Margarita Fernández

The Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition Confers Resistance to the Apoptotic Effects of Transforming Growth Factor β in Fetal Rat Hepatocytes

Resumen del poster presentado al 50th Inner Ear Biology Workshop, celebrado en Alcala de Henares-Madrid (Espana) del 10 al 13 de septiembre de 2013.Resumen del trabajo presentado al 15o Congreso Nacional de la Sociedad Espanola de Neurociencia (SENC) celebrado en Oviedo del 25 al 27 de septiembre de 2013.Resumen del poster presentado al CIBERDEM Annual Meeting, celebrado en Cerdanyola del Valles, Barcelona (Espana) del 11 al 13 de mayo de 2016.-- et al.Resumen del trabajo presentado al XXXVIII Congreso de la Sociedad Espanola de Ciencias Fisiologicas (SECF), celebrado en Zaragoza del 13 al 16 de septiembre de 2016.Poster presentado en el XI European Meeting on Glial Cells in Health and Disease, celebrado los dias 3 al 6 de julio de 2013 en Berlin (Alemania)Memoria presentada para optar al grado de Doctor por la Licenciada en Biologia Angela Prieto Folgado y realizada en el Instituto de Investigaciones Biomedicas Alberto Sols.La realizacion de este trabajo ha sido posible gracias a la financiacion otorgada por el FIS al proyecto de investigacion 96/1803.Grant Funding Source: Supported by the Fondo de Investigaciones Sanitarias (PI0011406) to MF.The chemotherapeutic study of a limited series of steroidal sapogenins from several endemic species of the flora of the Canary Islands is presented here. On the whole, they possess a very weak antibacterial activity, a slight antifungal effect and one of them, vespertilin, displays interesting cytostatic activity (ID50 = 5 micrograms/ml). A pharmacodynamic screening carried out on this product mainly revealed very slight toxicity, antihistaminic activity and a light tranquilizing effect. The data obtained justify further research.The purpose of this study was to characterize the role of ions other than Ca2+ in hepatic responses to alpha 1-adrenergic stimulation. We report that the alpha 1-adrenoreceptor activation of hepatic functions is accompanied by extracellular acidification and an increase in intracellular pH. These effects are dependent on extracellular Na+ concentration and are inhibited by the Na+/H+ antiporter blocker 5-(N-ethyl-N-isopropyl) amiloride under conditions that preclude antagonistic effects on agonist binding. Thus, the activation of plasma membrane Na+/H+ exchange is an essential feature of the hepatic alpha-adrenoreceptor-coupled signaling pathway. The following observations indicate that the sustained hepatic alpha 1-adrenergic actions rely on a functional coupling between the plasma membrane Na+/H+ and Na+/Ca2+ exchangers, resulting in the stimulation of Ca2+ influx. 1) Inhibition of the Na+/K(+)-ATPase does not prevent the alpha 1-adrenergic effects. However, alpha 1-adrenoreceptor stimulation fails to induce intracellular alkalinization and to acidify the extracellular medium in the absence of extracellular Ca2+. 2) A non-receptor-induced increase in intracellular Na+ concentration, caused by the ionophore monensin, stimulates Ca2+ influx and increases vascular resistance. 3) Inhibition of Na+/Ca2+ exchange prevents, in a concentration-dependent manner, most of the alpha 1-agonist-induced responses. 4) The actions of Ca(2+)-mobilizing vasoactive peptide receptors or alpha 2-adrenoreceptors, which produce neither sustained extracellular acidification nor release of Ca2+, are insensitive to Na+/H+ exchange blockers.Poster presentado en la VII Reunion Anual de la Red Tematica de Investigacion Cooperativa en Cancer (RTICC), celebrada en Salamanca el 24 de septiembre de 2014Resumen del trabajo presentado al VI Meeting de la Red Espanola de Canales Ioniocs (RECI), celebrado en Santiago de Compostela del 6 al 8 de septiembre de 2017.Tesis Doctoral presentada por Laura Jimenez Perez para optar al grado de doctor por la Universidad de Valladolid, Departamento de Bioquimica y Biologia Molecular y FisiologiaPoster presentado en la VII Reunion Anual de la Red Tematica de Investigacion Cooperativa en Cancer (RTICC), celebrada en Salamanca el 24 de septiembre de 2014Resumen del trabajo presentado al XXXXVIII Congreso de la Sociedad Espanola de Bioquimica y Biologia Molecular (SEBBM), celebrado en Valencia del 7 al 10 de septiembre de 2015.Esta Tesis Doctoral fue realizada en el Centro Andaluz de