Tae-Won Jeon1,2, Heebum Yang1, Chang Geol Lee1, Sang Taek Oh1, Daekwan Seo3, In Hye Baik1,2, Eun Hye Lee1, Ina Yun1, Kyung Ran Park4, Yun-Han Lee2. 1. a Department of Radiation Oncology , Brain Korea 21 PLUS Project for Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine , Seoul ; 2. d Department of Molecular Medicine , Keimyung University School of Medicine , Daegu , Republic of Korea. 3. b Severance Biomedical Science Institute, Brain Korea 21 PLUS Project for Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine , Seoul ; 4. c Department of Radiation Oncology , Ewha Women's University Medical Center , Seoul , Republic of Korea ;
Abstract
PURPOSE: Modulated electro-hyperthermia (mEHT) has been shown to be effective against various types of human tumours, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Here we aimed to investigate the molecular mechanism underlying the cytotoxic effects of mEHT to HCC cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Human liver cancer cell lines, Huh7 and HepG2, were treated with mEHT (42 °C/60 min) three times at 2-day intervals. Growth inhibition and apoptotic induction were evaluated using MTS, microscopic analysis, a clonogenic assay, annexin V/PI staining and a ccK18 ELISA. Global changes in gene expression were examined using RNA sequencing to obtain insights into molecular changes in response to mEHT. For in vivo evaluation of mEHT we used HepG2 HCC xenografts grown in nude mice. RESULTS: mEHT suppressed HCC cell proliferation and long-term colony formation through induction of apoptosis. The growth inhibitory effects are induced through a subset of molecular changes. Notably the expression level of septin 4 (SEPT4) (involved in pro-apoptotic activity and growth suppression) was up-regulated, whereas a key regulator of invasiveness G-Protein coupled receptor 64 (GPR64) was repressed. Subsequent Western blotting confirmed that the common increase in tumour suppressor SEPT4 in both Huh7 and HepG2 cells is accompanied by the restoration of cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitor p21 and decrease in pro-caspase 7 and pro-caspase 3, thereby accelerating apoptotic signalling in HCC cells. Additionally, mEHT significantly inhibited the growth of human HCC xenografts in nude mice. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that apoptotic cell death induced by mEHT is mediated by the up-regulation of tumour suppressor SEPT4 in human HCC cells.
PURPOSE: Modulated electro-hyperthermia (mEHT) has been shown to be effective against various types of humantumours, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Here we aimed to investigate the molecular mechanism underlying the cytotoxic effects of mEHT to HCC cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS:Humanliver cancer cell lines, Huh7 and HepG2, were treated with mEHT (42 °C/60 min) three times at 2-day intervals. Growth inhibition and apoptotic induction were evaluated using MTS, microscopic analysis, a clonogenic assay, annexin V/PI staining and a ccK18 ELISA. Global changes in gene expression were examined using RNA sequencing to obtain insights into molecular changes in response to mEHT. For in vivo evaluation of mEHT we used HepG2 HCC xenografts grown in nude mice. RESULTS:mEHT suppressed HCC cell proliferation and long-term colony formation through induction of apoptosis. The growth inhibitory effects are induced through a subset of molecular changes. Notably the expression level of septin 4 (SEPT4) (involved in pro-apoptotic activity and growth suppression) was up-regulated, whereas a key regulator of invasiveness G-Protein coupled receptor 64 (GPR64) was repressed. Subsequent Western blotting confirmed that the common increase in tumour suppressor SEPT4 in both Huh7 and HepG2 cells is accompanied by the restoration of cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitor p21 and decrease in pro-caspase 7 and pro-caspase 3, thereby accelerating apoptotic signalling in HCC cells. Additionally, mEHT significantly inhibited the growth of human HCC xenografts in nude mice. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that apoptotic cell death induced by mEHT is mediated by the up-regulation of tumour suppressor SEPT4 in human HCC cells.
Authors: T Mantso; S Vasileiadis; I Anestopoulos; G P Voulgaridou; E Lampri; S Botaitis; E N Kontomanolis; C Simopoulos; G Goussetis; R Franco; K Chlichlia; A Pappa; M I Panayiotidis Journal: Sci Rep Date: 2018-07-16 Impact factor: 4.379