Aldo-keto reductase family member C3(AKR1C3)promotes hepatocellular carcinoma cell growth by producing prostaglandin F2α

Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is a leading cause of death worldwide.Current therapies are effective for HCC patients with early disease,but many patients suffer recurrence after surgery and have a poor response to chemotherapy.Therefore,new therapeutic targets are needed.We analyzed gene expression profiles between HCC tissues and normal adjacent tissues from public databases and found that the expression of genes involved in lipid metabolism was significantly different.The analysis showed that AKR1C3 was upregulated in tumors,and high AKR1C3 expression was associated with a poorer prognosis in HCC patients.In vitro,assays demonstrated that the knockdown of AKR1C3 or the addition of the AKR1C3 inhibitor indomethacin suppressed the growth and colony formation of HCC cell lines.Knockdown of AKR1C3 in Huh7 cells reduced tumor growth in vivo.To explore the mechanism,we performed pathway enrichment analysis,and the results linked the expression of AKR1C3 with prostaglandin F2 alpha(PGF2a)downstream target genes.Suppression of AKR1C3 activity reduced the production of PGF2a,and supplementation with PGF2a restored the growth of indomethacin-treated Huh7 cells.Knockdown of the PGF receptor(PTGFR)and treatment with a PTGFR inhibitor significantly reduced HCC growth.We showed that indomethacin potentiated the sensitivity of Huh7 cells to sorafenib.In summary,our results indicate that AKR1C3 upregulation may promote HCC growth by promoting the production of PGF2α,and suppression of PTGFR limited HCC growth.Therefore,targeting the AKR1C3-PGF2a-PTGFR axis may be a new strategy for the treatment of HCC.

AKR1B10联合GPC-3在肝细胞癌免疫组化诊断中的应用

目的探讨AKR1B10和GPC-3联合应用对提高肝细胞癌(HCC)免疫组化诊断敏感性和特异性的价值。方法制备75例HCC组织芯片作为训练集,进行AKR1B10和GPC-3免疫组化检测,建立Logistic回归诊断模型,以此构建ROC曲线(受试者工作特征曲线),利用其曲线下面积(AUC)对单个指标和联合指标的敏感性和特异性进行评估。将Logistic回归诊断模型用于200例HCC的测试集中,检测其有效性。结果训练集中,AKR1B10和GPC-3的AUC分别为0.773和0.800,联合诊断后的AUC提高至0.931;AKR1B10和GPC-3的敏感性分别为56%和61.3%,特异性均为98.7%,两者联合后的敏感性提高至88.0%,特异性为97.3%。测试集中,AKR1B10联合GPC-3对HCC诊断的敏感性和特异性分别为97.0%和96.5%。结论AKR1B10联合GPC-3明显提高HCC免疫组化诊断的敏感性和特异性,可在常规病理检查中合理组合使用。

Berberine inhibits androgen synthesis by interaction with aldo-keto reductase 1C3 in 22Rv1 prostate cancer cells

AIdo-keto reductase family 1 member C3 has recently been regarded as a potential therapeutic target in castrate-resistant prostate cancer. Herein, we investigated whether berberine delayed the progression of castrate-resistant prostate cancer by reducing androgen synthesis through the inhibition of Aldo-keto reductase family 1 member C3. Cell viability and cellular testosterone content were measured in prostate cancer cells. Aido-keto reductase family 1 member C3 mRNA and protein level were detected by RT-PCR and Western bolt analyses, respectively. Computer analysis with AutoDock Tools explored the molecular interaction of berberine with Aldo-keto reductase family 1 member C3. We found that berberine inhibited 22Rvl cells proliferation and decreased cellular testosterone formation in a dose-dependent manner. Berberine inhibited Aldo-keto reductase family I member C3 enzyme activity, rather than influenced mRNA and protein expressions. Molecular docking study demonstrated that berberine could enter the active center of Aldo-keto reductase family 1 member C3 and form π-π interaction with the amino-acid residue Phe306 and Phe311. In conclusion, the structural interaction of berberine with Aldo-keto reductase family 1 member C3 is attributed to the suppression of Aldo-keto reductase family I member C3 enzyme activity and the inhibition of 22Rvl prostate cancer cell growth by decreasing the intfacellular androgen synthesis. Our result provides the experimental basis for the design, research, and development of AKRlC3 inhibitors using berberine as the lead compound.