Biologia del Desarrollo por la licenciada Briseida Beli Cacho Valadez para optar al grado de Doctor por la Universidad Pablo de Olavide.Rat liver S-adenosylmethionine (AdoMet) synthetase appears as high-M(r) (tetramer) and low-M(r) (dimer) forms. Both are inhibited in the presence of GSSG at pH 8. The calculated Ki values are 2.14 and 4.03 mM for the high- and low-M(r) forms, respectively. No effect on enzyme activity was observed in the presence of GSH, but modulation of inhibition by GSSG can be obtained by addition of GSH. At a total glutathione concentration (GSH + GSSG) of 10 mM, a KOX of 1.74 was calculated for the high-M(r) form, whereas this constant was 2.85 for the low-M(r) AdoMet synthetase. No incorporation of [35S]GSSG was observed in either of the enzyme forms, and inhibition of enzyme activity was correlated with dissociation of both AdoMet synthetases to a monomer. The data obtained in the presence of GSSG seem to suggest that oxidation leads to the formation of an intrasubunit disulfide. The possible regulation of AdoMet synthetase activity by the GSH/GSSG ratio is discussed, as well as its in vivo significance.Trabajo presentado en el XI Simposi de Neurobiologia: Future technical advances, organizado por la Socitat Catalana de Biologia, en Barcelona, los dias 12 y 13 de noviembre de 2018El estudio de la relacion entre componentes de la dieta y la salud/enfermedad utiliza metodos de valoracion de la ingesta dietetica, del estatus nutricional y de marcadores de funcion o de efecto. En concreto, en el estudio de los carotenoides y la salud ocular, interesa el estudio de dos carotenoides sin actividad provitamina A, la luteina y la zeaxantina, por su posible papel en la optimizacion de la funcion visual y en la prevencion de enfermedades cronicas asociadas a la edad, y de tres carotenoides con actividad provitamina A: -caroteno, -caroteno y -criptoxantina, por ser precursores de retinol, nutriente del que depende el ciclo visual para una vision normal. En el presente trabajo se ha llevado a cabo el estudio de los carotenoides de la dieta mas relevantes para la salud ocular humana considerando de forma simultanea parametros relacionados con la ingesta, el estatus y la funcion visual, asi como diversas variables que pueden modificar el estatus nutricional, como son la concentracion de lipidos en sangre, y la bioaccesibilidad de los carotenoides a partir de alimentos de amplio consumo...Fetal rat hepatocytes treated with transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) die by apoptosis. However, a subpopulation of them survives and undergoes an epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT). This transition also occurs upon incubation with fetal bovine serum. We have isolated the subpopulations that undergo EMT (TGF-beta-treated-fetal hepatocytes: TbetaT-FH; serum-treated-fetal hepatocytes: ST-FH) and show that they present high levels of vimentin and Snail expression and lack cytokeratin 18 and E-cadherin. Both TbetaT-FH and ST-FH cells require mitogens to grow and maintain the response to TGF-beta in terms of growth inhibition. However, they lack differentiation markers such as the liver-enriched transcription factors hepatocyte nuclear factor 4 (HNF-4) or HNF-1alpha and express the progenitor marker OV-6. Interestingly, the EMT process confers them resistance to the apoptotic effect of TGF-beta, with cells showing higher levels of active AKT and Bcl-x(L) than fetal hepatocytes. In summary, these cells are refractory to the apoptotic effects of TGF-beta, showing characteristics of liver progenitors and of some hepatocellular carcinoma cells.Memoria de tesis presentada por Luis Vazquez Fonseca, Licenciado en Bioquimica para optar al grado de Doctor. Esta Tesis Doctoral ha sido realizada bajo el programa de doctorado de Biotecnologia y Tecnologia Quimica en el grupo de investigacion del CIBERER U729 en el Centro Andaluz de Biologia del Desarrollo, Area de Biologia Celular del Departamento de Fisiologia, Anatomia y Biologia Celular de la Universidad Pablo de Olavide y bajo la direccion del Dr. Carlos Santos Ocana y el Dr. Placido NavasResumen del poster presentado al Joint FEPS & XXXVI Spanish Physiological Society Congress (Sociedad Espanola de Ciencias Fisiologicas) celebrado en Santiago de Compostela (Espana) del 8 al 11 de septiembre de 2012.Poster presentado al 17o Congreso Nacional de la Sociedad