution of polymorphism of the CXCL12/SDF1 gene and CXCR4, in the susceptibility to and prognosis of NSCLC.

Results

Overall, the genotype frequencies of CXCL12/SDF1 gene and CXCR4, were significantly different between lung cancer patients and controls (p < 0.0001), and also different between patients with lung cancers of various stages (p < 0.0001). Logistic regression analysis revealed that higher odds ratios (ORs) for lung cancer were seen for individuals with CXCL12/SDF1 AA (an OR of 1.95, 95% CI 1.08-3.50, p = 0.018), or CXCR4 TT (an OR of 4.71, 95% CI 1.99-11.2, p < 0.0001), and for individuals with both CXCL12/SDF1 AA and CXCR4 TT genotypes (an OR of 12.4, 95% CI 1.56-98.3, p = 0.002). The patients carrying a homologous AA genotype at CXCL12/SDF1, or a homologous TT genotype at CXCR4, had a tendency to advanced disease and toward poorer prognoses compared with other patients.

Conclusion

A significant association between the polymorphisms of CXCL12/SDF1 and CXCR4, and the susceptibility to and prognosis of NSCLC was demonstrated.     

OCT4在肝细胞癌中的表达及其临床意义

背景与目的:近年关于肝癌干细胞问题备受关注,已发现部分干细胞标志物在肝细胞癌中表达并与预后有关,其中OCT4基因是POU转录因子的重要组员,是维持胚胎干细胞自我更新能力和分化潜能的关键因子。本研究旨在检测OCT4A在肝细胞癌中的表达情况,并探讨其与病理因素和预后的关系。方法:用半定量RT-PCR检测5株人肝癌细胞系和1株永生化肝细胞系,以及107例肝细胞癌组织、相应的癌旁肝组织和20例正常无肝硬化肝组织中OCT4A mRNA的表达,并结合肝癌临床病理因素及预后进行分析。结果:OCT4A mRNA在人肝癌细胞系SMMC-7721、BEL-7402、Hep-G2、MHCC-97L、MHCC-97H中均表达,而在永生化肝细胞系L-02中无表达。OCT4A mRNA在肝癌组织中表达率为72.0%,明显高于癌旁肝组织的30.8%(P<0.001),在正常无肝硬化肝组织中无表达。肝癌组织中OCT4A mRNA的表达与肿瘤大小、血管侵犯及TNM分期有关(P<0.05)。OCT4A mRNA阳性肝癌患者及阴性患者的3年总生存率分别为48.0%和83.7%,3年无瘤生存率分别为34.1%和58.0%,差异均有统计学意义(P<0...     

Involvement of SDF-1alpha/CXCR4 axis in the enhanced peritoneal metastasis of epithelial ovarian carcinoma

Epithelial ovarian carcinoma (EOC) spreads by implantation of tumor cells onto the human peritoneal mesothelial cells (HPMCs) lining the peritoneal cavity. The aim of this study was to determine whether the stromal cell-derived factor-1alpha (SDF-1alpha)/CXCR4 axis is involved in the interaction of EOC cells with HPMCs in peritoneal metastasis. Clinically, we first evaluated CXCR4 expression in sections from 36 primary EOCs using immunohistochemistry. We next examined whether SDF-1alpha played roles in EOC progression, including in proliferation, cell motility, attachment to HPMCs, and the in vivo development of peritoneal metastasis through CXCR4. Of the 36 carcinomas, 16 cases (44.4%) were positive for CXCR4 immunoexpression. Positive CXCR4 expression significantly predicted poorer overall survival compared with negative expression (p = 0.0069). We found CXCR4 expression in both EOC cells and HPMCs. In contrast, the level of production of SDF-1alpha by HPMCs was higher than that by various EOC cells. Functionally, SDF-1alpha induced enhanced attachment between ES-2 cells and HPMCs or extracellular matrix components. The enhancement of adhesion potential by SDF-1alpha was inhibited by AMD3100, a CXCR4 antagonist, and by phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase and p44/42 inhibitors. Furthermore, intraperitoneal treatment with AMD3100 resulted in reduced dissemination in nude mice inoculated with ES-2 cells. The present results suggest that there may be a link between the SDF-1alpha/CXCR4 axis and enhanced intraperitoneal dissemination of EOC and that CXCR4 may be a novel target for the treatment of EOC.