Primary liver cancer is the common malignant neoplasm in human with high mortality and its incidence is rising worldwide, especially in the United States. It occurs largely in the preexisting chronic inflammatory liver disorders, including chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis. Recent studies from our lab show that prostaglandin (PG) metabolism plays an important role in liver inflammation and carcinogenesis. In this grant we hypothesize that the level and activation status of prostaglandin signaling represents a key factor that determines the cellular response to transforming growth factor-? (TGF-?). Specifically, we postulate that enhanced cytosolic phospholipase A2? (cPLA2?) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) controlled PG signaling subverts TGF-?-mediated mitoinhibition and this mechanism is critically involved in liver carcinogenesis through selection and expansion of TGF-? resistant dysplastic and neoplastic epithelial cells that progress more rapidly toward malignant transformation and tumor development. Therefore, blocking PG signaling may restore the growth- inhibitory action of TGF-??and prevent hepatocarcinogenesis. This application proposes a series of experiments to evaluate the above hypotheses. Human liver cancer cells with altered expression of cPLA2? and COX-2 will be utilized to determine their response to TGF-?. siRNA for Smad2/3 will be introduced into human liver cancer cells stably expressing antisense cPLA2? or COX-2 and these cells will be analyzed for proliferation and apoptosis, in vitro and in SCID mice. Transgenic mice with targeted expression of cPLA2? and COX- 2 in the liver will be developed and utilized to determine TGF-?-regulated Smad activation, mitoinhibition, apoptosis, and hepatocarcinogenesis. The cPLA2? and COX-2 transgenic and knockout mice will be crossed with the TGF-?receptor type II knockout mice to determine liver regeneration and DEN-induced hepatocarcinogenesis. Finally, cultured hepatic stellate cells and experimental animal models will be utilized to evaluate our hypothesis that TGF-? and PG signaling in the fibrogenic hepatic stellate cells is critically involved in the pathogenesis of liver fibrosis and carcinogenesis. Results from the proposed studies are expected to provide important therapeutic implications for the chemoprevention and treatment of human liver cancer.

Public Health Relevance

Primary liver cancer is a highly malignant neoplasm in human and currently there is no effective chemoprevention or systematic therapy. This application is proposed to examine our hypothesis that the level and activation status of prostaglandin signaling represents a key factor that determines the cellular response to TGF-? and that blocking prostaglandin signaling may restore the growth-inhibitory action of TGF-? and prevent hepatocarcinogenesis. A series of experiments will be performed to evaluate this central hypothesis. Results of the proposed experiments are expected to reveal an important link between TGF-? and prostaglandin signaling pathways in liver carcinogenesis and provide important therapeutic implications.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01DK077776-02
Application #
7653585
Study Section
Molecular Oncogenesis Study Section (MONC)
Program Officer
Doo, Edward
Project Start
2008-07-15
Project End
2010-12-31
Budget Start
2009-07-01
Budget End
2010-12-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2009
Total Cost
$109,001
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Pittsburgh
Department
Pathology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
004514360
City
Pittsburgh
State
PA
Country
United States
Zip Code
15213
Ungerleider, Nathan; Han, Chang; Zhang, Jinqiang et al. (2017) TGF? signaling confers sorafenib resistance via induction of multiple RTKs in hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Mol Carcinog 56:1302-1311
Kwon, Hyunjoo; Song, Kyoungsub; Han, Chang et al. (2016) Inhibition of hedgehog signaling ameliorates hepatic inflammation in mice with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Hepatology 63:1155-69
Song, Kyoungsub; Kwon, Hyunjoo; Han, Chang et al. (2015) Active glycolytic metabolism in CD133(+) hepatocellular cancer stem cells: regulation by MIR-122. Oncotarget 6:40822-35
Chen, Weina; Han, Chang; Zhang, Jinqiang et al. (2015) Deletion of Mir155 prevents Fas-induced liver injury through up-regulation of Mcl-1. Am J Pathol 185:1033-44
Chen, Weina; Han, Chang; Zhang, Jinqiang et al. (2015) miR-150 Deficiency Protects against FAS-Induced Acute Liver Injury in Mice through Regulation of AKT. PLoS One 10:e0132734
Yao, Lu; Han, Chang; Song, Kyoungsub et al. (2015) Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids Upregulate 15-PGDH Expression in Cholangiocarcinoma Cells by Inhibiting miR-26a/b Expression. Cancer Res 75:1388-98
Zhu, Hanqing; Han, Chang; Lu, Dongdong et al. (2014) miR-17-92 cluster promotes cholangiocarcinoma growth: evidence for PTEN as downstream target and IL-6/Stat3 as upstream activator. Am J Pathol 184:2828-39
Lu, Lu; Byrnes, Kathleen; Han, Chang et al. (2014) miR-21 targets 15-PGDH and promotes cholangiocarcinoma growth. Mol Cancer Res 12:890-900
Qadir, Ximena V; Han, Chang; Lu, Dongdong et al. (2014) miR-185 inhibits hepatocellular carcinoma growth by targeting the DNMT1/PTEN/Akt pathway. Am J Pathol 184:2355-64
Lu, D; Han, C; Wu, T (2014) 15-PGDH inhibits hepatocellular carcinoma growth through 15-keto-PGE2/PPAR?-mediated activation of p21WAF1/Cip1. Oncogene 33:1101-12

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