MASLD and the Development of HCC: Pathogenesis and Therapeutic Challenges.
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ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Phoolchund AGS
PROVIDER: S-EPMC10814413 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jan
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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MASLD and the Development of HCC: Pathogenesis and Therapeutic Challenges.
Phoolchund Anju G S AGS Khakoo Salim I SI
Cancers 20240106 2
Metabolic-dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD, previously known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)) represents a rapidly increasing cause of chronic liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), mirroring increasing rates of obesity and metabolic syndrome in the Western world. MASLD-HCC can develop at an earlier stage of fibrosis compared to other causes of chronic liver disease, presenting challenges in how to risk-stratify patients to set up effective screening ...[more]
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Project description:The complexity of the mechanisms underlying metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) progression remains a significant challenge for the development of effective therapeutics. miRNAs have shown great promise as regulators of biological processes and as therapeutic targets for complex diseases. Here, we study the role of hepatic miR-33, an important regulator of lipid metabolism, during the progression of MASLD and the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We report that miR-33 was elevated in the livers of humans and mice with MASLD and that its deletion in hepatocytes (miR-33 HKO) improved multiple aspects of the disease, including steatosis and inflammation, limiting the progression to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic hepatitis (MASH), fibrosis, and HCC. Mechanistically, hepatic miR-33 deletion reduced lipid synthesis and promoted mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation, reducing lipid burden. Additionally, absence of miR-33 altered the expression of several known miR-33 target genes involved in metabolism and resulted in improved mitochondrial function and reduced oxidative stress. The reduction in lipid accumulation and liver injury resulted in decreased YAP/TAZ pathway activation, which may be involved in the reduced HCC progression in HKO livers. Together, these results suggest suppressing hepatic miR-33 may be an effective therapeutic approach to temper the development of MASLD, MASH, and HCC in obesity.
| S-EPMC11466198 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Background & aimsDespite its growing incidence, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) related to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) in non-cirrhotic livers remains poorly characterized. We compared the characteristics, management, survival, and trends of MASLD-related HCC in patients with or without underlying cirrhosis in a large multicenter cohort.MethodsA total of 354 cases of MASLD-related HCC presented at the liver tumor meetings of four French university hospitals between 2007 and 2018 were included in the study. Data were extracted from the meetings' databases and from the French Birth and Death Registry.ResultsOf HCC cases, 35% occurred in the absence of cirrhosis. HCC was diagnosed through screening in 60% of patients with cirrhosis, and incidentally in 72% of patients without it. Patients without cirrhosis were older, had a greater tumor burden, but also better liver function than patients with cirrhosis. Patients without cirrhosis showed better overall survival than those with cirrhosis (p = 0.043). However, cirrhosis was not independently associated with overall survival, the independent predictors were age, liver function, tumor burden and BCLC classification. Patients without cirrhosis underwent surgery more frequently than patients with cirrhosis (41% vs. 11%, p <0.001), even in cases where the largest tumors were ≥5 cm (42% vs. 14%, p = 0.002) or there were four or more lesions (19% vs. 2%, p = 0.024). Among the patients (with/without cirrhosis) who underwent surgery, survival was not significantly different. The cirrhosis/no cirrhosis ratio remained stable over the study period.ConclusionsIn MASLD-related HCC, patients without cirrhosis account for 35% of cases and have poor prognostic factors (higher age and larger tumors) but also better liver function, resulting in more aggressive management of advanced tumors and better survival compared to patients with cirrhosis.Impact and implicationsThe incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) related to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is projected to increase by 47% to 130% by year 2030 with one-third of cases occurring in non-cirrhotic livers, making them inaccessible to screening and therefore more likely to be diagnosed at an advanced stage. Our study shows that survival in patients with MASLD-related HCC depends on age, tumor burden and underlying liver function and the preserved liver function of these non-cirrhotic patients allows them to be managed surgically. A better understanding of the pathophysiological processes driving HCC occurrence in patients with non-cirrhotic MASLD will help guide the screening and early management of these patients.
