Project description:Microbiota is implicated in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The spectrum of intratumoral microbiota associated with HCC progression remains elusive. Fluorescence in situ hybridization revealed that microbial DNAs were distributed in the cytosol of liver hepatocytes and erythrocytes. Viable anaerobic or aerobic bacteria were recovered in HCC tissues by fresh tissue culture. We performed a comprehensive DNA sequencing of bacterial 16S rRNA genes in 156 samples from 28 normal liver, 64 peritumoral, and 64 HCC tissues, and the DNA sequencing yielded 4.2 million high-quality reads. Both alpha and beta diversity in peritumor and HCC microbiota were increased compared to normal controls. The most predominant phyla in HCC were Patescibacteria, Proteobacteria, Bacteroidota, Firmicutes, and Actinobacteriota. phyla of Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Actinobacteriota, and classes of Bacilli and Actinobacteria, were consistently enriched in peritumor and HCC tissues, while Gammaproteobacteria was especially abundant in HCC tissues compared to normal controls. Streptococcaceae and Lactococcus were the marker taxa of HCC cirrhosis. The Staphylococcus branch and Caulobacter branch were selectively enriched in HBV-negative HCCs. The abundance of Proteobacteria, Gammaproteobacteria, Firmicutes, Actinobacteriota, and Saccharimonadia were associated with the clinicopathological features of HCC patients. The inferred functions of different taxa were changed between the microbiota of normal liver and peritumor/HCC. Random forest machine learning achieved great discriminative performance in HCC prediction (area under the curve [AUC] = 1.00 in the training cohort, AUC = 0.950 for top five class signature, and AUC = 0.943 for the top 50 operational taxonomy units [OTUs] in the validation cohort). Our analysis highlights the complexity and diversity of the liver and HCC microbiota and established a specific intratumoral microbial signature for the potential prediction of HCC. IMPORTANCE Gut microbiome is an important regulator of hepatic inflammation, detoxification, and immunity, and contributes to the carcinogenesis of liver cancer. Intratumoral bacteria are supposed to be closer to the tumor cells, forming a microenvironment that may be relevant to the pathological process of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the presence of viable intratumoral bacteria remains unclear. It is worth exploring whether the metataxonomic characteristics of intratumoral bacteria can be used as a potential marker for HCC prediction. Here, we present the first evidence of the existence of viable intratumoral bacteria in HCC using the tissue culture method. We revealed that microbial DNAs were distributed in the cytosol of liver hepatocytes and erythrocytes. We analyzed the diversity, structure, and abundance of normal liver and HCC microbiota. We built a machine learning model for HCC prediction using intratumoral bacterial features. We show that specific taxa represent potential targets for both therapeutic and diagnostic interventions.
Project description:The evidence that intratumoral microbiomes, as a rising hallmark of cancer, have a profound impact on cancer phenotypes is increasingly compelling. However, the impact of the composition and diversity of the intratumoral microbiome on the prognosis of patients undergoing surgical resection for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains incompletely understood. In this study, we revealed a high abundance of bacteria in the neoplastic tissues. The presence of bacterial lipopolysaccharide and lipoteichoic acid was detected alongside tumor-associated immune cells. By utilizing 16S rRNA gene sequencing, we identified a specific intratumoral microbiome signature that was highly predictive of the prognosis for HCC patients who underwent surgical resection. Specifically, the presence of Intestinimonas, Brachybacterium, and Rothia were identified as independent risk factors for the overall survival of HCC patients who underwent surgical resection.IMPORTANCEAlthough some studies have shown an abundance of bacteria in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), there is still limited understanding of the composition and diversity of the intratumoral microbiome that is favorable or adverse to the prognosis of HCC patients. Our results indicated that a greater abundance of bacteria could be observed in the neoplastic tissues than in nonneoplastic tissues. Bacterial cell wall components largely coincided with tumor-associated immune cells. The bacteria in the long overall survival (LOS) group were associated with metabolism and cytokine‒cytokine receptor interaction pathways, while bacteria in the short overall survival (SOS) group were associated with proinflammatory and cell proliferation pathways. Notably, specific taxa could independently predict HCC prognosis. Based on these findings, intratumoral microbiomes facilitate the use of precision medicine in clinical practice.
