CD133 cancer stem cells promoted by VEGF accelerate the recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma.

The role of cancer stem cells (CSCs) in inducing the recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after radiofrequency ablation (RFA) remains unclear. Here, we found that a dramatic increase in plasma vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and an induction of local CD133 CSCs are associated with early HCC recurrence, suggesting that VEGF expression and tumour stemness contribute to the relapse. In vitro studies demonstrated that VEGF, via activation of VEGFR2, increased the number of CD133 CSCs and enhanced their capacity for self-renewal by inducing the expression of Nanog.

Radiofrequency ablation-increased CXCL10 is associated with earlier recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma by promoting stemness.

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) represents a valuable choice in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC); however, local recurrence of HCC is common after RFA. Here, 20 primary HCC patients treated by RFA were enrolled. Before (termed 0d) and after RFA treatment for 1 and 7 days (termed 1d and 7d, respectively), plasma and noncancerous tissue were collected.

AEG-1 Promotes Metastasis Through Downstream AKR1C2 and NF1 in Liver Cancer.

Liver cancer is one of the most lethal cancers, but our knowledge of the molecular mechanism underlying this process remains insufficient. Through deep sequencing and expression regulation analysis in liver cancer cells, we identified two novel factors, AKR1C2 (positive factor) and NF1 (negative factor), as the AEG-1 downstream players in the process of metastasis in liver cancer. They were experimentally validated to have the capacities of regulating cell migration, cell invasion, cell proliferation, and EMT.

High-Content Functional Screening of AEG-1 and AKR1C2 for the Promotion of Metastasis in Liver Cancer.

Liver cancer is one of the most lethal cancer types in humans, but our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying this process remains insufficient. Here, we conducted high-content screening of the potential genes involved in liver cancer metastasis, which we selected from the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway database, based on the SAMcell method and RNA interference technology. We identified two powerful genes in the liver cancer metastasis process, AEG-1 and AKR1C2, both of which proved to be positive regulators in promoting metastasis in liver cancer.

A Huaier polysaccharide reduced metastasis of human hepatocellular carcinoma SMMC-7721 cells via modulating AUF-1 signaling pathway.

TP-1 is a polysaccharide from one famous fungus Huaier. Treatment with TP-1 significantly inhibited the cell growth, adhesion, migration, and motility of SMMC-7721 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Real-time quantitative RT-PCR revealed a dose-dependent decrease in RNA-binding factor 1 (AUF-1) and astrocyte elevated gene-1 (AEG-1) messenger RNA (mRNA) levels in TP-1-treated SMMC-7721 cells, which is consistent with their protein expression detected by Western blotting.

Cytokine levels are associated with the severity of varicella infections.

Introduction: Varicella is a highly contagious disease. Epidemics of varicella are seen every year globally and present a threat to public health, especially in China and other developing countries.

Methodology: Clinical and laboratory findings of 865 varicella patients admitted to Beijing You'an Hospital, China, between January 2011 and December 2013 were collected and analyzed.

A Huaier polysaccharide restrains hepatocellular carcinoma growth and metastasis by suppression angiogenesis.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a highly metastatic cancer. Huaier polysaccharide (TP-1) is a naturally occurring bioactive macromolecule, found in Huaier fungus and has been shown to exert in vitro antitumor and antimetastasis for HCC, but no study has addressed in vivo efficacy and mechanisms of action. Presently, we found that TP-1 at doses of 0.

A Huaier polysaccharide inhibits hepatocellular carcinoma growth and metastasis.

This study was carried out to evaluate the effects of a Huaier polysaccharide (TP-1) on the tumor growth and immune function in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) H22-based mouse in vivo. Results showed that TP-1 was capable of repressing transplanted H22 solid hepatic tumor cell growth in vivo, prolonging the live time of mice bearing ascetic H22 tumors, and repressing the pulmonary metastasis of H22-bearing mice. Moreover, the relative weight of immune organ (spleen and thymus) and lymphocyte proliferation were improved after TP-1 treatment.

Astrocyte elevated gene-1 (AEG-1) shRNA sensitizes Huaier polysaccharide (HP)-induced anti-metastatic potency via inactivating downstream P13K/Akt pathway as well as augmenting cell-mediated immune response.

Astrocyte elevated gene-1 (AEG-1) is an important force in the development and progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). To extend our study, we examined here the role of AEG-1 in anti-metastatic effects of Huaier polysaccharide (HP) on the human HCC MHCC97-H cell line. AEG-1 shRNA contributed to the anti-proliferation effect of HP on MHCC97-H cells.

Huaier polysaccharides suppresses hepatocarcinoma MHCC97-H cell metastasis via inactivation of EMT and AEG-1 pathway.

We have recently reported that astrocyte elevated gene-1 (AEG-1) might be an epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) associated biomarker in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and play an important role in the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma. To extend our study, we examined here the anti-invasive and metastatic effects of Huaier polysaccharide (HP) on human HCC cell line MHCC97-H and explored its possible mechanism of action. Treatment with HP dose-dependently inhibited the proliferation, adhesion, migration and invasion of MHCC97-H cells in vitro.

Astrocyte elevated gene-1 is a novel biomarker of epithelial-mesenchymal transition and progression of hepatocellular carcinoma in two China regions.

Astrocyte elevated gene-1 (AEG-1) is involved in important biological processes including cell invasion, metastasis, and carcinogenesis. However, its clinical significance has remained largely unknown in hepatocellular carcinoma. Here, specimens from 144 patients with hepatocellular carcinomas in Beijing and Heilongjiang regions were investigated by immunohistochemical staining for AEG-1, vimentin, and E-cadherin expressions.

[Regulation of microRNA-122 on HBV replication by targeting HBx sequence].

In order to find microRNA associated with HBV infection and to explore the mechanism of the infection, first of all, we found in our preliminary study that in HepG2 cells transfected with HBV expression plasmid, miR-122 expression was up-regulated, suggesting that miR-122 was related to the HBV infection. On this basis, in the present study, miR-122 and pCH9-HBV1.1 plasmid were cotransfected into HepG2 cells.

[Comparison of antiviral responses to adefovir dipivoxil therapy of genotype B and genotype C HBV infected patients].

Objective: To investigate the role of HBV genotypes on their response to adefovir dipivoxil (ADV) antiviral therapy.

Methods: HBV genotypes from 177 HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients were identified and the patients were treated with ADV 10 mg per day for 48 weeks. The clinical data in terms of serum HBV DNA seroclearance, mean HBV DNA reduction (log value), HBeAg loss, anti-HBe seroconversion and serum ALT of those patients were analyzed against their HBV genotypes.