Hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) contain a sub-population of cancer stem cells (CSCs) that are responsible for tumor relapse, metastasis, and chemoresistance. We recently showed that loss of macroH2A1, a variant of the histone H2A and an epigenetic regulator of stem-cell function, in HCC leads to CSC-like features such as resistance to chemotherapeutic agents and growth of large and relatively undifferentiated tumors in xenograft models. These HCC cells silenced for macroH2A1 also exhibited stem-like metabolic changes consistent with enhanced glycolysis. However, there is no consensus as to the metabolic characteristics of CSCs that render them adaptable to microenvironmental changes by conveniently shifting energy production source or by acquiring intermediate metabolic phenotypes. Here, we assessed long-term proliferation, energy metabolism, and central carbon metabolism in human hepatoma HepG2 cells depleted in macroH2A1. MacroH2A1-depleted HepG2 cells were insensitive to serum exhaustion and showed two distinct, but interdependent changes in glucose and lipid metabolism in CSCs: (1) massive upregulation of acetyl-coA that is transformed into enhanced lipid content and (2) increased activation of the pentose phosphate pathway, diverting glycolytic intermediates to provide precursors for nucleotide synthesis. Integration of metabolomic analyses with RNA-Seq data revealed a critical role for the Liver X Receptor pathway, whose inhibition resulted in attenuated CSCs-like features. These findings shed light on the metabolic phenotype of epigenetically modified CSC-like hepatic cells, and highlight a potential approach for selective therapeutic targeting.
- MeSH
- buňky Hep G2 MeSH
- epigeneze genetická * MeSH
- HEK293 buňky MeSH
- hepatocelulární karcinom genetika metabolismus MeSH
- histonový kód * MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- metabolismus lipidů * MeSH
- metabolismus sacharidů * MeSH
- nádorové kmenové buňky metabolismus MeSH
- nádory jater metabolismus MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has a poor outcome. Most HCCs develop in the context of liver fibrosis and cirrhosis caused by chronic inflammation. Short-term fasting approaches enhance the activity of chemotherapy in preclinical cancer models, other than HCC. Multi-tyrosine kinase inhibitor Sorafenib is the mainstay of treatment in HCC. However, its benefit is frequently short-lived. Whether fasting can alleviate liver fibrosis and whether combining fasting with Sorafenib is beneficial remains unknown. A 24 hr fasting (2% serum, 0.1% glucose)-induced changes on human hepatic stellate cells (HSC) LX-2 proliferation/viability/cell cycle were assessed by MTT and flow cytometry. Expression of lypolysaccharide (LPS)-induced activation markers (vimentin, αSMA) was evaluated by qPCR and immunoblotting. Liver fibrosis and inflammation were evaluated in a mouse model of steatohepatitis exposed to cycles of fasting, by histological and biochemical analyses. A 24 hr fasting-induced changes were also analyzed on the proliferation/viability/glucose uptake of human HCC cells exposed to Sorafenib. An expression panel of genes involved in survival, inflammation, and metabolism was examined by qPCR in HCC cells exposed to fasting and/or Sorafenib. Fasting decreased the proliferation and the activation of HSC. Repeated cycles of short term starvation were safe in mice but did not improve fibrosis. Fasting synergized with Sorafenib in hampering HCC cell growth and glucose uptake. Finally, fasting normalized the expression levels of genes which are commonly altered by Sorafenib in HCC cells. Fasting or fasting-mimicking diet diets should be evaluated in preclinical studies as a mean to potentiate the activity of Sorafenib in clinical use.
