Molecular characterization of hepatocarcinogenesis using mouse models
Authors: Jadegoud Yaligar
Liang Kee Goh
Wei Wei Teoh
Kanaga Sabapathy
Aadhitthya Vijayaraghavan
Min Xie
Wei Min Tong
Journal: Disease Models & Mechanisms (2015)
Discipline: BIOLOGY & BIOCHEMISTRY
Keywords: Aflatoxin B1; Hepatitis B surface antigen; Hepatocellular carcinoma; Mouse models.
Affiliations: Division of Cellular & Molecular Research, Humphrey Oei Institute of Cancer Research, National Cancer Centre, 11 Hospital Drive, 169610, Singapore., Cancer and Stem Cell Biology Program, Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School, Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School, 8 College Road, 169857, Singapore., Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Singapore Bioimaging Consortium, 11 Biopolis Way, Helios, 138667, Singapore., Institute of Basic Medical Sciences School of Basic Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College 5, Dong Dan San Tiao, Beijing 100005, China., Division of Cellular & Molecular Research, Humphrey Oei Institute of Cancer Research, National Cancer Centre, 11 Hospital Drive, 169610, Singapore Cancer and Stem Cell Biology Program, Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School, Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School, 8 College Road, 169857, Singapore Department of Biochemistry, National University of Singapore, 8 Medical Drive, 117597, Singapore .

Abstract:  Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a deadly disease, often unnoticed until the late stages, when treatment options become limited. Thus, there is a crucial need to identify biomarkers for early detection of developing HCC, as well as molecular pathways that would be amenable to therapeutic intervention. Although analysis of human HCC tissues and serum components may serve these purposes, inability of early detection also precludes possibilities of identification of biomarkers or pathways that are sequentially perturbed at earlier phases of disease progression. We have therefore explored the option of utilizing mouse models to understand in a systematic and longitudinal manner the molecular pathways that are progressively deregulated by various etiological factors in contributing to HCC formation, and we report the initial findings in characterizing their validity. Hepatitis B surface antigen transgenic mice, which had been exposed to aflatoxin B1 at various stages in life, were used as a hepatitis model. Our findings confirm a synergistic effect of both these etiological factors, with a gender bias towards males for HCC predisposition. Time-based aflatoxin B1 treatment also demonstrated the requirement of non-quiescent liver for effective transformation. Tumors from these models with various etiologies resemble human HCCs histologically and at the molecular level. Extensive molecular characterization revealed the presence of an 11-gene HCC-expression signature that was able to discern transformed human hepatocytes from primary cells, regardless of etiology, and from other cancer types. Moreover, distinct molecular pathways appear to be deregulated by various etiological agents en route to formation of HCCs, in which common pathways converge, highlighting the existence of etiology-specific as well as common HCC-specific molecular perturbations. This study therefore highlights the utility of these mouse models, which provide a rich resource for the longitudinal analysis of molecular changes and biomarkers associated with HCC that could be exploited further for therapeutic targeting. 

Retracted: No

PubPeer comments:
 An image in Figure 3D and Figure 3E appear to overlap, after dimensions, color and rotation adjusted. In 3D the tissues are labeled as mice, in 3E as human. Very difficult to see how this could occur as an error during figure assembly. *** Closeup ![file] *** Showing location and legend ![file] ,