Infant cholestasis patient with a novel missense mutation in the AKR1D1 gene successfully treated by early adequate supplementation with chenodeoxycholic acid: A case report and review of the literature

Steroid 5β-reductase [aldo-keto reductase family 1 member D1(AKR1D1)] is essential for bile acid biosynthesis. Bile acid deficiency caused by genetic defects in AKR1D1 leads to life-threatening neonatal hepatitis and cholestasis. There is still limited experience regarding the treatment of this disease. We describe an infant who presented with hyperbilirubinemia and coagulopathy but normal bile acid and γ-glutamyltransferase. Gene analysis was performed using genomic DNA from peripheral lymphocytes from the patient, his parents, and his elder brother. The patient was compound heterozygous for c.919C>T in exon 8 and exhibited a loss of heterozygosity of the AKR1D1 gene, which led to an amino acid substitution of arginine by cysteine at amino acid position 307(p.R307C). Based on these mutations, the patient was confirmed to have primary 5β-reductase deficiency. Ursodeoxycholic acid(UDCA) treatment did not have any effect on the patient. However, when we changed to chenodeoxycholic acid(CDCA) treatment, his symptoms and laboratory tests gradually improved. It is therefore crucial to supplement with an adequate dose of CDCA early to improve clinical symptoms and to normalize laboratory tests.

Study of Aldo-keto Reductase 1C3 Inhibitor with Novel Framework for Treating Leukaemia Based on Virtual Screening and In vitro Biological Activity Testing

Aldo-keto reductase 1C3(AKR1C3)is a potential target for the treatment of acute myeloid leukaemia and T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.In this study,pharmacophore models,molecular docking and virtual screening of target prediction were used to find a potential AKR1C3 inhibitor.Firstly,eight bacteriocin derivatives(Z1-Z8)were selected as training sets to construct 20 pharmacophore models.The best pharmacophore model MODEL_016 was obtained by Decoy test(the enrichment degree was 21.5117,and the fitting optimisation degree was 0.9668).Secondly,MODEL_016 was used for the virtual screening of ZINC database.Thirdly,the hit 83256 molecules were docked into the AKR1C3 protein.Compared to the total scores and interactions between compounds and protein,16532 candidate compounds with higher docking scores and interactions with important residues PHE306 and TRP227 were screened.Lastly,eight compounds(A1-A8)that had good absorption,distribution,metabolism,excretion and toxicity(ADMET)properties were obtained by target prediction.Compounds A3 and A7 with high total score and good target prediction results were selected for in vitro biological activity test,whose IC_(50) values were 268.3 and 88.94µmol/L,respectively.The results provide an important foundation for the discovery of novel AKR1C3 inhibitors.The research methods used in this study can also provide important references for the research and development of new drugs.

HCV核心蛋白调控miR-486-5p/AKR1B10促进肝癌细胞生长的实验研究

目的:探讨丙型肝炎病毒核心蛋白(HCVc)对肝癌HepG2细胞增殖凋亡和miR-486-5p以及醛酮还原家族1B10(AKR1B10)蛋白表达的影响。方法:以重组腺病毒Ad-GFP-HCVc感染HepG2细胞,采用RT-PCR和Western blot检测HepG2细胞HCVc表达,MTT法和流式细胞术分别检测HepG2细胞增殖和凋亡情况,qRT-PCR检测HepG2细胞中miR-486-5p表达,Western blot检测AKR1B10蛋白表达;以miR-486-5p抑制剂转染HepG2细胞,qRT-PCR和Western blot分别检测HepG2细胞中miR-486-5p和AKR1B10蛋白表达;采用双荧光素酶报告基因实验检测miR-486-5p和AKR1B10的靶向关系。结果:Ad-GFP-HCVc感染后,HepG2细胞中HCVc表达升高;与阴性对照组相比,HCVc组细胞增殖活力和AKR1B10蛋白表达明显升高,而细胞凋亡率和miR-486-5p表达明显降低(P<0.05);与anti-miR-NC组相比,转染miR-486-5p抑制剂的HepG2细胞miR-486-5p表达明显降低,而AKR1B10蛋白表达明显升高(P<0.05);双荧光素酶报告基因实验证实miR-486-5p可与AKR1B10靶向结合。结论:HCVc可能通过下调miR-486-5p表达引起其靶基因AKR1B10表达升高,促进HepG2细胞异常生长。

