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4 Publications visible to you, out of a total of 4

Abstract (Expand)

Abstract Chronic liver diseases are worldwide on the rise. Due to the rapidly increasing incidence, in particular in Western countries, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD)otic liver disease (MASLD) is gaining importance as the disease can develop into hepatocellular carcinoma. Lipid accumulation in hepatocytes has been identified as the characteristic structural change in MASLD development, but molecular mechanisms responsible for disease progression remained unresolved. Here, we uncover in primary hepatocytes from a preclinical model fed with a Western diet (WD) an increased basal MET phosphorylation and a strong downregulation of the PI3K-AKT pathway. Dynamic pathway modeling of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) signal transduction combined with global proteomics identifies that an elevated basal MET phosphorylation rate is the main driver of altered signaling leading to increased proliferation of WD-hepatocytes. Model-adaptation to patient-derived hepatocytes reveal patient-specific variability in basal MET phosphorylation, which correlates with patient outcome after liver surgery. Thus, dysregulated basal MET phosphorylation could be an indicator for the health status of the liver and thereby inform on the risk of a patient to suffer from liver failure after surgery.

Authors: Sebastian Burbano De Lara, Svenja Kemmer, Ina Biermayer, Svenja Feiler, Artyom Vlasov, Lorenza A D’Alessandro, Barbara Helm, Christina Mölders, Yannik Dieter, Ahmed Ghallab, Jan G Hengstler, Christiane Körner, Madlen Matz-Soja, Christina Götz, Georg Damm, Katrin Hoffmann, Daniel Seehofer, Thomas Berg, Marcel Schilling, Jens Timmer, Ursula Klingmüller

Date Published: 12th Jan 2024

Publication Type: Journal

Abstract (Expand)

Abstract Type I interferons (IFNs) play a central role not only in innate immunity against viral infection, but also in the antitumour response, e.g. through a direct impact on cell proliferation.act on cell proliferation. Particularly for cancer arising in the context of chronic inflammation, constant exposure to IFNs may constitute a strong selective pressure during tumour evolution. Expansion of neoplastic subclones resistant to the antiproliferative effects of IFNs may contribute to immunoediting of tumours, leading to more aggressive disease. Experimental evidence for this development of IFN-insensitivity has been scarce and its molecular mechanism is unclear. In this study we demonstrate that six weeks exposure of cells to IFN-β in vitro reduces their sensitivity to its antiproliferative effects, and that this phenotype was stable for up to four weeks. Furthermore, we observed substantial differences in cellular sensitivity to growth inhibition by IFN-β in a panel of ten different liver cancer cell lines, most prominently in a pair of highly dedifferentiated cell lines, and least in cells from well-differentiated tumours. In both, long-term IFN selection and in dedifferentiated tumour cell lines, we found IFNAR2 expression to be substantially reduced, suggesting the receptor complex to be a sensitive target amenable to immunoediting. Beyond new insights into possible molecular processes in tumour evolution, these findings might prove valuable for the development of biomarkers allowing to stratify tumours for their sensitivity to IFN treatment in the context of patient tailored therapies.

Authors: Felix Hiebinger, Aiste Kudulyte, Huanting Chi, Sebastian Burbano De Lara, Doroteja Ilic, Barbara Helm, Hendrik Welsch, Viet Loan Dao Thi, Ursula Klingmüller, Marco Binder

Date Published: 1st Dec 2023

Publication Type: Journal

Abstract (Expand)

Type I interferons (IFNs) play a central role not only in innate immunity against viral infection, but also in the antitumour response. Apart from indirect immune-modulatory and anti-angiogenic effects, they have direct impact on cell proliferation. Particularly for cancer arising in the context of chronic inflammation, constant exposure to IFNs may constitute a strong selective pressure during tumour evolution. Expansion of neoplastic subclones or -populations that developed resistance to the antiproliferative effects of IFNs might constitute an important contribution to immunoediting of the cancer cells leading to more aggressive and metastasising disease. Experimental evidence for this development of IFN-insensitivity has been scarce and its molecular mechanism is unclear. In this study we demonstrate that prolonged (six weeks) exposure of cells to IFN-β in vitro reduces their sensitivity to its antiproliferative effects, and that this phenotype was stable for up to four weeks. Furthermore, we observed substantial differences in cellular sensitivity to growth inhibition by IFN-β in a panel of ten different liver cancer cell lines of varying malignity. IFN-resistance was most prominent in a pair of highly dedifferentiated cell lines, and least in cells from well-differentiated tumours, fostering the hypothesis of IFN-driven immunoediting in advanced cancers. In both settings, long-term IFN selection in vitro as well as in dedifferentiated tumour cell lines, we found IFNAR expression to be substantially reduced, suggesting the receptor complex, in particular IFNAR2, to be a sensitive target amenable to immunoediting. Beyond new insights into possible molecular processes in tumour evolution, these findings might prove valuable for the development of biomarkers allowing to stratify tumours for their sensitivity to IFN treatment in the context of patient tailored therapies.

Authors: Felix Hiebinger, Aiste Kudulyte, Huanting Chi, Sebastian Burbano De Lara, Barbara Helm, Hendrik Welsch, Viet Loan Dao Thi, Ursula Klingmüller, Marco Binder

Date Published: 24th Aug 2023

Publication Type: Journal

Abstract (Expand)

Chronic liver diseases are worldwide on the rise. Due to the rapidly increasing incidence, in particular in Western countries, Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is gaining importance as the disease can develop into hepatocellular carcinoma. Lipid accumulation in hepatocytes has been identified as the characteristic structural change in NAFLD development, but molecular mechanisms responsible for disease progression remained unresolved. Here, we uncover in primary hepatocytes from a preclinical model fed with a Western diet (WD) a strong downregulation of the PI3K-AKT pathway and an upregulation of the MAPK pathway. Dynamic pathway modeling of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) signal transduction combined with global proteomics identifies that an elevated basal MET phosphorylation rate is the main driver of altered signaling leading to increased proliferation of WD-hepatocytes. Model-adaptation to patient-derived hepatocytes reveal patient-specific variability in basal MET phosphorylation, which correlates with patient outcome after liver surgery. Thus, dysregulated basal MET phosphorylation could be an indicator for the health status of the liver and thereby inform on the risk of a patient to suffer from liver failure after surgery.

Authors: Sebastian Burbano De Lara, Svenja Kemmer, Ina Biermayer, Svenja Feiler, Artyom Vlasov, Lorenza D'Alessandro, Barbara Helm, Yannik Dieter, Ahmed Ghallab, Jan Hengstler, Professor Dr. med. Katrin Hoffmann, Marcel Schilling, Jens Timmer, Ursula Klingmüller

Date Published: 4th Jul 2023

Publication Type: Journal

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