Espanola de Neurociencia, celebrado en Alicante del 27 al 30 de septiembre de 2017.The mutations at the bithorax locus produce a transformation of anterior haltere into anterior wing. The bx1 allele presents unusual features when compared with other bx alleles. The phenotype of bx1 homozygotes is temperature sensitive but only with regard to the distal and not to the proximal transformation, thus suggesting two different components in the bithorax transformation. The phenotype of bx1 homozygotes is stronger than that of bx1 over the deletion of the gene, suggesting a trans interaction of the bx1 chromosomes which results in mutual partial inactivation. We show by temperature shift and clonal analysis experiments that the decision on whether to differentiate haltere or wing structures is taken at the end of the proliferation period of the mutant disc.Poster presentado al XXXVII Congreso de la Sociedad Espanola de Bioquimica y Biologia Molecular, celebrado en Granada del 9 al 12 de septiembre de 2014.Poster presentado al XXVII Congreso Nacional de la Asociacion Espanola de Genetica Humana celebrado en Madrid del 10 al 12 de abril de 2013.Poster presentado al XXXVII Congreso de la Sociedad Espanola de Bioquimica y Biologia Molecular, celebrado en Granada del 9 al 12 de septiembre de 2014.Poster presentado en el XI European Meeting on Glial Cells in Health and Disease, celebrado los dias 3 al 6 de julio de 2013 en Berlin (Alemania)Resumen del trabajo presentado al Spanish Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (SEBBM), celebrado en Madrid del 16 al 19 de julio de 2019.Poster presentado en el XII European Meeting on Glial Cells in Health and Disease, celebrado los dias 15 a 18 de julio de 2015 en Bilbao (Espana)Trabajo presentado en el XL Congreso de la Sociedad Espanola de Bioquimica y Biologia Molecular. FEBS3+1st Joint Meeting of the French-Portuguese-Spanish Biochemical and Molecular, celebrado en Barcelona (Espana), del 23 al 26 de octubre de 2017Resumen del poster presentado al Joint FEPS & XXXVI Spanish Physiological Society Congress (Sociedad Espanola de Ciencias Fisiologicas) celebrado en Santiago de Compostela (Espana) del 8 al 11 de septiembre de 2012.Trabajo presentado en el XII GEIRLI Meeting: New trends in redox biology: a multidisciplinary approach, celebrado en Barcelona (Espana), los dias 4 y 5 de julio de 2019Treatment of nucleosomal particles with dimethylmaleic anhydride, a reagent for protein amino groups, is accompanied by a biphasic release of histones H2A plus H2B; one H2A.H2B dimer is more easily released than the other. This behavior allows the preparation of nucleosomal particles containing only one H2A.H2B dimer, which were complemented with 125I-labeled H2A.H2B. These reconstituted particles, which contain one labeled and one unlabeled H2A.H2B dimer, were treated with the amount of reagent needed to release one of the two H2A.H2B dimers. Radioactivity was equally distributed between residual particles and released proteins, which is consistent with equivalent binding sites in the nucleosomal particle for H2A.H2B dimers, rather than with intrinsically different sites. The asymmetric release of H2A.H2B dimers would be caused by a change in the binding site of one dimer following the release of the other. This behavior might be related to the structural dynamics of nucleosomes.Resumen del trabajo presentado al European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Congress, celebrado en Barcelona (Espana) del 26 al 30 de agosto de 2017.Resumen del poster presentado al 49th European Association for the Study of Diabetes Annual Meeting, celebrado en Barcelona (Espana) del 23 al 27 de septiembre de 2013.-- et al.Trabajo doctoral realizado por Da Rebeca Lapresa Ruiz de Gauna, para optar al grado de doctor por la Universidad de Salamanca.Rationale: Several animal models have been developed to study acute lung injury (ALI); however the majority of these studies are focused on different mechanisms within the acute phase. These models do not allow studying the mechanisms in the later phases or testing any possible long-term treatment. The aim of this study was to develop an experimental ALI model simulating bronchial aspiration of gastric contents with bacterial superinfection with alveolar epithelial damage persisting over time. Methods: Sprague-Dawley rats (200-250g) were anesthetized with isofluorane. ALI