| S-EPMC11474187 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Background & aimsHepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third leading cause of cancer-related death. Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is a significant cause of HCC. Current treatment options for HCC are very limited. Recent evidence highlights B cells as key drivers in MASLD progression toward HCC. However, it remains unclear whether multiple B cell populations or a distinct B cell subset regulates inflammatory responses during liver disease progression. The scope of this study was to define protumorigenic B cell subsets in MASLD and HCC.MethodsMulticolor flow cytometry, immunohistochemistry, and immunofluorescence analyses were performed to investigate B cell populations locally (in liver tissue) and systemically (in the blood) in mice with MASLD (n = 6) and HCC (n = 5-6). The results obtained in mice were also verified in patients with MASLD (n = 19) and HCC (n = 16).ResultsOur study revealed an increase of two regulatory B cell (Breg) subsets, CD19+B220+CD5+CD1d+ (p <0.0001) and CD19-B220+CD5+CD1d- (p <0.0001), both of which highly overexpress IgM/IgD, PD-L1, and IL-10, in the livers of mice with MASLD and HCC. Furthermore, we showed that B-cell depletion therapy in combination with a Listeria-based vaccine decreased CD19-B220+CD5+CD1d- Bregs (p = 0.0103), and improved survival of mice with HCC. We also found CD19+CD5+IL-10+ (p = 0.0167), CD19+CD5+PD-L1+ (p = 0.0333) and CD19+CD5+IgM+IgD+ (p = 0.0317) B cells in human HCCs. In addition, strong overexpression of IgM/IgD, PD-L1, IL-10, were detected on non-switched memory B cells (p = 0.0049) and plasmablasts (p = 0.0020). The examination of blood samples obtained from patients with MASLD showed an increase of total B cells expressing IL-10 (p <0.0001) and IgM/IgD (p = 0.3361), CD19+CD20+CD5+CD1d+ Bregs (p = 0.6424) and CD19+CD20+CD27+ non-switched memory B cells (p = 0.0003).ConclusionsOur results provide novel insights into the protumorigenic roles of several B cell subsets, the specific targeting of which could abrogate the progression of liver disease.Impact and implicationsHepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the primary liver cancer with a constantly rising mortality rate. Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is an emerging important cause of HCC. Current treatment options for HCC are limited and there is a high risk of recurrence. The study aims to identify new therapeutic strategies by exploring the immunological aspects of MASLD and HCC. Our findings extend the current knowledge on the role of B cells in the progression of MASLD and HCC. This study emphasizes the involvement of IgM+IgD+ regulatory B cells (Bregs) in malignant liver disease progression. These Bregs characterized by a high expression of PD-L1, IL-10, IgM, and IgD. Two other B cell subsets with immunosuppressive phenotype have been found in the study in murine liver disease - plasmablasts and non-switched memory B cells. Targeting these B cells could lead to more effective treatments of HCC.
| S-EPMC11602976 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Chondrocytes are the only cell type in cartilage and play a pivotal role in tissue homeostasis and cartilage remodeling in Osteoarthritis (OA). OA-dependent metabolic changes affecting extracelluar matrix composition as well as variations in the response to cytokines and growth factors have been investigated in human chondrocytes. However, the molecular mechanisms causing age-dependent variation of the chondrocyte phenotype are poorly characterized. The proinflammatory mediator nitric oxide (NO) is produced when chondrocytes are exposed to cytokines such as IL-1. NO affects the energy metabolism of cells through interfering with mitochondrial respiration and glycolysis and has been implicated in extracellular matrix synthesis and degradation and chondrocyte death. NO may contribute to the aging process by compromising the energy balance in chondrocytes through the generation of an oxidizing environment and this may in turn affect matrix gene expression. In human chondrocytes NO effects on the expression of extacelluar matrix genes or genes related to matrix structure have not been addressed comprehensively. In this study cultured chondrocytes from a single donor was either be left unstimulated (control) or stimulated with IL-1, L-NMMA or IL-1 L-NMMA for a period of 8 days in order to achieve sufficiently high levels of intracellular NO and stable expression of a subset of genes. Samples were hybridized and analyzed using the GLYCOv2 array. L-NMMA (NG-monomethyl-L-arginine) is a competitive inhibitor NO synthesis.
