Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: UMLS:C0019204 (hepatocellular carcinoma)
 71,386 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF) is an immunoregulatory cytokine that plays a major role in tumor-induced anorexia and weight loss. Conjugated linoleic acids (CLA) are naturally occurring isomers of linoleic acid that, when added to the diet, improve food intake and body weight in mice injected with TNF. The purpose of the present study was to examine the effects of a diet supplemented with 0.5% CLA on the nutritional status of rats implanted with the Morris 7777 hepatoma. Body weight, food intake, serum levels of insulin-like growth factor, and splenocyte synthesis of TNF were not different in tumor-bearing animals fed CLA versus the control diet. However, insulin levels were increased in both tumor-bearing and control animals given CLA. The 0.5% CLA did not improve the nutritional status nor alter TNF synthesis in hypophagic tumor-bearing rats. The biological significance of increased insulin levels in animals given CLA remains to be determined.
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PMID:Dietary supplementation with conjugated linoleic acid does not improve nutritional status of tumor-bearing rats. 1180 19

Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL)/Apo2 ligand (Apo2L) has been identified as important in promoting programmed cell death in breast and colon cancer xenografts. More importantly, normal liver tissue appears not to be susceptible to the cytotoxic effects of TRAIL/Apo2L, although activation of the related Fas ligand receptor system is known to promote massive liver apoptosis terminating in fulminant hepatitis. In the present study, we investigated the therapeutic potential of TRAIL/Apo2L gene therapy in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and evaluated its side effects in an immune-competent mouse model. Intratumoral administration of the TRAIL/Apo2L vector by electroporation elevated serum TRAIL/Apo2L through at least day 28 after gene therapy and significantly inhibited the growth not only of the HCC directly administered TRAIL/Apo2L vector, but also of distant subcutaneous HCC. In addition, intratumoral administration of the TRAIL/Apo2L vector inhibited spontaneous lung metastasis. Serum alanine aminotransferase was mildly elevated by TRAIL/Apo2L gene therapy, but without showing such histological signs as TUNEL staining. These results demonstrate that TRAIL/Apo2L gene therapy for HCC by electroporation in vivo is efficient without significant side effects, and is thus promising for use in future clinical trials.
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PMID:Electroporation-mediated tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL)/Apo2L gene therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma. 1181 83

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) plays an import role in the control of apoptosis. The most well known apoptotic pathway regulated by TNF involves the TNFR1-associated death domain protein, Fas-associated death domain protein, and caspase-8. This study examines the mechanism of TNF-induced apoptosis in FaO rat hepatoma cells. TNF treatment significantly increased the percentage of apoptotic cells. TNF did not activate caspase-8 but activated caspase-3, -10, and -12. The effect of TNF on the expression of different members of the Bcl-2 family in these cells was studied. We observed no detectable changes in the steady-state levels of Bcl-X(L), Bax, and Bid, although TNF suppresses Bcl-2 expression. Dantrolene suppressed the inhibitory effect of TNF on Bcl-2 expression. TNF induced release of Ca(2+) from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) that was blocked by dantrolene. Importantly, the expression of Bcl-2 blocked TNF-induced apoptosis and decreased TNF-induced Ca(2+) release. These results suggest that TNF induces apoptosis by a mechanism that involves increasing Ca(2+) release from the ER and suppression of Bcl-2 expression.
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PMID:Tumor necrosis factor induces apoptosis in hepatoma cells by increasing Ca(2+) release from the endoplasmic reticulum and suppressing Bcl-2 expression. 1207 31

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) triggers distinct pathways in liver cells through TNF receptor 1 (TNF-R1) via adapter molecules, including the intracellular cascades leading to apoptosis, nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappa B), and Jun kinase (JNK) activation. TNF-dependent activation of NF-kappa B induces the transcription of antiapoptotic genes that renders liver cells resistant against TNF-induced apoptosis. In contrast, the role of JNK during TNF-induced apoptosis is less clear, so we studied its role during this process. Hepatoma cells treated with TNF and cycloheximide undergo apoptosis, which is proceeded by a strong activation of JNK. Adenoviral vectors (adv) were tested to block TNF-dependent JNK activation selectively. An adv expressing dominant-negative (dn) TRAF2 inhibited only JNK and not ERK or NF-kappa B activation. However, the effect of inhibiting JNK activation with a dn TAK1 virus was also specific but was stronger than that via dn TRAF2. In further experiments, the inhibitory effect of dn TAK1 on JNK was used to define its role during TNF-dependent apoptosis. Inhibition of JNK by adv dn TAK1 resulted in an earlier and stronger induction of apoptosis. Interestingly, TAM67, a dn form of c-Jun, did not mediate the JNK-dependent effect on TNF-dependent apoptosis, indicating that other molecular targets are essential to confer this mechanism. However, the modified apoptosis pattern could be inhibited by adv expressing Bcl-2 or dn FADD. In conclusion, we define TAK1 as a kinase specifically involved in TNF-induced JNK activation in hepatoma cells and show that JNK transduces antiapoptotic signals, which modulate the strength and time course of FADD-dependent cell death involving mitochondrial permeability transfer.
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PMID:Jun kinase modulates tumor necrosis factor-dependent apoptosis in liver cells. 1214 39