was induced by intratracheal instillation of HCl (1 µl/g, 0.1 mol/L pH=1.4) followed by instillation of LPS from Escherichia coli O55:B5 (0, 10, 20, 30 or 40µg/g b.w.) two hours later. Control rats were treated with intratracheal instillations of saline. After 72h, the animals were sacrificed and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was sampled for further analysis of total protein concentration by bicinchoninic acid method. Results: At 72 h, rats suffered a significant loss of weight proportional to the administered dose of LPS (5.6% with 10µg/g b.w, 12.6% with 20µg/g b.w, 14.2% with 30µg/g b.w and 17.7% with 40µg/g b.w). Control rats gained in weight at 72h. LPS at 10, 20, 30 and 40µg/g b.w induced a 1.7, 2.5, 2.9 and 3.4 fold increase in total protein concentration in BAL fluid, respectively, reflecting a substantial increase proportional to the LPS dose. Conclusion: The degree of weight loss and the increase of total protein concentration in BAL fluid in the current model may reflect disease severity and progression. This model would be useful in future for new therapeutical options. Grant acknowledgements: FIS-PI12/02548 and Fundacio Parc Tauli.Resumen del trabajo presentado al European Respiratory Society (ERS) International Congress, celebrado en Paris (Francia) del 15 al 19 de septiembre de 2018.Resumen del trabajo presentado a las 5as Jornadas de Formacion del CIBERES celebradas en Bunyola (Mallorca) del 18 al 19 de octubre de 2012.Resumen del poster presentado al Joint FEPS & XXXVI Spanish Physiological Society Congress (Sociedad Espanola de Ciencias Fisiologicas) celebrado en Santiago de Compostela (Espana) del 8 al 11 de septiembre de 2012.Resumen del trabajo presentado al XIII Congreso de la Sociedad Espanola del Dolor, celebrado en Pamplona del 2 al 4 de junio de 2016.This work was supported by grants FIS-01/1048 and FIS-02/1199 from the Fondo de Investigacion Sanitaria and grant SA-087/01 from Junta de Castilla y Leon.Resumen del poster presentado al Joint Meeting of the American Physiological Society and the Physiological Society, celebrado en Dublin (Irlanda) del 29 al 31 de julio de 2016.Trabajo presentado al 5th International Conference on Phospholipase A2 Mediated Signaling in Translational Medicine celebrado en New Orleans (US) del 20 al 21 de mayo de 2013.Tesis Doctoral presentada por Rebeca Torres Merino para optar al grado de Doctora por la Universidad de Valladolid, Facultad de Medicina: Dpto. de Bioquimica y Biologia Molecular y Fisiologia.Poster presentado al Annual Meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO), celebrado en Seattle, Washington (US) del 1 al 5 de mayo de 2016.Resumen del trabajo presentado al 63rd Annual Meeting Biophysical Society, celebrado en Baltimore, Maryland (USA) del 2 al 6 de marzo de 2019.Poster presentado al XXXVII Congreso de la Sociedad Espanola de Bioquimica y Biologia Molecular, celebrado en Granada del 9 al 12 de septiembre de 2014.Resumen del poster presentado a la 5th Conference on Advances in Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Neurological Disorders (Joint conference of the European Society for Neurochemistry and the Biochemical Society) en la University of Bath (UK) del 23 al 26 de junio de 2013.-- Tambien presentado al 15o Congreso Nacional de la Sociedad Espanola de Neurociencia (SENC) celebrado en Oviedo del 25 al 27 de septiembre de 2013.Resumen del trabajo presentado al XXXVI Congreso de la Sociedad Espanola de Bioquimica y Biologia Molecular celebrado en Madrid del 4 al 6 de septiembre de 2013.Resumen del trabajo presentado a la 5th Conference on Advances in Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Neurological Disorders (Joint conference of the European Society for Neurochemistry and the Biochemical Society) en la University of Bath (UK) del 23 al 26 de junio de 2013.Resumen del poster presentado al XXVIII Congreso Nacional de la Sociedad Espanola de diabetes, celebrado en Bilbao del 20 al 22 de abril de 2016.SAF2016-77703-C2-2-R of the Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad, Spain and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF); AGAUR 2017-SGR106 and the CERCA Programme of the Generalitat de Catalunya; C. Sanfeliu belong to Group 05 of CIBER Epidemiologia y Salud Publica (CIBERESP) of the Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Ministerio de Sanidad y Consumo, Spain