2011-02-17 | E-GEOD-27358 | biostudies-arrayexpress
Project description:BackgroundBoth psoriasis and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) are immune-mediated chronic inflammatory diseases. Psoriasis manifests itself mainly as skin damage, while MASLD mainly involves the liver promoting liver fibrosis, which has a significant impact on patient health and quality of life. Some clinical studies have shown that there are mutually reinforcing mechanisms between these two diseases, but they are not clearly defined, and this paper aims to further explore their common pathogenesis.MethodsGene expression profiling datasets (GSE30999, GSE48452) and single cell datasets (GSE151177, GSE186328) for psoriasis and MASLD were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Common differential gene sets were obtained by gene differential analysis, and then functional enrichment of differential genes was performed to find associated transcription factors and PPI protein network analysis. Single-cell datasets were validated for gene expression and explored for cellular communication, gene set differential analysis and immune infiltration analysis.ResultsWe identified seven common differential genes, all of which were upregulated.The IL-17 pathway, tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) pathway were shown in strong association with both diseases, and five transcription factors regulating the differential genes were predicted. Two key genes (MMP9, CXCL10) and three key transcription factors (TF) (IRF1, STAT1, NFKB1) were obtained by PPI protein network analysis. Single cell dataset verified the expression of key genes, and combined with gene set differential analysis, immune infiltration revealed that CD4+ T cells, NK cells and macrophages were heavily infiltrated in both diseases. IL-17, IL-1 and cGAS-STING pathways were highly expressed in both diseases, and both diseases share a similar immune microenvironment.ConclusionsOur study reveals the common pathogenesis of psoriasis and MASLD from gene expression to immune cell similarities and differences, identifies key genes and regulatory pathways common to both, and elucidates the similarities in the immune microenvironment of both diseases, providing new ideas for subsequent studies on targeted therapy.
| S-EPMC11198785 | biostudies-literature
Project description:In 2023, a new nomenclature, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), replaced the term non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). With the global rise in MASLD prevalence, concurrent MASLD and chronic hepatitis B (CHB)-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are becoming increasingly common. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical impact of concurrent MASLD on long-term survival outcomes in patients with CHB-related early-stage HCC following curative resection. This retrospective study included patients diagnosed with CHB-related early-stage HCC who underwent curative hepatectomy between January 2010 and December 2019. We examined the association between histologically confirmed MASLD and clinical outcomes, with overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method and compared using the log-rank test. Of 587 eligible patients, 275 (46.8%) were diagnosed with concurrent MASLD. Patients with concurrent MASLD had a higher prevalence of diabetes, hypertension, body mass index (BMI) > 23 kg/m2, a lower proportion of AFP > 200 ng/ml, and microvascular invasion compared to those without MASLD. After a median follow-up of 66 months, patients with concurrent MASLD exhibited a lower risk of death (HR: 0.57, 95% CI: 0.34-0.95, P = 0.030) but no significant difference in HCC recurrence rates. Subgroup analysis revealed significantly higher OS in females, individuals with BMI ≥ 23 kg/m2, and non-cirrhotic patients (all P < 0.05). In conclusion, concurrent MASLD is associated with improved survival in patients with CHB-related HCC following curative resection, particularly in females, those with BMI ≥ 23 kg/m2, and non-cirrhotic patients.
