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

CCAAT/enhancer binding protein alpha (C/EBPalpha) is a transcription factor that has been implicated in the regulation of cell-specific gene expression mainly in hepatocytes and adipocytes but also in several other terminally differentiated cells. It has been previously demonstrated that the C/EBPalpha protein is functionally indispensable, as inactivation of the C/EBPalpha gene by homologous recombination in mice results in the death of animals homozygous for the mutation shortly after birth (Wang, N., Finegold, M. J., Bradley, A., Ou, C. N., Abdelsayed, S. V., Wilde, M. D., Taylor, L. R., Wilson, D. R., and Darlington, G. J. (1995) Science 269, 1108-1112). Here we show that C/EBPalpha -1-mice have defects in the control of hepatic growth and lung development. The liver architecture is disturbed, with acinar formation, in a pattern suggestive of either regenerating liver or pseudoglandular hepatocellular carcinoma. Pulmonary histology shows hyperproliferation of type II pneumocytes and disturbed alveolar architecture. At the molecular level, accumulation of glycogen and lipids in the liver and adipose tissues is impaired, and the mutant animals are severely hypoglycemic. Levels of c-myc and c-jun RNA are specifically induced by several fold in the livers of the C/EBPalpha -/- animals, indicating an active proliferative stage. Furthermore, immunohistologic detection with an antibody to proliferating cell nuclear antigen/cyclin shows a 5-10 times higher frequency of positively stained hepatocytes in C/EBPalpha -/- liver. These results suggest a critical role for C/EBPalpha in vivo for the acquisition of terminally differentiated functions in liver including the maintenance of physiologic energy homeostasis.
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PMID:Increased hepatic cell proliferation and lung abnormalities in mice deficient in CCAAT/enhancer binding protein alpha. 879 45

Cytokines are growth inhibitory in a target cell specific manner. The signaling pathways that characterize each cell type play a crucial role in determining the responsiveness to cytokine triggering. Activin A has been shown to suppress the growth of primary hepatocytes. Similarly, the human HepG2 hepatoma cell line was growth arrested by activin A as judged by lack of cell proliferation and suppression of DNA synthesis. In HepG2 cells activin A further induced accumulation of retinoblastoma protein in the hypophosphorylated form known to prevent entrance into S phase. This finding implies the involvement of cyclin dependent kinases and CDK inhibitors. Examination of HepG2 cells following addition of activin A revealed reduced expression of CDK4 and conversely, an increase in the CKI p21(WAF1/Cip1). This accumulation of p21(WAF1/Cip1) protein was partly due to increased transcriptional activity. Functional inactivation of p53, using a miniprotein that oligomerizes with p53 and abrogates DNA binding, abolished the ability of activin A to induce transcriptional activation from the p21(WAF1/Cip1) promoter. Thus, activin A, like transforming growth factor beta, seems to suppress cell growth through the downstream target Rb. However, each of these cytokines seem to operate through a distinct pathway.
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PMID:Involvement of p21(WAF1/Cip1), CDK4 and Rb in activin A mediated signaling leading to hepatoma cell growth inhibition. 934 4

The oncogene c-myc and transforming growth factor (TGF) alpha are frequently coexpressed in human cancers, suggesting that their interaction may be a critical step in malignant growth. Consistent with this idea, we recently demonstrated in a transgenic mouse model that TGF-alpha dramatically enhances c-myc-induced hepatocarcinogenesis. To elucidate this synergistic effect, we have now investigated regulation of cell cycle and apoptosis during neoplastic development in the liver of c-myc and c-myc/TGFalpha transgenic mice. Both lines displayed dramatic increases of mitotic and apoptotic rates before the onset of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but only c-myc/TGF-alpha livers showed significant levels of net proliferation (mitosis minus apoptosis). Subsequently, mitosis declined in peritumorous tissues, concomitant with the previously reported induction of TGF-beta1, whereas c-myc and c-myc/TGFalpha HCCs maintained mitotic hyperactivity. The c-myc/TGF-alpha HCCs were also characterized by a particularly strong expression of TGF-alpha and very low apoptotic index in contrast to high levels of apoptosis in peritumorous tissues and c-myc HCCs. The differential levels of cell proliferation in noncancerous and cancerous tissues correlated with a stronger induction of cyclin D1 mRNA and protein in c-myc/TGF-alpha and c-myc HCCs associated with intense pRb hyperphosphorylation. Severe deregulation of G1-S transition was also indicated by the dramatic up-regulation, particularly in the HCCs, of pRb-free E2F1-DP1 and E2F2-DP1 transcription factor heterodimers, as assessed by immunoprecipitation and immunohistochemistry. The existence of increased E2F activity during hepatocarcinogenesis was further indicated by the transcriptional induction of putative E2F target genes involved in cell cycle progression, such as endogenous c-myc, cyclin A, Cdc2, and E2F itself. Cdc2 overexpression and the elevated mitotic indices in the HCCs correlated also with induction of cyclin B steady-state levels. The data suggest that coexpression of c-myc and TGF-alpha leads to a selective growth advantage for hepatic (pre)neoplastic cells by disrupting the pRb/E2F pathway and by TGF-alpha-mediated reduction of apoptosis.
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PMID:Disruption of the pRb/E2F pathway and inhibition of apoptosis are major oncogenic events in liver constitutively expressing c-myc and transforming growth factor alpha. 942 68