Survival and apoptosis: a dysregulated balance in liver cancer

Background/Aims: Dysregulation of the balance between proliferation and cell death represents a protumorigenic principle in human hepatocarcinogenesis. This article aims to provide a review of the current findings about how physiological hepatocyte apoptosis is regulated and whether or not its dysregulation might contribute to the progression towards a hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) process.

Upregulation of the NADPH oxidase NOX4 by TGF-beta in hepatocytes is required for its pro-apoptotic activity

BACKGROUND/AIMS The transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) induces apoptosis in hepatocytes through an oxidative stress process. Here, we have analyzed the role of different NADPH oxidase isoforms in the intracellular signalling induced by TGF-beta in hepatocytes, to later explore whether this mechanism is altered in liver tumor cells. METHODS Primary cultures of rat and human hepatocytes, HepG2 and Hep3B cells were used in in vitro studies to analyze the TGF-beta response. RESULTS TGF-beta-induced apoptosis in rat hepatocytes does not require Rac-dependent NADPH oxidases. TGF-beta upregulates the Rac-independent Nox4, which correlates with its pro-apoptotic activity. Regulation of Nox4 occurs at the transcriptional level and is counteracted by intracellular survival signals. siRNA targeted knock-down of Nox4 attenuates NADPH oxidase activity, caspase activation and cell death in rat hepatocytes. NOX4 upregulation by TGF-beta is also observed in human hepatocytes, coincident with apoptosis. In human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell lines, NOX4 upregulation by TGF-beta is only observed in cells that are sensitive to its cytotoxic effect, such as Hep3B cells. siRNA targeted knock-down of NOX4 in these cells impairs TGF-beta-induced apoptosis. CONCLUSIONS Upregulation of NOX4 by TGF-beta is required for its pro-apoptotic activity in hepatocytes. Impairment of this TGF-beta-induced response might confer apoptosis resistance in HCC cells.

Involvement of EGF receptor and c-Src in the survival signals induced by TGF-beta1 in hepatocytes.

Transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-β1) belongs to a family of polypeptide factors, whose cytostatic and apoptotic functions help restrain the growth of mammalian cells. Although solid data established the role of TGF-βs as suppressor factors in tumorigenic processes, in the context of an advanced stage of disease, TGF-βs could also play a pro-oncogenic role. We have previously shown that TGF-β1 induces both pro- and antiapoptotic signals in foetal rat hepatocytes. In this work, we have focused on its antiapoptotic mechanism. We show that TGF-β1 activates the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and phosphorylates c-Src. EGFR is required for Akt activation. Blocking EGFR signalling amplifies the apoptotic response to TGF-β1. TGF-β1 induced a rapid activation of the tumour necrosis factor-α-converting enzyme (TACE/ADAM (a disintegrin and metalloprotease) 17). Inhibitors of TACE considerably attenuated Akt activation, which suggests that TGF-β1 activates EGF signalling in hepatocytes by promoting shedding of EGF-like ligands. The activation of c-Src by TGF-β1 is EGFR dependent and is required for full Akt phosphorylation and cell survival. Inhibition of EGFR does not block the epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) induced by TGF-β1 in hepatocytes, which indicates that activation of EGFR plays an essential role in impairing apoptosis, but it is dispensable for the EMT process.

Activation of NADPH oxidase by transforming growth factor-β in hepatocytes mediates up-regulation of epidermal growth factor receptor ligands through a nuclear factor-κB-dependent mechanism

The TGF-beta (transforming growth factor-beta) induces survival signals in foetal rat hepatocytes through transactivation of EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor). The molecular mechanism is not completely understood, but both activation of the TACE (tumour necrosis factor alpha-converting enzyme)/ADAM17 (a disintegrin and metalloproteinase 17; one of the metalloproteases involved in shedding of the EGFR ligands) and up-regulation of TGF-alpha and HB-EGF (heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor) appear to be involved. In the present study, we have analysed the molecular mechanisms that mediate up-regulation of the EGFR ligands by TGF-beta in foetal rat hepatocytes. The potential involvement of ROS (reactive oxygen species), an early signal induced by TGF-beta, and the existence of an amplification loop triggered by initial activation of the EGFR, have been studied. Results indicate that DPI (diphenyleneiodonium) and apocynin, two NOX (NADPH oxidase) inhibitors, and SB431542, an inhibitor of the TbetaR-I (TGF-beta receptor I), block up-regulation of EGFR ligands and Akt activation. Different members of the NOX family of genes are expressed in hepatocytes, included nox1, nox2 and nox4. TGF-beta up-regulates nox4 and increases the levels of Rac1 protein, a known regulator of both Nox1 and Nox2, in a TbetaR-I-dependent manner. TGF-beta mediates activation of the nuclear factor-kappaB pathway, which is inhibited by DPI and is required for up-regulation of TGF-alpha and HB-EGF. In contrast, EGFR activation is not required for TGF-beta-induced up-regulation of those ligands. Considering previous work that has established the role of ROS in apoptosis induced by TGF-beta in hepatocytes, the results of the present study indicate that ROS might mediate both pro- and anti-apoptotic signals in TGF-beta-treated cells.