| S-EPMC11477822 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Background and aimsMetabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is the most common cause of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In this study, we combine metabolomic and gene expression analysis to compare HCC tissues with non-tumoural tissues (NTT).MethodsA non-targeted metabolomic strategy LC-MS was applied to 52 pairs of human MASLD-HCC and NTT separated into 2 groups according to fibrosis severity F0F1-F2 versus F3F4. The expression of genes related to de Novo lipogenesis (DNL) and fatty acid oxidation (FAO) has been analysed by quantitative RT-PCR and/or interrogation of RNA-seq datasets in 259 pairs of tissues (MASLD-HCC vs. VIRUS-HCC).ResultsMetabolomic analysis revealed that acylcarnitines were the main discriminating metabolites according to fibrosis severity when we compared MASLD-HCC-F0F1-F2 versus NTT and MASLD-HCC-F3F4 versus NTT. Based on these metabolomic data, the analysis of a panel of 15 selected genes related to DNL and FAO indicated that there is no difference between the 2 groups of MASLD-HCC. In contrast the same comparative gene analysis according to the aetiology of HCC: MASLD-HCC versus VIRUS-HCC showed that both aetiologies shared the same upregulation of genes involved in DNL. However, five genes involved in FAO (HADHA, CRAT, CPT1, CPT2 and PPARA) are upregulated exclusively in MASLD-HCC. This result indicates that FAO and DNL pathways are simultaneously activated in MASLD-HCC in contrast to VIRUS-HCC.ConclusionsThese results suggest that, the involvement of adaptive metabolic pathways is different depending on the aetiology of HCC. Moreover, the dogma that simultaneous activation of FAO and DNL is incompatible in cancer would not apply to MASLD-HCC.
| S-EPMC11752690 | biostudies-literature
Project description:More than 3000 antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have been discovered, seven of which have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Now commercialized, these seven peptides have mostly been utilized for topical medications, though some have been injected into the body to treat severe bacterial infections. To understand the translational potential for AMPs, we analyzed FDA-approved drugs in the FDA drug database. We examined their physicochemical properties, secondary structures, and mechanisms of action, and compared them with the peptides in the AMP database. All FDA-approved AMPs were discovered in Gram-positive soil bacteria, and 98% of known AMPs also come from natural sources (skin secretions of frogs and toxins from different species). However, AMPs can have undesirable properties as drugs, including instability and toxicity. Thus, the design and construction of effective AMPs require an understanding of the mechanisms of known peptides and their effects on the human body. This review provides an overview to guide the development of AMPs that can potentially be used as antimicrobial drugs.
| S-EPMC7168295 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a widely prevalent type of primary liver cancer. However, strategies for pretumor intervention are still limited. In this study, a liver-specific Zbtb7b knockout mouse model was used to evaluate the role of Zbtb7b in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD)-related HCC development. We revealed that Zbtb7b was compensatively increased and restricted lipid deposition in the liver during MASLD progression, which protects against MASLD-related HCC initiation. Mechanistically, Zbtb7b suppresses the expression of the long noncoding RNA H19 to attenuate hepatic de novo lipogenesis and increase fatty acid oxidation, thereby preventing lipid accumulation in hepatocytes. As a result, the proliferation and migration abilities of HCC cells are reduced. Overall, we demonstrated that Zbtb7b serves as a tumor suppressor at an early stage of HCC, thus providing a promising target for the treatment of HCC at a premalignant stage.
| S-EPMC11664540 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Chondrocytes are the only cell type in cartilage and play a pivotal role in tissue homeostasis and cartilage remodeling in Osteoarthritis (OA). OA-dependent metabolic changes affecting extracelluar matrix composition as well as variations in the response to cytokines and growth factors have been investigated in human chondrocytes. However, the molecular mechanisms causing age-dependent variation of the chondrocyte phenotype are poorly characterized. The proinflammatory mediator nitric oxide (NO) is produced when chondrocytes are exposed to cytokines such as IL-1. NO affects the energy metabolism of cells through interfering with mitochondrial respiration and glycolysis and has been implicated in extracellular matrix synthesis and degradation and chondrocyte death. NO may contribute to the aging process by compromising the energy balance in chondrocytes through the generation of an oxidizing environment and this may in turn affect matrix gene expression. In human chondrocytes NO effects on the expression of extacelluar matrix genes or genes related to matrix structure have not been addressed comprehensively.
2011-02-17 | GSE27358 | GEO