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) often causes a prolonged and persistent infection, and an association between hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and HCV infection has been noted. Recent experimental evidence using a cloned genomic region suggests that the putative core protein of HCV has numerous biological properties and is implicated as a viral factor for HCV mediated pathogenesis. WAF1/Cip1/Sid1 (p21) is the prototype of a family of proteins that inhibit cyclin-dependent kinases (CDK) and regulate cell cycle progression in eukaryotic cells. In this study, we have observed that the HCV core protein represses the transcriptional activity of the p21 promoter when tested separately by an in-vitro transient expression assay using murine fibroblasts (NIH3T3), human hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2), and human cervical carcinoma (HeLa) cells. A deletion analysis of the p21 promoter suggested that the HCV core responsive region is located downstream of the p53 binding site. A gel mobility shift analysis showed that the HCV core protein does not bind directly to p21 regulatory sequences. Thus, the HCV core protein appears to act as an effector in the promotion of cell growth by repressing p21 transcription through unknown cellular factor(s).
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PMID:Hepatitis C virus core protein represses p21WAF1/Cip1/Sid1 promoter activity. 952 87

Regenerating liver, hepatocyte primary cultures and differentiated hepatoma cell lines are widely used to study the proliferation/differentiation/apoptosis equilibrium in liver. In hepatocytes, priming factors (TNF alpha, IL6) target G0/G1 transition while growth factors (HGF, EGF, TGF alpha) control a mid-late G1 restriction point. A characteristic pattern of cdk/cyclin expression is observed in hepatocytes, presumably related to their ability to proliferate a limited number of times and to undergo a reversible differentiation. Interestingly, cell-cell interactions between hepatocytes and liver biliary cells in co-cultures, result in a cell cycle arrest in mid G1 of hepatocytes which are insensitive to mitogens. Apoptosis exists in hepatocytes but is still poorly documented. However, hepatoma cell lines stimulated by TGF beta undergo cell death in a p53-independent pathway. In conclusion, the interplay of growth and apoptosis regulators and cell-cell interactions control the proliferation/differentiation/apoptosis balance which is a specific feature of hepatocytes.
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PMID:Progression through G1 and S phases of adult rat hepatocytes. 955 81

Accumulating evidence has revealed that malignant cell growth is regulated by complex mechanisms involved in genetic and epigenetic factors. Among human cancers, cancer in the liver (hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)) is characterized by the evidence that it is usually based on chronic liver diseases such as liver cirrhosis or chronic hepatitis, in which the liver is persistently regenerating following hepatic injury. This raises the possibility that repeated hepatocyte proliferation may cause disorder of genes that are regulating the cell cycle in hepatocytes, thus causing HCC. In this article, recent studies focusing on liver regeneration and cancer are reviewed from the viewpoint of the cell cycle that is regulated by cyclin and the associated proteins.
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PMID:Liver regeneration, liver cancers and cyclins. 979 41

G1 phase progression of mammalian cells is mainly controlled by the cyclin-cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK)-CDK inhibitor-retinoblastoma protein (pRb) regulatory pathway. Cell cycle regulators controlling G1 phase progression are frequently involved in the carcinogenesis of many human cancer types. In hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) the CDK inhibitor p16INK4 is predominantly inactivated by post-transcriptional regulation and p16INK4 inactivation participates in the early-stage of hepatocarcinogenesis and in disease progression. Reduced p21(WAF1/CIP1) expression, which is associated mainly with p53 gene mutation in HCCs, contributes to hepatocarcinogenesis. Reduced p27Kip1 expression is also frequently involved in HCC. The CDK inhibitors p16INK4, p21(WAF1/CIP1) and p27Kip1 are independently affected and a change in the expression of one or more of these inhibitors contributes to carcinogenesis of the majority (nearly 90%) of HCCs. Cyclin D1 amplification and overexpression play a role in the carcinogenesis of a subset (11-13%) of HCCs. Disruption of the regulatory system controlling G1 phase progression is a common event in human hepatocarcinogenesis. Further studies systematically analyzing the major regulators controlling G1 phase progression in a large cohort of HCCs will strengthen our understanding of the molecular mechanism underlying human hepatocarcinogenesis. Correcting alterations that have occurred in the G1 phase regulatory machinery may provide a novel weapon to treat and prevent HCC.
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PMID:Cell cycle regulators and human hepatocarcinogenesis. 984 Jan 20