Project description:It is known that the presence of sulfate decreases the methane yield in the anaerobic digestion systems. Sulfate-reducing bacteria can convert sulfate to hydrogen sulfide competing with methanogens for substrates such as H2 and acetate. The present work aims to elucidate the microbial interactions in biogas production and assess the effectiveness of electron-conductive materials in restoring methane production after exposure to high sulfate concentrations. The addition of magnetite led to a higher methane content in the biogas and a sharp decrease in the level of hydrogen sulfide, indicating its beneficial effects. Furthermore, the rate of volatile fatty acid consumption increased, especially for butyrate, propionate, and acetate. Genome-centric metagenomics was performed to explore the main microbial interactions. The interaction between methanogens and sulfate-reducing bacteria was found to be both competitive and cooperative, depending on the methanogenic class. Microbial species assigned to the Methanosarcina genus increased in relative abundance after magnetite addition together with the butyrate oxidizing syntrophic partners, in particular belonging to the Syntrophomonas genus. Additionally, Ruminococcus sp. DTU98 and other species assigned to the Chloroflexi phylum were positively correlated to the presence of sulfate-reducing bacteria, suggesting DIET-based interactions. In conclusion, this study provides new insights into the application of magnetite to enhance the anaerobic digestion performance by removing hydrogen sulfide, fostering DIET-based syntrophic microbial interactions, and unraveling the intricate interplay of competitive and cooperative interactions between methanogens and sulfate-reducing bacteria, influenced by the specific methanogenic group.
Project description:The peripheral neutrophil-monocyte/lymphocyte ratio (NMLR) and intratumoral CD16/CD8 ratio (iMLR) may have prognostic value in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients after curative resection. In this study, the circulating NMLR was examined 387 HCC patients who underwent curative resection between 2006 and 2009. Intratumoral levels of CD4, CD8, CD16 and CD68 and the CD16/CD8 ratio were determined immunohistologically. The prognostic values of clinicopathological parameters, including NMLR and iMLR, were evaluated. NMLR was predictive of overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) when patients in the training cohort (n = 256) were separated into high (> 1.2) and low (≤ 1.2) NMLR subgroups. NMLR was also an independent predictor of low alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) expression and early recurrence. High NMLR was associated with increases in clinicopathological variables, including alanine aminotransferase (ALT), tumor number, tumor size and BCLC stage. In addition, iMLR strongly predicted risk of recurrence and patient survival, and was positively correlated with NMLR. These findings were confirmed in an independent validation patient cohort (n = 131). Peripheral NMLR and iMLR may thus be useful prognostic markers, and anti-inflammatory treatment may be beneficial in HCC patients after curative hepatectomy.
Project description:BackgroundA gender difference in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) that men have higher incidence than women has long been noted and can be explained by the cross-talk between sex hormones and hepatitis B virus/hepatitis C virus (HBV/HCV). Whether metabolic factors yield similar sexual difference in non-HBV/HCV-HCC remains elusive.MethodsThere were 74 782 hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)/antibody to hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) negative residents who participated in the Keelung Community-Based Integrated Screening program and were followed in 2000-2007. Incident HCC was identified by linkage to the Taiwan Cancer Registry. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to estimate the association between metabolic factors and HCC stratified by sex. All statistical tests were 2-sided.ResultsWith 320 829 follow-up person-years, 99 residents developed HCC. The adjusted hazard ratios (aHR) were 2.10 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.07 to 4.13) and 3.71 (95% CI = 2.01 to 6.86) for prediabetes and diabetes, respectively, in men. The corresponding adjusted hazard ratios were 1.16 (95% CI = 0.48 to 2.83) and 1.47 (95% CI = 0.65 to 3.34) in women. Compared with normal weight (body mass index [BMI] = 23-25), underweight (BMI < 21, HR = 3.56, 95% CI = 1.18 to 10.8) and overweight (BMI = 25 to <27.3, HR = 3.81, 95% CI = 1.43 to 10.2) were associated with an elevated risk in men. The statistically significant gradient relationship per advanced BMI category was noted in women (aHR = 1.41, 95% CI = 1.07 to 1.87). The HCC-fasting glucose (P = .046) and HCC-BMI (P = .03) associations were statistically significantly modified by sex. Elevated aspartate aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet index and fibrosis index, and habitual alcohol consumption were related to HCC only in men, whereas increased alanine aminotransferase and lower platelet levels predicted HCC risk in women.ConclusionsWe found that BMI-HCC associations were U-shape for men and linear for women, and the elevated HCC risk began from glucose impairment in men only. Whether good glycemic and weight control can reduce HCC risk warrants further investigation.