- MeSH
- buňky Hep G2 MeSH
- časové faktory MeSH
- experimentální cirhóza jater metabolismus patologie MeSH
- fenylmočovinové sloučeniny farmakologie MeSH
- glukosa metabolismus MeSH
- hepatocelulární karcinom farmakoterapie genetika metabolismus patologie MeSH
- jaterní hvězdicovité buňky účinky léků metabolismus patologie MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- lipopolysacharidy farmakologie MeSH
- myši inbrední C57BL MeSH
- nádory jater farmakoterapie genetika metabolismus patologie MeSH
- nealkoholová steatóza jater metabolismus patologie MeSH
- niacinamid analogy a deriváty farmakologie MeSH
- omezení příjmu potravy metabolismus MeSH
- proliferace buněk účinky léků MeSH
- protinádorové látky farmakologie MeSH
- regulace genové exprese u nádorů účinky léků MeSH
- vztah mezi dávkou a účinkem léčiva MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), also known as perisinusoidal cells, are pericytes found in the perisinusoidal space of the liver. HSCs are the major cell type involved in liver fibrosis, which is the formation of scar tissue in response to liver damage. When the liver is damaged, stellate cells can shift into an activated state, characterized by proliferation, contractility and chemotaxis. The activated HSCs secrete collagen scar tissue, which can lead to cirrhosis. Recent studies have shown that in vivo activation of HSCs by fibrogenic agents can eventually lead to senescence of these cells, which would contribute to reversal of fibrosis although it may also favor the insurgence of liver cancer. HSCs in their non-active form store huge amounts of retinoic acid derivatives in lipid droplets, which are progressively depleted upon cell activation in injured liver. Retinoic acid is a metabolite of vitamin A (retinol) that mediates the functions of vitamin A, generally required for growth and development. The precise function of retinoic acid and its alterations in HSCs has yet to be elucidated, and nonetheless in various cell types retinoic acid and its receptors (RAR and RXR) are known to act synergistically with peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-gamma) signaling through the activity of transcriptional heterodimers. Here, we review the recent advancements in the understanding of how retinoic acid signaling modulates the fibrogenic potential of HSCs and proposes a synergistic combined action with PPAR-gamma in the reversal of liver fibrosis.
BACKGROUND: Obesity has tremendous impact on the health systems. Its epigenetic bases are unclear. MacroH2A1 is a variant of histone H2A, present in two alternatively exon-spliced isoforms macroH2A1.1 and macroH2A1.2, regulating cell plasticity and proliferation, during pluripotency and tumorigenesis. Their role in adipose tissue plasticity is unknown. RESULTS: Here, we show evidence that macroH2A1.1 protein levels in the visceral adipose tissue of obese humans positively correlate with BMI, while macroH2A1.2 is nearly absent. We thus introduced a constitutive GFP-tagged transgene for macroH2A1.2 in mice, and we characterized their metabolic health upon being fed a standard chow diet or a high fat diet. Despite unchanged food intake, these mice exhibit lower adipose mass and improved glucose metabolism both under a chow and an obesogenic diet. In the latter regimen, transgenic mice display smaller pancreatic islets and significantly less inflammation. MacroH2A1.2 overexpression in the mouse adipose tissue induced dramatic changes in the transcript levels of key adipogenic genes; genomic analyses comparing pre-adipocytes to mature adipocytes uncovered only minor changes in macroH2A1.2 genomic distribution upon adipogenic differentiation and suggested differential cooperation with transcription factors. MacroH2A1.2 overexpression markedly inhibited adipogenesis, while overexpression of macroH2A1.1 had opposite effects. CONCLUSIONS: MacroH2A1.2 is an unprecedented chromatin component powerfully promoting metabolic health by modulating anti-adipogenic transcriptional networks in the differentiating adipose tissue. Strategies aiming at enhancing macroH2A1.2 expression might counteract excessive adiposity in humans.
- MeSH
- adipogeneze MeSH
- buněčná diferenciace MeSH
- buněčné linie MeSH
- dieta s vysokým obsahem tuků MeSH
- fenotyp MeSH
- glukózový toleranční test MeSH
- histony genetika metabolismus MeSH
- index tělesné hmotnosti MeSH
- inhibitor p21 cyklin-dependentní kinasy genetika metabolismus MeSH
- inzulin metabolismus MeSH
- játra patologie MeSH
- kůže patologie MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- metabolické inženýrství MeSH
- myši inbrední C57BL MeSH
- myši transgenní MeSH
- myši MeSH
- pankreas patologie MeSH
- tuková tkáň cytologie metabolismus MeSH
- uncoupling protein 1 genetika metabolismus MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- myši MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
