In Vivo and In Vitro Models of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Current Strategies for Translational Modeling

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the sixth most common cancer worldwide and the third leading cause of cancer-related death globally. HCC is a complex multistep disease and usually emerges in the setting of chronic liver diseases. The molecular pathogenesis of HCC varies according to the etiology, mainly caused by chronic hepatitis B and C virus infections, chronic alcohol consumption, aflatoxin-contaminated food, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease associated with metabolic syndrome or diabetes mellitus. The establishment of HCC models has become essential for both basic and translational research to improve our understanding of the pathophysiology and unravel new molecular drivers of this disease. The ideal model should recapitulate key events observed during hepatocarcinogenesis and HCC progression in view of establishing effective diagnostic and therapeutic strategies to be translated into clinical practice. Despite considerable efforts currently devoted to liver cancer research, only a few anti-HCC drugs are available, and patient prognosis and survival are still poor. The present paper provides a state-of-the-art overview of in vivo and in vitro models used for translational modeling of HCC with a specific focus on their key molecular hallmarks

Efeitos da deficiência ou suplementação de zinco sobre a hepatocarcinogênese química em camundongos

Zinc is required for a wide range of enzymes and transcription factors involved in DNA repair, antioxidant defense and cell proliferation. Inadequate zinc intake could impair these functions, predisposing to the development of human diseases. This study evaluated whether dietary zinc deficiency or supplementation alter early chemically-induced mouse hepatocarcinogenesis. Male Balb/C mice received a single dose of diethylnitrosamine (DEN, 50 mg/Kg) at postnatal day (PND) 15 as an initiating agent for hepatocarcinogenesis. At PND 28, animals were allocated into three groups (n=13/group) and were fed AIN-93G diet containing different concentrations of zinc: adequate zinc (35 mg/Kg diet), zinc deficiency (3 mg/Kg diet) or zinc supplementation (180 mg/Kg diet). Also, 2-acetylaminefluorene (2-AAF, 0.02%) was incorporated in all experimental diets as a promoting agent for hepatocarcinogenesis. Mice were euthanized at 12 or 24 weeks after introducing the experimental diets. Blood and liver samples were collected to perform Comet Assay. Other liver fragments were sampled for histopathological, morphometrical and immunohistochemical analyses, western blotting and antioxidant profiling. Zinc deficiency decreased Nrf2 expression and reduced glutathione (GSH) levels and increased NFκB, p53 expression and the number of preneoplastic altered hepatocyte foci (AHF) per cm² at week 12. In addition, zinc deficiency decreased GSH levels and increased 2-AAF-induced genotoxicity (peripheral blood and liver), cell proliferation into AHF and AHF size at week 24. In contrast, zinc supplementation increased GSH levels and Glutathione Peroxidase (GPx) activity and decreased 2-AAF-induced genotoxicity (blood) and β-catenin expression at week 12. Besides, zinc supplementation increased GSH levels and GPx, superoxide dismutase, and catalase activity at week 24. The findings indicate that zinc deficiency promotes early chemically-induced mouse hepatocarcinogenesis while zinc supplementation enhances hepatic antioxidant defense.O Zinco é um elemento essencial para uma grande diversidade de enzimas e fatores de transcrição envolvidos no reparo ao DNA, defesa antioxidante e proliferação celular. O consumo inadequado desse metal pode prejudicar tais funções e predispor ao desenvolvimento de doenças. Assim, o estudo avaliou se a deficiência ou suplementação de zinco alteram os estágios iniciais da hepatocarcinogênese. Para tanto, camundongos Balb/C receberam dose única intraperitoneal do carcinógeno dietilnitrosamina (50 mg/Kg) no 15º dia pós-natal (DPN), para iniciação da hepatocarcinogênese. Ao 28º DPN, os animais foram randomicamente alocados em três grupos experimentais (n=13/grupo) recebendo dieta AIN-93G contendo níveis adequados (35 mg/Kg), deficiência (3 mg/Kg) ou suplementação (180 mg/Kg) de zinco, além do agente promotor acetilaminofluoreno (0.02% em todas as dietas). Os animais foram eutanasiados após 12 e 24 semanas após a introdução das dietas. Amostras de sangue periférico foram coletadas antes da eutanásia para a avaliação de genotoxicidade pelo Teste do Cometa. Na necropsia, amostras de fígado foram retiradas para o Teste do Cometa, avaliação histopatológica e morfométrica análise imunoistoquímica, determinação do perfil antioxidante e western blot. Na 12ª semana, a deficiência de zinco reduziu a expressão de Nrf2 e os níveis de glutationa reduzida (GSH) e aumentou a expressão de NFκB e p53 e número de lesões pré- neoplásicas por cm². Já na 24ª semana, a deficiência reduziu os níveis de GSH e aumentou a genotoxicidade induzida por 2-AAF (sangue e fígado), o tamanho e a proliferação celular das lesões pré-neoplásicas. Por outro lado, a suplementação aumentou os níveis de GSH e a atividade da enzima glutationa peroxidase (GPx) e reduziu a expressão de β-catenina e genotoxicidade induzida por 2-AAF (sangue). Ademais, na 24ª semana, a suplementação aumentou os níveis de GSH e a atividade das enzimas GPx, superóxido dismutase e catalase. Os resultados indicam que a deficiência de zinco promove a hepatocarcinogênese em seus estágios iniciais, enquanto a suplementação aumenta a defesa antioxidante hepática.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP

Efeitos da exposição gestacional ao Bisfenol-A, a Genisteína e ao Indol-3-Carbinol sobre morfogênese e carcinogênese de órgãos reprodutores de fêmeas Sprague-Dawley da geração F1

A exposição in utero a xenoestrógenos pode aumentar o risco de neoplasias de natureza endócrina na vida adulta. O Bisfenol A (BPA), componente de resinas e plástico, considerado xenoestrógeno e desregulador endócrino, tem sido investigado pelos seus potenciais efeitos adversos para a saúde humana. Como a Genisteína e o Indol-3-Carbinol possuem propriedades que podem inibir neoplasias de natureza endócrina, é possível que também atuem modulando/modificando os efeitos causados pela exposição gestacional ao BPA. O presente projeto teve como objetivos: (1) Avaliar os efeitos da exposição gestacional ao Bisfenol - A (BPA) sobre a morfogênese do útero e ovários na prole de fêmeas Sprague-Dawley (SD) da geração F1; (2) Avaliar se a exposição gestacional a genisteína e ao indol-3-carbinol altera os efeitos do BPA sobre sobre a morfogênese do útero e ovários na geração F1 e (3) avaliar os efeitos da exposição ao BPA, e às associações BPA e genisteína, BPA e indol-3-carbinol em relação à susceptibilidade a carcinogênese induzida pela N-Metil-N-Nitrosuréia (MNU). Portanto, fêmeas prenhas da linhagem SD foram divididas em 7 grupos experimentais e expostas ao Bisfenol A (BPA) (25 ou 250 ug/kg p.c.) DG 10 até o DG 21 (Moral et al. 2008), além de ração basal ou ração contendo genisteína (250 mg/kg) ou indol-3-carbinol (2000 mg/kg) durante toda a gestação. Parte da prole Fêmeas SD foi sacrificada parte no Dia Pós-Natal (DPN) 21 e parte ao final da 25ª semana após iniciação ou não com a MNU. Ao DPN 21 os ovários e útero foram removidos para contagem de folículos e morfometria, respectivamente. A prole restante de fêmeas recebeu uma única dose de MNU (50 mg/kg) ou solução de NaCl (1 ml/kg) no DPN 51 e foi sacrificada na 25ª semana após a aplicação de MNU ou de NaCl. Ovários e útero foi removidos para análises histológicas, incluindo a determinação de lesões proliferativas ..

Açai (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) feeding attenuates dimethylhydrazine-in- duced rat colon carcinogenesis

a b s t r a c t This study investigated the protective effect of spray-dried açaí powder (AP) intake on colon carcinogenesis induced by 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH) in male Wistar rats. After 4 weeks of DMH administrations, the groups were fed with standard diet, a diet containing 2.5% or 5.0% AP or a diet containing 0.2% N-acetylcysteine (NAC) for 10 weeks, using aberrant crypt foci (ACF) as the endpoint. Additionally, two groups were fed with standard diet or a diet containing 5.0% AP for 20 weeks, using colon tumors as the endpoint. In ACF assay, a reduction in the number of aberrant crypts (ACs) and ACF (1-3 AC) were observed in the groups fed with 5.0% AP (37% AC and 47% ACF inhibition, p = 0.036) and 0.2% NAC (39% AC and 41% ACF inhibition, p = 0.042). In tumor assay, a reduction in the number of invasive tumors (p < 0.005) and tumor multiplicity (p = 0.001) was observed in the group fed with 5.0% AP. Also, a reduction in tumor Ki-67 cell proliferation (p = 0.003) and net growth index (p = 0.001) was observed in the group fed with 5.0% AP. Therefore the findings of this study indicate that AP feeding may reduce the development of chemically-induced rat colon carcinogenesis