Project description:BACKGROUND We explored the relationship of interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and MHC class-I chain related gene A (MICA) genes polymorphisms with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) risk, and tried to determine whether the interaction existed between these two genes polymorphisms on the basis of HCC. MATERIAL AND METHODS Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method was used to detect the genotypes of the 3 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and to analyze the correlation of each SNP with HCC susceptibility in 120 HCC patients and 124 healthy people. The association strength between the 3 SNPs and HCC is represented with odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI). Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) was tested by χ2 test in the control group. RESULTS GG genotype of IFN-γ rs2069727 polymorphism had apparently different distributions in case and control groups (P<0.05), and might confer increased risk of HCC (OR=3.40, 95%CI=1.23-9.38). Analysis of MICA rs2596542 polymorphism also yielded the same result (OR=2.90, 95%CI=1.10-7.67), as did their risk alleles. Specifically, the interaction between rs2596542 and rs2069705 polymorphisms increased the HCC risk by 1.41 times and between rs2596542 and rs2069727 polymorphisms the increased risk of HCC by 5.56 times. CONCLUSIONS IFN-γ rs2069727 and MICA rs2596542 polymorphisms may be related to the incidence of HCC. Interaction exists between the polymorphisms of IFN-γ and MICA, which may increase risk of HCC.
Project description:BACKGROUND & AIMS: Metabolic syndrome is a newly identified risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), however the molecular mechanisms still remain unclear. To elucidate this issue, cross-species analysis was performed to compare gene expression patterns of HCC from human patients and melanocortin 4 receptor-knockout (MC4R-KO) mice, developing HCC with obesity, insulin resistance and dyslipidemia. METHODS: Unsupervised hierarchical clustering and principle component analysis of 746 differentially expressed orthologous genes classified HCC of 152 human patients and MC4R-KO mice into two distinct subgroups, one of which included all the mouse HCC was etiologically associated with metabolic risk factors, such as obesity and diabetes. A specific biomarker was identified by the integrative analysis, and validated with in vitro studies and other cohort patients. RESULTS: As commonly overexpressed in human and mouse metabolic disease-associated HCC, FABP4 was remarkably enriched in intratumoral activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). Then, we established subclones constitutively expressing FABP4 from a human HSC cell line, in which the expression levels of inflammatory chemokines including IL1A and IL6 was upregulated through NF-κB nuclear translocation. An immunohistochemical validation study of other 106 human HCC samples indicated that FABP4-positive HSCs were distributed in tumors of 38 cases, and that the FABP4-high group was composed of patients with non-viral and non-alcoholic HCC (P=0.027) and with multiple metabolic risk factors (P<0.001) compared with the FABP4-low. CONCLUSIONS: FABP4 overexpression in HSCs could contribute to hepatocellular carcinogenesis in patients with metabolic risk factors via modulation of inflammatory pathway, and is a promising novel biomarker as well as a potential therapeutic target for this subtype of HCC.
Project description:BACKGROUND & AIMS: Metabolic syndrome is a newly identified risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), however the molecular mechanisms still remain unclear. To elucidate this issue, cross-species analysis was performed to compare gene expression patterns of HCC from human patients and melanocortin 4 receptor-knockout (MC4R-KO) mice, developing HCC with obesity, insulin resistance and dyslipidemia. METHODS: Unsupervised hierarchical clustering and principle component analysis of 746 differentially expressed orthologous genes classified HCC of 152 human patients and MC4R-KO mice into two distinct subgroups, one of which included all the mouse HCC was etiologically associated with metabolic risk factors, such as obesity and diabetes. A specific biomarker was identified by the integrative analysis, and validated with in vitro studies and other cohort patients. RESULTS: As commonly overexpressed in human and mouse metabolic disease-associated HCC, FABP4 was remarkably enriched in intratumoral activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). Then, we established subclones constitutively expressing FABP4 from a human HSC cell line, in which the expression levels of inflammatory chemokines including IL1A and IL6 was upregulated through NF-κB nuclear translocation. An immunohistochemical validation study of other 106 human HCC samples indicated that FABP4-positive HSCs were distributed in tumors of 38 cases, and that the FABP4-high group was composed of patients with non-viral and non-alcoholic HCC (P=0.027) and with multiple metabolic risk factors (P<0.001) compared with the FABP4-low. CONCLUSIONS: FABP4 overexpression in HSCs could contribute to hepatocellular carcinogenesis in patients with metabolic risk factors via modulation of inflammatory pathway, and is a promising novel biomarker as well as a potential therapeutic target for this subtype of HCC.