Hepatic Cell News Volume 1.34 | Sep 22 2017

TOP STORY

Induction of Cancer Cell Stemness by Depletion of Macrohistone H2A1 in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Researchers focused on the role played by the histone variant macroH2A1 as a potential epigenetic factor promoting cancer stem cell differentiation. MacroH2A1-depleted hepatocellular carcinoma cells also exhibited reduced proliferation, resistance to chemotherapeutic agents, and stem-like metabolic changes consistent with enhanced hypoxia responses and increased glycolysis. [Hepatology] Abstract

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Genistein Suppresses Aerobic Glycolysis and Induces Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cell Death

Cell viability, apoptosis rate, lactate production, and glucose uptake were measured in hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines with genistein incubation. Lentivirus-expressed glucose transporter 1 or/and hexokinase 2 and siRNA of hypoxia-inducible factor 1 α were used to test the direct target of genistein. [Br J Cancer] Abstract

Tumor Necrosis Factor-Inducible Gene 6 Protein Ameliorates Chronic Liver Damage by Promoting Autophagy Formation in Mice

The authors investigated whether Tumor necrosis factor-inducible gene 6 protein (TSG-6) promoted liver regeneration by inducing autophagic clearance in damaged livers. TSG-6 blocked both tunicamycin- and palmitate-induced apoptosis of hepatocytes and increased their viability by inducing autophagy formation in these cells. [Exp Mol Med] Full Article

Lectin BS-I Inhibits Cell Migration and Invasion via AKT/GSK-3β/β-Catenin Pathway in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Researchers identified lectin from Bandeiraea simplicifolia seeds (BS-I) binds to metastasis-associated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell surface glycans by a lectin microarray and inhibits HCC cell migration and invasion through downregulating the matrix metalloproteinase 2, matrix metalloproteinase 9 and urokinase-type plasminogen activator production. [J Cell Mol Med] Full Article

The In Vivo Antitumor Effects of Type I-Interferon Against Hepatocellular Carcinoma: The Suppression of Tumor Cell Growth and Angiogenesis

Investigators examined the antitumor effects of type I-interferon (IFN) combined with sorafenib. Human IFN significantly inhibited the proliferation of human hepatocellular carcinoma Hep3B cells and the tube formation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells in vitro. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Quantitative Proteomics Reveals the Regulatory Networks of Circular RNA CDR1as in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells

Scientists explored the functions of cerebellar-degeneration-related protein 1 antisense RNAs (CDR1as) and searched for CDR1as-regulated proteins in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells. A quantitative proteomics strategy was employed to globally identify CDR1as-regulated proteins in HCC cells. [J Proteome Res] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

Long Non-Coding RNA 657 Suppresses Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cell Growth by Acting as a Molecular Sponge of MiR-106a-5p to Regulate PTEN Expression

The expression levels of LINC00657 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissues and cell lines were determined by quantitative real-time PCR. CCK-8 assay, cell colony formation assay, cell cycle analysis, Transwell assay were performed to determine whether LINC00657 could affect HCC progression. [Int J Biochem Cell Biol] Abstract

Omega-3 PUFA Ameliorates Hyperhomocysteinemia-Induced Hepatic Steatosis in Mice by Inhibiting Hepatic Ceramide Synthesis

The authors applied a metabolomic approach to investigate the changes in the metabolite profile due to hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy)-induced hepatic steatosis and the effects of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) supplementation in mice. Compared with control mice, HHcy mice exhibited hepatic steatosis with a notable increase in ceramide-related metabolites and subsequent upregulation of ceramide synthesis genes such as Sptlc3, Degs2, Cer4 and Smpd4. [Acta Pharmacol Sin] Full Article

Activation of Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase/AKT/Snail Signaling Pathway Contributes to Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition-Induced Multi-Drug Resistance to Sorafenib in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells

After long-term exposure to sorafenib, hepatocellular carcinoma cells exhibited epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) and resistance to sorafenib. Researchers examined the underlying mechanisms and sought potential strategies to reverse this resistance and the progression to EMT. Sorafenib-resistant cells showed increased metastatic and invasive ability, with a higher expression of P-glycoprotein, compared with the parental cells. [PLoS One] Full Article

Liver Cancer: Molecular Characterization, Clonal Evolution and Cancer Stem Cells

Hepatocellular carcinoma is a heterogeneous disease which usually develops within liver cirrhosis related to various etiologies: hepatitis B virus infection, hepatitis C virus, chronic alcohol abuse, or metabolic syndrome. The patterns of genomic alterations observed in these tumors were recently identified and were instrumental for the identification of potential targeted therapies that could improve patient care. [Cancers (Basel)] Full Article

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£2 Million Award for Cancer Researcher

A University of Dundee scientist has been awarded £2 million to explore the role that one of the most fundamental processes in cell biology plays in cancer. Professor Karim Labib will receive the grant from Cancer Research UK to study mechanisms that preserve genome integrity during the final stages of chromosome replication in animal cells. [University of Dundee] Press Release

New Data from CENTAUR Phase IIb Clinical Study Supports Continued Development of Cenicriviroc in Ongoing Phase III AURORA Trial

Allergan plc announced top-line results from new data for the CENTAUR Phase IIb study which supports the anti-fibrotic efficacy and safety of Cenicriviroc (CVC) for the treatment of liver fibrosis in adults with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. One year data from the CENTAUR trial was released in 2016. The new data released includes patients who remained on treatment for two years, as well as patients who received placebo in year one and then crossed-over to CVC for the second year. [Allergan plc] Press Release

PhaseRx Receives Orphan Drug Designation from FDA for PRX-ASL for the Treatment of Argininosuccinate Lyase Deficiency

PhaseRx, Inc. announced that its second drug development candidate, PRX-ASL, for the treatment of argininosuccinate lyase deficiency, has received orphan drug designation by the FDA. [PhaseRx, Inc.] Press Release

United Kingdom Sees Dip in European Research Applications after Brexit Vote

The number of researchers applying for Europe-funded Marie Curie fellowships in the United Kingdom has dipped slightly since the country’s vote to leave the European Union, data released to Nature show. But there is no evidence yet of a sharp collapse in interest, which some scientists had feared in the wake of the Brexit referendum. [Nature News] Editorial

A Far-Right Party Is About to Enter the German Parliament. What Does that Mean for Science?

Angela Merkel will likely remain chancellor after the German elections, but the voting will shake up German federal politics in another way. Polls predict that the far-right Alternative for Germany will get close to 10% of the vote, winning seats in the federal legislature, the Bundestag, for the first time. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

HHMI’s Own Brand of Diversity in the Life Sciences

One of Erin O’Shea’s first moves as Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) president was committing $25 million a year to support postdocs from underrepresented groups. Her hope was that they would eventually change the color—and culture—of their departments as they moved into leadership positions, in addition to serving as role models for the next generation of scientists. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

NEW Digestive Disease Week^® 2018
June 2-5, 2018
Washington, D.C., United States

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NEW Postdoctoral Fellow – Hepatocyte Models for Organ-on-a-Chip Platforms (University of Oslo)

NEW Postdoctoral Fellow – Human Bile Duct Organoids (University of Edinburgh)

Faculty Position – Cancer Biology (Emory University Hospital)

Postdoctoral Positions – Cancer Research (Albert Einstein College of Medicine)

Postdoctoral Position – Cancer Biology (Georgetown University Medical Center)

Postdoctoral Position – Tumor Immunology and Metastasis (Vrije Universiteit Brussel)

Research Scientist – Chronic Fibrotic and Metabolic Diseases (Gilead Sciences, Inc.)

Research Fellows – Cancer Research (National University of Singapore)

Multiple Positions – Cancer Research (National University of Singapore)

Assistant Professor – Biomedical Research (National Institutes of Health)

Postdoctoral Scholar – Computational Biology/Cancer Genomics (University of Chicago)

Academic Pathologist – Liver/GI (University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center)

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