Acai (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) feeding attenuates dimethylhydrazine-induced rat colon carcinogenesis

This study investigated the protective effect of spray-dried gal powder (AP) intake on colon carcinogenesis induced by 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH) in male Wistar rats. After 4 weeks of DMH administrations, the groups were fed with standard diet, a diet containing 2.5% or 5.0% AP or a diet containing 0.2% N-acetylcysteine (NAC) for 10 weeks, using aberrant crypt foci (ACF) as the endpoint. Additionally, two groups were fed with standard diet or a diet containing 5.0% AP for 20 weeks, using colon tumors as the endpoint. in ACF assay, a reduction in the number of aberrant crypts (ACs) and ACF (1 similar to 3 AC) were observed in the groups fed with 5.0% AP (37% AC and 47% ACF inhibition, p = 0.036) and 0.2% NAC (39% AC and 41% ACF inhibition, p = 0.042). in tumor assay, a reduction in the number of invasive tumors (p < 0.005) and tumor multiplicity (p = 0.001) was observed in the group fed with 5.0% AP. Also, a reduction in tumor Ki-67 cell proliferation (p = 0.003) and net growth index (p = 0.001) was observed in the group fed with 5.0% AP. Therefore the findings of this study indicate that AP feeding may reduce the development of chemically-induced rat colon carcinogenesis. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Univ Estadual Paulista, UNESP, Sch Med, Program Postgrad Pathol, BR-18618970 Botucatu, SP, BrazilUniv Estadual Paulista, UNESP, Inst Biosci, Dept Morphol, BR-18618970 Botucatu, SP, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, UNIFESP, Dept Biosci, BR-11060001 Santos, SP, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, UNIFESP, Dept Biosci, BR-11060001 Santos, SP, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Protective Effects of Omega-3 Supplementation against Doxorubicin-Induced Deleterious Effects on the Liver and Kidneys of Rats

Anthracycline doxorubicin (DOX) is still widely used as a chemotherapeutic drug for some solid tumors. Although DOX is highly effective, its side effects are limiting factors, such as cardio, nephro and hepatotoxicity. As such, approaches used to mitigate these adverse effects are highly encouraged. Omega 3 (ω-3), which is a class of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, has been shown to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects in preclinical bioassays. Thus, we evaluated the protective effects of ω-3 supplementation on hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity induced by multiple DOX administrations in rodents. Male Wistar rats (10 rats/group) were treated daily with ω-3 (400 mg/kg/day) by gavage for six weeks. Two weeks after the first ω-3 administration, the rats received DOX (3.5 mg/kg, intraperitoneal, 1×/week) for four weeks. DOX treatment reduced body weight gain increased systemic genotoxicity and caused liver-related (increase in serum ALT levels, thickness of the Glisson’s capsule, compensatory proliferation and p65 levels) and kidney-related (increase in serum urea and creatinine levels, and incidence of tubular dilatation) deleterious outcomes. In contrast, ω-3 supplementation was safe and abrogated the DOX-related enhancement of systemic genotoxicity, serum urea and creatinine levels. Furthermore, ω-3 intervention reduced by 50% the incidence of kidney histological lesions while reducing by 40–50% the p65 protein level, and the proliferative response in the liver induced by DOX. Our findings indicate that ω-3 intervention attenuated the DOX-induced deleterious effects in the liver and kidney. Therefore, our findings may inspire future mechanistical investigations and clinical interventions with ω-3 on the reported outcomes

The Implications of Connexin 43 Deficiency during the Early Stages of Chemically Induced Mouse Colon Carcinogenesis