The expression of alpha V integrins by neoplastic cells contributes to the promotion of local invasion and metastasis. The most characteristic extracellular ligands of alpha V integrins are vitronectin and fibronectin. Hepatocytes are the main source of vitronectin, and the capacity to synthesize and secrete vitronectin is usually retained in hepatocellular carcinoma. The aim of this study was to explore the expression, regulation, and functional role of alpha V integrins in hepatocellular carcinoma. We first analyzed the expression of alpha V integrins and their ligands fibronectin and vitronectin in 80 cases of hepatocellular carcinoma. alpha V integrin chain was detected in 44 cases and vitronectin in 50. Twenty-four of the 44 alpha V-positive tumors contained large amounts of vitronectin. These cases presented more frequently with adverse histoprognostic factors, including infiltrative growth pattern (62.5%), lack of capsule (71%), presence of capsular invasion (57%), and satellite nodules (50%). We then used HepG2 and Hep3B cell lines as in vitro models to study alpha V integrin regulation and function. HepG2 and Hep3B cells expressed alpha V integrin chain and used alpha V beta 1 and alpha V beta 5 for adhesion and migration on vitronectin. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha and transforming growth factor (TGF) beta significantly increased the expression levels of alpha V integrins and stimulated the adhesion and migration of both HepG2 and Hep3B cell lines on vitronectin. The effects of growth factors on cell adhesion and migration were reproduced by incubation with conditioned medium from rat liver myofibroblasts. In conclusion, our results support the existence of an alpha V integrin/vitronectin connection in hepatocellular carcinoma and suggest that this connection may be an adverse prognostic factor.
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PMID:Expression, regulation, and function of alpha V integrins in hepatocellular carcinoma: an in vivo and in vitro study. 1214 51

Chromosome 8p21-22 is a frequent site of loss of heterozygosity in many types of cancer, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand-receptor 2 (TRAIL-R2/DR5), a member of tumor necrosis factor receptor family, is mapped to chromosome 8p21-22. Mutations of TRAIL-R2 have been detected in lung cancer, breast cancer, head and neck cancer, and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. In this study, we analyzed the entire coding regions and all splicing sites of TRAIL-R2 in 40 HCCs and the death domain region in additional 60 HCCs. We could detect one point mutation in the death domain in only one HCC (1%). Our data suggest that somatic mutations of TRAIL-R2 gene do not play an important role in the carcinogenesis of HCC.
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PMID:Mutation of the DR5/TRAIL receptor 2 gene is infrequent in hepatocellular carcinoma. 1217 36

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) induces apoptosis in a wide range of malignant cells. However, several cancers, including human hepatoma, are resistant to TRAIL. In this study, we analyzed TRAIL-induced pro- and antiapoptotic signaling pathways in human hepatoma cells. Nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB) was found to be a critical TRAIL-induced antiapoptotic factor in the PLC/PRF/5, HepG2, and Hep3B cell lines. TRAIL-induced NF-kappaB activation was preceded by IkappaBalpha kinase (IKK) activation and IkappaBalpha degradation and depended on TRAF2, NF-kappaB-inducing kinase (NIK), IKK1, and IKK2. Accordingly, inhibition of NF-kappaB by adenoviral dominant negative (dn) TRAF2, NIKdn, IKK1dn, IKK2dn, or IkappaBsr sensitized PLC/PRF/5 cells to rhTRAIL, resulting in 40% to 50% cell death after 48 hours as compared with <10% with rhTRAIL alone. Agonistic anti-TRAIL receptor 1 and anti-TRAIL receptor 2 antibodies or combinations of both were equally efficient in inducing apoptosis as rhTRAIL, indicating that decoy receptors did not contribute to resistance toward TRAIL under the conditions of our study. TRAIL-mediated apoptosis depended on FADD, caspase 8 and 3 as demonstrated by the ability of FADDdn, CrmA, and pharmacologic caspase inhibitors to prevent apoptosis. Confocal microscopy showed the onset of the mitochondrial permeability transition (MPT) 5 hours after rhTRAIL plus actinomycin D, which was followed by cytochrome c release. The MPT was critical for TRAIL-induced apoptosis as demonstrated by the ability of pharmacologic MPT inhibitors to completely protect PLC/PRF/5 cells. In conclusion, NF-kappaB prevents TRAIL-induced apoptosis in human hepatoma through a TRAIL-activated TRAF2-NIK-IKK pathway. Inhibition of NF-kappaB unmasks a TRAIL-induced apoptotic signaling cascade that involves FADD, caspase 8, the MPT, and caspase 3.
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PMID:TRAIL-mediated apoptosis requires NF-kappaB inhibition and the mitochondrial permeability transition in human hepatoma cells. 1244 76

