Resolvin D1 prevents epithelial-mesenchymal transition and reduces the stemness features of hepatocellular carcinoma by inhibiting paracrine of cancer-associated fibroblast-derived COMP.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) require stromal signals for maintaining pluripotency and self-renewal capacities to confer tumor metastasis. Resolvin D1 (RvD1), an endogenous anti-inflammatory lipid mediator, has recently been identified to display anti-cancer effects by acting on stroma cells. Our previous study reveals that hepatic stellate cells (HSCs)-derived cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) contributes to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression. However, whether RvD1 inhibits paracrine of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs)-derived COMP to prevent epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and cancer stemness in HCC remains to be elucidated.

METHODS:

CAFs were isolated from HCC tissues. Direct and indirect co-culture models were established to analyze the interactions between HCC cells and CAFs in the presence of RvD1 in vitro. The transwell and tumor sphere formation assays were used to determine invasion and stemness of HCC cells. The subcutaneous tumor formation and orthotopic liver tumor models were established by co-implantation of CAFs and HCC cells to evaluate the role of RvD1 in vivo. To characterize the mechanism of RvD1 inhibited paracrine of COMP in CAFs, various signaling molecules were analyzed by ELISA, western blotting, reactive oxygen species (ROS) detection, immunofluorescence staining, dual luciferase reporter assay and chromatin immunoprecipitation assay.

RESULTS:

Our data revealed that RvD1 treatment can impede the CAFs-induced cancer stem-like properties and the EMT of HCC cells under co-culture conditions. In vivo studies indicated that RvD1 intervention repressed the promoting effects of CAFs on tumor growth and metastasis of HCC. Furthermore, RvD1 inhibited CAF-induced EMT and stemness features of HCC cells by suppressing the secretion of COMP. Mechanistically, formyl peptide receptor 2 (FPR2) receptor mediated the suppressive effects of RvD1 on COMP and forkhead box M1 (FOXM1) expression in CAFs. Notably, RvD1 impaired CAF-derived COMP in a paracrine manner by targeting FPR2/ROS/FOXM1 signaling to ultimately abrogate FOXM1 recruitment to the COMP promoter.

CONCLUSION:

Our results indicated that RvD1 impaired paracrine of CAFs-derived COMP by targeting FPR2/ROS/FOXM1 signaling to repress EMT and cancer stemness in HCC. Thus, RvD1 may be a potential agent to promote treatment outcomes in HCC.

• Authors: Liankang Sun, Yufeng Wang, Liang Wang, Bowen Yao, Tianxiang Chen, Qing Li, Zhikui Liu, Runkun Liu, Yongshen Niu, Tao Song, Qingguang Liu, Kangsheng Tu
• Journal: Journal of experimental & clinical cancer research : CR (J Exp Clin Cancer Res) Vol. 38 Issue 1 Pg. 170 (Apr 18 2019) ISSN: 1756-9966 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 30999932 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• COMP protein, human
• Cartilage Oligomeric Matrix Protein
• FOXM1 protein, human
• FPR2 protein, human
• Forkhead Box Protein M1
• Reactive Oxygen Species
• Receptors, Formyl Peptide
• Receptors, Lipoxin
• resolvin D1
• Docosahexaenoic Acids

Topics

• Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts (metabolism, pathology)
• Carcinoma, Hepatocellular (drug therapy, genetics, pathology)
• Cartilage Oligomeric Matrix Protein (genetics)
• Cell Line, Tumor
• Cell Movement (drug effects)
• Cell Proliferation (drug effects)
• Docosahexaenoic Acids
• Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (genetics)
• Forkhead Box Protein M1 (genetics)
• Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
• Humans
• Liver Neoplasms (drug therapy, genetics, pathology)
• Neoplastic Stem Cells (metabolism, pathology)
• Paracrine Communication (genetics)
• Reactive Oxygen Species (metabolism)
• Receptors, Formyl Peptide (genetics)
• Receptors, Lipoxin (genetics)
• Signal Transduction (drug effects)