PI3K/AKT信号通路及AKR1C3在人瘢痕疙瘩形成中的作用机制研究

目的探讨磷脂酰肌醇-3-激酶(PI3K)/蛋白激酶B(AKT)信号通路、活性氧簇(ROS)、醛酮还原酶家族1成员C3(AKR1C3)在瘢痕疙瘩形成中的可能作用及机制。方法从昆明医科大学第一附属医院皮肤科收集9例瘢痕疙瘩组织标本(男6例,女3例,年龄24~40岁),以及6例进行其他手术的志愿者正常皮肤组织标本(男4例,女2例,年龄20~45岁),部分行组织包埋,部分行成纤维细胞原代培养。(1)免疫组织化学检测瘢痕疙瘩和正常皮肤组织中AKT(丝氨酸磷酸化位点473)[p-AKT(S473)]、AKT(苏氨酸磷酸化位点308)[p-AKT(T308)]和AKR1C3的蛋白相对表达量。(2)CCK-8法检测不同浓度(0、5、10、15、20、25、30、35、40、45、50 mmol/L)PI3K特异性抑制剂2-吗啉代-8-苯基色酮(LY294002)对瘢痕疙瘩成纤维细胞增殖的抑制作用,并筛选出LY294002最佳的实验浓度。(3)以ROS检测试剂盒分别检测不同浓度(0、4、6、8、10、12 mmol/L)ROS抑制剂N-乙酰半胱氨酸(NAC)和15 mmol/L LY294002对瘢痕疙瘩成纤维细胞内ROS水平的影响。(4)将瘢痕疙瘩或正常皮肤成纤维细胞分为对照组(正常培养不进行任何处理)、二甲基亚砜(DMSO)组(0.002%DMSO处理)、LY294002组(15 mmol/L LY294002处理)和NAC组(6 mmol/L NAC处理),定量PCR(qPCR)和蛋白质印迹法分别检测成纤维细胞中AKT mRNA、AKR1C3 mRNA及p-AKT(S473)、p-AKT(T308)和AKR1C3蛋白的表达水平。采用SPSS 20.0软件进行统计学分析,数据以±s表示,两组间比较采用独立样本t检验,多组间比较采用单因素方差分析,两两多重比较采用SNK-q检验,P<0.05表示差异有统计学意义。结果(1)免疫组织化学检测结果显示,瘢痕疙瘩组织中p-AKT(S473)、p-AKT(T308)和AKR1C3的蛋白表达水平分别为16.75±3.30、16.20±1.56、26.69±2.50,均显著高于正常皮肤组织的4.02±1.50、1.82±0.50、1.47±1.07(P<0.01)。(2)瘢痕疙瘩成纤维细胞经不同浓度LY294002干预24 h后,15~50 mmol/L LY294002组成纤维细胞增殖抑制率显著高于对照组(0 mmol/L组)(P<0.01)。LY294002最佳实验浓度为15 mmol/L。(3)不同浓度NAC作用于瘢痕疙瘩成纤维细胞1 h后,各组间ROS水平差异有统计学意义(P<0.01),且6 mmol/L NAC组ROS水平(0.72±0.03)最低。15 mmol/L LY294002组ROS水平显著低于对照组(0 mmol/L组)(0.80±0.01 vs.0.86±0.01,P<0.01)。(4)qPCR检测结果表明,瘢痕疙瘩成纤维细胞对照组中AKT、AKR1C3 mRNA表达量分别为1.38±0.09、1.40±0.05,明显高于正常皮肤成纤维细胞的0.97±0.10、0.98±0.03(P<0.01);经15 mmol/L LY294002处理后,瘢痕疙瘩成纤维细胞AKT mRNA表达量明显低于正常皮肤(0.73±0.05 vs.0.89±0.06,P<0.01);经6 mmol/L NAC处理后,瘢痕疙瘩成纤维细胞AKR1C3 mRNA低于正常皮肤(0.43±0.05 vs.0.86±0.03,P<0.01)。蛋白质印迹法检测结果显示,瘢痕疙瘩成纤维细胞中p-AKT(S473)、p-AKT(T308)、AKR1C3蛋白表达量分别为1.19±0.21、0.92±0.04、0.73±0.08,明显高于正常皮肤的0.24±0.06、0.33±0.05、0.31±0.05(P<0.01);经15 mmol/L LY294002和6 mmol/L NAC处理后,瘢痕疙瘩成纤维细胞中p-AKT(S473)蛋白表达量分别为0.92±0.04、0.80±0.20,p-AKT(T308)蛋白表达量分别为0.42±0.04、0.81±0.05,均明显高于正常皮肤(0.23±0.03、0.22±0.05,0.30±0.06、0.32±0.05),但瘢痕疙瘩成纤维细胞AKR1C3蛋白表达量(0.23±0.05)在15 mmol/L LY294002处理后低于正常皮肤(0.30±0.07),在6 mmol/L NAC处理后(0.33±0.07)高于正常皮肤(0.28±0.06)(P>0.05)。结论活化的PI3K/AKT信号通路和AKR1C3促进了瘢痕疙瘩成纤维细胞增殖及瘢痕疙瘩形成。同时,瘢痕疙瘩成纤维细胞内AKR1C3的升高可加速ROS升高。