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL), a member of the TNF superfamily, induces apoptosis in a variety of cancer cells with little or no effect on normal cells. Human hepatoma cells, however, are resistant to TRAIL-induced apoptosis. Since interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) is capable of enhancing TNF-alpha-induced apoptosis in certain cancer cells, we evaluated the effect of IFN-alpha on TRAIL-induced apoptosis of human hepatoma cells. IFN-alpha pretreatment enhanced TRAIL-induced apoptosis of HuH-7 and Hep3B cells, in which IFN-alpha upregulated the expression of DR5, a death receptor of TRAIL, and downregulated the expression of survivin, which has an antiapoptotic function. In contrast, IFN-alpha did not enhance TRAIL-induced apoptosis of HepG2 cells, in which expression of DR5 and survivin was not affected by IFN-alpha. On the other hand, TRAIL activated NF-kappa B composed of RelA-p50 heterodimer, a key transcription factor regulating cell survival, in HuH-7 and HepG2 cells. However, IFN-alpha pretreatment repressed the TRAIL-mediated activation of NF-kappaB and decreased its transcriptional activity in HuH-7 but not in HepG2 cells. Moreover, IFN-alpha pretreatment clearly augmented TRAIL-mediated caspase-8 activation in HuH-7 cells. Our results suggest that IFN-alpha could sensitize certain human hepatoma cells to TRAIL-induced apoptosis by stimulating its death signaling and by repressing the survival function in these cells.
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PMID:Interferon-alpha sensitizes human hepatoma cells to TRAIL-induced apoptosis through DR5 upregulation and NF-kappa B inactivation. 1264 68

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) are important mediators in cancer cachexia; however, the expression of these cytokines and their receptors in tumor-bearing animals is poorly characterized. We analyzed expression of TNF-alpha, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF-RI, TNF-RII) and interleukin 6 (IL-6R) receptors in the brain, kidney, spleen, liver, muscle, ascite tumors and serum, from Yoshida AH-130 hepatoma-bearing rats. TNF-alpha increased in the brain, spleen, liver, and muscle of cachectic animals; IL-6 increased in the liver and muscle. AH-130 cells expressed a good level of TNF-alpha; on the contrary, no TNF-alpha or IL-6 protein was detected in the serum of either tumor-bearing or control animals. TNF-RI mRNA was up-regulated in the spleen, liver and muscle of tumor-bearing rats. TNF-RI protein levels confirmed up-regulation in the spleen and liver, but failed to detect any increase in the muscle. Western blotting against TNF-RI revealed two bands of lower molecular weight in cachectic muscle, suggesting proteolysis involving TNF-RI. No significant increase of either TNF-RII or IL-6R was observed. This is the first demonstration of a selective up-regulation of TNF-RI in cancer cachexia and suggests that local production of TNF-alpha and IL-6 is a corner-stone in the induction/maintenance of this syndrome.
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PMID:Selective up-regulation of tumor necrosis factor receptor I in tumor-bearing rats with cancer-related cachexia. 1285 92

Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL), a member of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) super-family, induces apoptosis in various cancer cells with little or no effect on normal cells. 8-Chloro-adenosine (8-Cl-Ado) is a potential anti-cancer chemical agent now in clinical trail phase II, though its molecular mechanism remains poorly understood. In the present study, we report that 8-Cl-Ado can promote TRAIL killing activity in the hepatoma cell line BEL-7402 in dose- and time-dependent manner when jointly used in vitro. We showed that the expression of death receptor DR5, but not DR4 was up-regulated and the decoy receptor DcR1 was down-regulated in the cells treated with 8-Cl-Ado and the recombinant soluble TRAIL (rsTRAIL, 95-281 a.a.). Further experiments demonstrated that caspase-family inhibitor z-VAD-fmk prevented the cells from apoptosis induced by co-treatment with 8-Cl-Ado and rsTRAIL for 6 h, however, apoptosis occurred in the cells cultured for 24 h, suggesting that co-treatment induce a caspase-dependent and -independent signaling pathway in the BEL-7402 cells. This phenomenon was confirmed by cleavage analysis of caspase-3 and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), and ROS (reactive oxygen species) assay, respectively. Moreover, transcriptional activity test showed that NF-kappaB was inhibited in the BEL-7402 cells during co-treatment. Our results provided evidence for the first time that 8-Cl-Ado sensitizes the human hepatoma cells BEL-7402 to rsTRAIL-induced apoptosis by up-regulating DR5 expression, inactivating the NF-kappaB activity, and signaling by the caspase-dependent and -independent pathway.
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PMID:8-Chloro-adenosine sensitizes a human hepatoma cell line to TRAIL-induced apoptosis by caspase-dependent and -independent pathways. 1520 83


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