EGF blocks NADPH oxidase activation by TGF-β in fetal rat hepatocytes, impairing oxidative stress, and cell death

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) is a survival signal for transforming growth factor‐beta (TGF‐β)‐induced apoptosis in hepatocytes, phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase (PI 3‐K) being involved in this effect. Here, we analyze the possible cross talks between EGF and TGF‐β signals to understand how EGF impairs the early pro‐apoptotic events induced by TGF‐β. Data have indicated that neither SMAD nor c‐Jun NH2 Terminal Kinase (JNK) activations are altered by EGF, which clearly interferes with events directly related to the radical oxygen species (ROS) production, impairing oxidative stress, p38 MAP kinase activation, and cell death. Activation of a NADPH‐oxidase‐like system, which is responsible for the early ROS production by TGF‐β, is completely inhibited by EGF, through a PI 3‐K‐dependent mechanism. Activity of RAC1 increases by TGF‐β, but also by EGF, and both act synergistically to get maximum effects. Fetal rat hepatocytes express nox4, in addition to nox1 and nox2, and TGF‐β clearly upregulates nox4. EGF blocks up‐regulation of nox4 by TGF‐β. Interestingly, in the presence of PI 3‐K inhibitors, EGF is not able to counteract the nox4 upregulation by TGF‐β. Taking together these results indicate that impairment of TGF‐β‐induced NADPH oxidase activation by EGF is a RAC1‐independent process and correlates with an inhibition of the mechanisms that address the increase of nox4 mRNA levels by TGF‐β. J. Cell. Physiol. 207: 322–330, 2006.

Activation of p38MAPK by TGF-β in fetal rat hepatocytes requires radical oxygen production, but is dispensable for cell death

We have previously found that transforming growth factor‐β (TGF‐β) induces an increase in radical oxygen species (ROS) production that mediates its apoptotic effects in fetal hepatocytes. In this paper we show that TGF‐β activates p38 mitogen‐activated protein kinase (p38MAPK) and ROS may be responsible for this activation. Activation of p38MAPK occurs late, coincident with the maximal production of ROS, it is inhibited by radical scavengers and it is accentuated by the presence of glutathione synthesis inhibitors. However, p38MAPK does not appear to be involved in any of the apoptotic events: loss of Bcl‐xL levels, cytochrome c release, cleavage of caspase substrates and loss of cell viability.

BMP9 Is a Proliferative and Survival Factor for Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells

TGF-β family members play a relevant role in tumorigenic processes, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but a specific implication of the Bone Morphogenetic Protein (BMP) subfamily is still unknown. Although originally isolated from fetal liver, little is known about BMP9, a BMP family member, and its role in liver physiology and pathology. Our results show that BMP9 promotes growth in HCC cells, but not in immortalized human hepatocytes. In the liver cancer cell line HepG2, BMP9 triggers Smad1,5,8 phosphorylation and inhibitor of DNA binding 1 (Id1) expression up- regulation. Importantly, by using chemical inhibitors, ligand trap and gene silencing approaches we demonstrate that HepG2 cells autocrinely produce BMP9 that supports their proliferation and anchorage independent growth. Additionally, our data reveal that in HepG2 cells BMP9 triggers cell cycle progression, and strikingly, completely abolishes the increase in the percentage of apoptotic cells induced by long-term incubation in low serum. Collectively, our data unveil a dual role for BMP9, both promoting a proliferative response and exerting a remarkable anti-apoptotic function in HepG2 cells, which result in a robust BMP9 effect on liver cancer cell growth. Finally, we show that BMP9 expression is increased in 40% of human HCC tissues compared with normal human liver as revealed by immunohistochemistry analysis, suggesting that BMP9 signaling may be relevant during hepatocarcinogenesis in vivo. Our findings provide new clues for a better understanding of BMPs contribution, and in particular BMP9, in HCC pathogenesis that may result in the development of effective and targeted therapeutic interventions.