The Ah receptor (AhR), a bHLH/PAS transcription factor, mediates dioxin toxicity in the immune system, skin, testis and liver. Toxic phenomena are associated with altered cell proliferation or differentiation, but signaling pathways of AhR in cell cycle regulation are poorly understood. Here we show that AhR induces the p27(Kip1) cyclin/cdk inhibitor by altering Kip1 transcription in a direct mode without the need for ongoing protein synthesis or cell proliferation. This is the first example of Kip1 being a direct transcriptional target of a toxic agent that affects cell proliferation. Kip1 causes dioxin-induced suppression of 5L hepatoma cell proliferation because Kip1 antisense-expressing cells are resistant to dioxins. Kip1 is also induced by dioxins in cultures of fetal thymus glands concomitant with inhibition of proliferation and severe reduction of thymocyte recovery. Kip1 expression is likely to mediate these effects as thymic glands of Kip1-deficient mice (Kip1(Delta51)) are largely, though not completely, resistant.
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PMID:p27(Kip1) induction and inhibition of proliferation by the intracellular Ah receptor in developing thymus and hepatoma cells. 1039 86

A novel synthetic retinoid, 6-[3-(1-adamantyl)-4-hydroxyphenyl]-2-naphthalene carboxylic acid (CD437), is a selective ligand of the RARgamma nuclear receptor. We examined the in vitro effects of CD437 and found that CD437 induces S phase arrest within 24 to 48 h, followed by cell death, in the p53-negative Hep3B and the p53-positive HepG2 human hepatoma cell lines. Based on observations of cellular and nuclear fragmentation, chromatin condensation, and DNA fragmentation, the CD437-mediated cell-killing effect appears to be due to apoptosis. On morphological examination, a number of CD437-treated cells were found to have increased 5- to 10-fold in size and persisted as single giant cells without cell division, while the remainder underwent nuclear division (multiple nuclei) but were unable to complete cytokinesis, and finally all died by apoptosis. In HepG2 cells that possessed wild-type p53, CD437-induced S phase arrest and apoptosis were accompanied by the up-regulation of cyclin A, cyclin B, p53, p21(CIP1/Waf1), Bad, and Bcl-Xs proteins and by a decrease in Bcl-2 protein levels. In Hep3B cells, CD437-mediated S phase arrest and apoptosis were also associated with a concomitant up-regulation of cyclin A, cyclin B, Bad, and Bcl-Xs. However, Hep3B cells did not express p53 or Bcl-2 messages. Olomoucine and roscovitine, the potent p34(cdc2) and CDK2 inhibitors, effectively blocked CD437-mediated cyclin A- and B-dependent kinase activation and prevented CD437-induced cell death. Furthermore, antisense oligonucleotide complementary to cyclin A and B mRNA significantly rescued CD437-induced apoptosis. These findings suggest that activation of cyclin A- and B-dependent kinases is a critical determinant of apoptotic death mediated by CD437.
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PMID:Involvement of cyclin-dependent kinase activities in CD437-induced apoptosis. 1052 23

The signaling pathway leading to TGF-beta1-induced apoptosis was investigated using a TGF-beta1-sensitive hepatoma cell line, FaO. Cell cycle analysis demonstrated that the accumulation of apoptotic cells was preceded by a progressive decrease of the cell population in the G(1) phase concomitant with a slight increase of the cell population in the G(2)/M phase in response to TGF-beta1. TGF-beta1 induced a transient increase in the expression of Cdc2, cyclin A, cyclin B, and cyclin D1 at an early phase of apoptosis. During TGF-beta1-induced apoptosis, the transient increase in cyclin-dependent kinase (Cdk) activities coincides with a dramatic increase in the hyperphosphorylated forms of RB. Treatment with roscovitine or olomoucine, inhibitors of Cdc2 and Cdk2, blocked TGF-beta1-induced apoptosis by inhibiting RB phosphorylation. Overexpression of Bcl-2 or adenovirus E1B 19K suppressed TGF-beta1-induced apoptosis by blocking the induction of Cdc2 mRNA and the subsequent activation of Cdc2 kinase, whereas activation of Cdk2 was not affected, suggesting that Cdc2 plays a more critical role in TGF-beta1-induced apoptosis. In conclusion, we present the evidence that Cdc2 and Cdk2 kinase activity transiently induced by TGF-beta1 phosphorylates RB as a physiological target in FaO cells and that RB hyperphosphorylation may trigger abrupt cell cycle progression, leading to irreversible cell death.
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PMID:Cdc2 and Cdk2 kinase activated by transforming growth factor-beta1 trigger apoptosis through the phosphorylation of retinoblastoma protein in FaO hepatoma cells. 1054 99


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