Colorectal cancer (CRC), associated with an increased intake of processed red meats, saturated fats, and simple carbohydrates accompanied by low dietary fiber, fruits, and vegetables consumption, presents a high epidemiological burden. Connexin43 (Cx43) protein, which forms gap junctions or hemichannels, has tumor suppressor or oncogenic activities in a cancer type- and stage-dependent manner. Cx43 expression varies during colon carcinogenesis, and its functional role is not fully understood. Thus, we evaluated the implications of Cx43 heterologous deletion (Cx43+/−) during the early stages of a chemically induced model of colon carcinogenesis. Female C57BL/6J mice (wild-type or Cx43+/−) were submitted to a colon carcinogenesis model induced by 1,2 dimethylhydrazine (DMH). Mice were euthanized eight hours (week 7) or 30 weeks (week 37) after the last DMH administration to evaluate subacute colon toxicity outcomes or the burden of (pre)neoplastic lesions, respectively. At week 7, Cx43 deficiency inferred no alterations in the DMH-induced increase in systemic (peripheral blood), in situ (colonocytes) DNA damage, and apoptosis in the colonocytes. At week 30, Cx43+/− mice presented an increase in preneoplastic aberrant crypt foci (ACF) multiplicity, while no alterations were observed in colorectal adenoma (CRA) occurrence, multiplicity, volume, proliferation, growth, and β-catenin immunoexpression. Similarly, an in silico analysis of human CRA showed decreased mRNA expression of Cx43 with no correlation with proliferation, apoptosis, and β-catenin markers. These findings indicate the discrete role of Cx43 in the early stages of chemically induced mouse colon carcinogenesis

Fibrosis-associated hepatocarcinogenesis revisited: Establishing standard medium-term chemically-induced male and female models.

Hepatocellular carcinoma causes ~10% of all cancer-related deaths worldwide, usually emerging in a background of liver fibrosis/cirrhosis (70%-90% of cases). Chemically-induced mouse models for fibrosis-associated hepatocarcinogenesis are widely-applied, resembling the corresponding human disease. Nonetheless, a long time is necessary for the development of preneoplastic/neoplastic lesions. Thus, we proposed an early fibrosis-associated hepatocarcinogenesis model for male and female mice separately, focusing on reducing the experimental time for preneoplastic/neoplastic lesions development and establishing standard models for both sexes. Then, two-week old susceptible C3H/HeJ male and female mice (n = 8 animals/sex/group) received a single dose of diethylnitrosamine (DEN, 10 or 50 mg/Kg). During 2 months, mice received 3 weekly doses of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4, 10% corn oil solution, 0.25 to 1.50 μL/g b.wt.) and they were euthanized at week 17. DEN/CCl4 protocols for males and females displayed clear liver fibrosis, featuring collagen accumulation and hepatic stellate cell activation (α-SMA). In addition, liver from males displayed increased CD68+ macrophage number, COX-2 protein expression and IL-6 levels. The DEN/CCl4 models in both sexes impaired antioxidant defense as well as enhanced hepatocyte proliferation and apoptosis. Moreover, DEN/CCl4-treated male and female developed multiple preneoplastic altered hepatocyte foci and hepatocellular adenomas. As expected, the models showed clear male bias. Therefore, we established standard and suitable fibrosis-associated hepatocarcinogenesis models for male and female mice, shortening the experimental time for the development of hepatocellular preneoplastic/neoplastic lesions in comparison to other classical models

Caffeine and Chlorogenic Acid Combination Attenuate Early-Stage Chemically Induced Colon Carcinogenesis in Mice: Involvement of oncomiR miR-21a-5p.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of most common cancers worldwide, with high rates of mortality. Epidemiological findings demonstrate that coffee consumption reduces the risk of developing CRC by ~13%. In general, in vivo and in vitro findings demonstrate the antiproliferative, antioxidant and proapoptotic effects of brewed coffee or major bioavailable coffee compounds. Thus, it was assessed whether caffeine (CAF) and/or chlorogenic acid (CGA) attenuates the early-stage of chemically induced mouse colon carcinogenesis. Male Swiss mice were submitted to a 1,2-dimethylhydrazine/deoxycholic acid (DMH/DCA)-induced colon carcinogenesis model. These animals received CAF (50 mg/kg), CGA (25 mg/kg) or CAF+CGA (50 + 25 mg/kg) intragastrically for five times/week for ten weeks. CAF+CGA had the most pronounced effects on decreasing epithelial cell proliferation (Ki-67) and increasing apoptosis (cleaved caspase-3) in colonic crypts. This treatment also decreased the levels of proinflammatory cytokines IL-6, IL-17 and TNF-α, and downregulated the oncomiR miR-21a-5p in the colon. Accordingly, the analysis of miR-21a-5p targets demonstrated the genes involved in the negative regulation of proliferation and inflammation, and the positive regulation of apoptosis. Ultimately, CAF+CGA attenuated preneoplastic aberrant crypt foci (ACF) development. Our findings suggest that a combination of coffee compounds reduces early-stage colon carcinogenesis by the modulation of miR-21a-5p expression, highlighting the importance of coffee intake to prevent CRC