AKR1B1 promotes pancreatic cancer metastasis by regulating lysosome-guided exosome secretion

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most lethal neoplasms with high metastatic potential and is resistant to almost all current therapies.Epalrestat is an aldo-keto reductase family 1 member B1(AKR1B1)inhibitor for the treatment of diabetic neuropathy,but its potential application in cancer treatment and the underlying mechanism are largely unknown.Here,we found that AKR1B1 is upregulated in pancreatic cancer and is positively associated with metastasis.Upregulated AKR1B1 promoted exosome secretion,accelerating cell migration in pancreatic cancer cells.Further analysis indicated that AKR1B1 negatively regulated lysosomal function and multivesicular body(MVB)degradation in lysosomes.However,AKR1B1 had a minimal role in the generation of MVBs.Transcription factor EB(TFEB)and MVB-expressed RAB7A were two molecular targets that are negatively regulated by AKR1B1.These results uncovered a critical role for AKR1B1 in the regulation of lysosomal function and exosome secretion.Pharmacological targeting of AKR1B1 by clinically used medicines,such as Epalrestat,might represent an efficient way to inhibit pancreatic growth and metastasis.

Intracrine androgen biosynthesis and drug resistance

Castration-resistant prostate cancer is the lethal form of prostate cancer and most commonly remains dependent on androgen receptor(AR)signaling.Current therapies use AR signaling inhibitors(ARSI)exemplified by abiraterone acetate,a P450c17 inhibitor,and enzalutamide,a potent AR antagonist.However,drug resistance to these agents occurs within 12-18 months and they only prolong overall survival by 3-4 months.Multiple mechanisms can contribute to ARSI drug resistance.These mechanisms can include but are not limited to germline mutations in the AR,post-transcriptional alterations in AR structure,and adaptive expression of genes involved in the intracrine biosynthesis and metabolism of androgens within the tumor.This review focuses on intracrine androgen biosynthesis,how this can contribute to ARSI drug resistance,and therapeutic strategies that can be used to surmount these resistance mechanisms.