The NADPH oxidase NOX4 inhibits hepatocyte proliferation and liver cancer progression.

The NADPH oxidase NOX4 has emerged as an important source of reactive oxygen species in signal transduction, playing roles in physiological and pathological processes. NOX4 mediates transforming growth factor-β-induced intracellular signals that provoke liver fibrosis, and preclinical assays have suggested NOX4 inhibitors as useful tools to ameliorate this process. However, the potential consequences of sustained treatment of liver cells with NOX4 inhibitors are yet unknown. The aim of this work was to analyze whether NOX4 plays a role in regulating liver cell growth either under physiological conditions or during tumorigenesis. In vitro assays proved that stable knockdown of NOX4 expression in human liver tumor cells increased cell proliferation, which correlated with a higher percentage of cells in S/G2/M phases of the cell cycle, downregulation of p21(CIP1/WAF1), increase in cyclin D1 protein levels, and nuclear localization of β-catenin. Silencing of NOX4 in untransformed human and mouse hepatocytes also increased their in vitro proliferative capacity. In vivo analysis in mice revealed that NOX4 expression was downregulated under physiological proliferative situations of the liver, such as regeneration after partial hepatectomy, as well as during pathological proliferative conditions, such as diethylnitrosamine-induced hepatocarcinogenesis. Xenograft experiments in athymic mice indicated that NOX4 silencing conferred an advantage to human hepatocarcinoma cells, resulting in earlier onset of tumor formation and increase in tumor size. Interestingly, immunochemical analyses of NOX4 expression in human liver tumor cell lines and tissues revealed decreased NOX4 protein levels in liver tumorigenesis. Overall, results described here strongly suggest that NOX4 would play a growth-inhibitory role in liver cells.

Glucagon regulation of oxidative phosphorylation requires an increase in matrix adenine nucleotide content through Ca2+ activation of the mitochondrial ATP-Mg/Pi carrier SCaMC-3

Background: Glucagon stimulates liver respiration. Results: SCaMC-3 is the only functional mitochondrial ATP-Mg/Pi carrier in adult liver and SCaMC-3 deficiency prevents glucagon effects in hepatocytes and in vivo. Conclusion: SCaMC-3 is required for the stimulation of oxidative phosphorylation in response to glucagon through a Ca2+-dependent increase of mitochondrial adenine nucleotides and Ca2+ retention. Significance: Ca2+ stimulation of SCaMC-3 is required for liver response to glucagon. It has been known for a long time that mitochondria isolated from hepatocytes treated with glucagon or Ca2+-mobilizing agents such as phenylephrine show an increase in their adenine nucleotide (AdN) content, respiratory activity, and calcium retention capacity (CRC). Here, we have studied the role of SCaMC-3/slc25a23, the mitochondrial ATP-Mg/Pi carrier present in adult mouse liver, in the control of mitochondrial AdN levels and respiration in response to Ca2+ signals as a candidate target of glucagon actions. With the use of SCaMC-3 knock-out (KO) mice, we have found that the carrier is responsible for the accumulation of AdNs in liver mitochondria in a strictly Ca2+-dependent way with an S0.5 for Ca2+ activation of 3.3 ± 0.9 μm. Accumulation of matrix AdNs allows a SCaMC-3-dependent increase in CRC. In addition, SCaMC-3-dependent accumulation of AdNs is required to acquire a fully active state 3 respiration in AdN-depleted liver mitochondria, although further accumulation of AdNs is not followed by increases in respiration. Moreover, glucagon addition to isolated hepatocytes increases oligomycin-sensitive oxygen consumption and maximal respiratory rates in cells derived from wild type, but not SCaMC-3-KO mice and glucagon administration in vivo results in an increase in AdN content, state 3 respiration and CRC in liver mitochondria in wild type but not in SCaMC-3-KO mice. These results show that SCaMC-3 is required for the increase in oxidative phosphorylation observed in liver mitochondria in response to glucagon and Ca2+-mobilizing agents, possibly by allowing a Ca2+-dependent accumulation of mitochondrial AdNs and matrix Ca2+, events permissive for other glucagon actions.