Deciphering hepatocellular carcinoma pathogenesis and therapeutics: a study on anoikis, ceRNA regulatory network and traditional Chinese medicine

Introduction: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is responsible for approximately 90% of liver malignancies and is the third most common cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. However, the role of anoikis, a programmed cell death mechanism crucial for maintaining tissue equilibrium, is not yet ful...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Sa Guo, Nan Xing, Qinyun Du, Bin Luo, Shaohui Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2024-01-01
Series:Frontiers in Pharmacology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2023.1325992/full
_version_ 1797356983983013888
author Sa Guo
Nan Xing
Qinyun Du
Bin Luo
Shaohui Wang
Shaohui Wang
author_facet Sa Guo
Nan Xing
Qinyun Du
Bin Luo
Shaohui Wang
Shaohui Wang
author_sort Sa Guo
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is responsible for approximately 90% of liver malignancies and is the third most common cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. However, the role of anoikis, a programmed cell death mechanism crucial for maintaining tissue equilibrium, is not yet fully understood in the context of HCC.Methods: Our study aimed to investigate the expression of 10 anoikis-related genes (ARGs) in HCC, including BIRC5, SFN, UBE2C, SPP1, E2F1, etc., and their significance in the disease.Results: Through Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analyses, we discovered that these ARGs are involved in important processes such as tissue homeostasis, ion transport, cell cycle regulation, and viral infection pathways. Furthermore, we found a significant correlation between the prognostic value of five ARGs and immune cell infiltrates. Analysis of clinical datasets revealed a strong association between BIRC5 expression and HCC pathological progression, including pathological stage, T stage, overall survival (OS), and race. By constructing a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network and using molecular docking, we identified ten bioactive compounds from traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) that could potentially modulate BIRC5. Subsequent in vitro experiments confirmed the influence of platycodin D, one of the identified compounds, on key elements within the ceRNA network.Discussion: In conclusion, our study presents a novel framework for an anoikis-centered prognostic model and an immune-involved ceRNA network in HCC, revealing potential regulatory targets. These insights contribute to our understanding of HCC pathology and may lead to improved therapeutic interventions.
first_indexed 2024-03-08T14:37:42Z
format Article
id doaj.art-e63a692971df4ca780e104d99777a7d6
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1663-9812
language English
last_indexed 2024-03-08T14:37:42Z
publishDate 2024-01-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
record_format Article
series Frontiers in Pharmacology
spelling doaj.art-e63a692971df4ca780e104d99777a7d62024-01-12T04:15:39ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Pharmacology1663-98122024-01-011410.3389/fphar.2023.13259921325992Deciphering hepatocellular carcinoma pathogenesis and therapeutics: a study on anoikis, ceRNA regulatory network and traditional Chinese medicineSa Guo0Nan Xing1Qinyun Du2Bin Luo3Shaohui Wang4Shaohui Wang5State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, ChinaShanghai Municipal Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, School of Ethnic Medicine, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, ChinaMeishan Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Meishan, ChinaIntroduction: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is responsible for approximately 90% of liver malignancies and is the third most common cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. However, the role of anoikis, a programmed cell death mechanism crucial for maintaining tissue equilibrium, is not yet fully understood in the context of HCC.Methods: Our study aimed to investigate the expression of 10 anoikis-related genes (ARGs) in HCC, including BIRC5, SFN, UBE2C, SPP1, E2F1, etc., and their significance in the disease.Results: Through Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analyses, we discovered that these ARGs are involved in important processes such as tissue homeostasis, ion transport, cell cycle regulation, and viral infection pathways. Furthermore, we found a significant correlation between the prognostic value of five ARGs and immune cell infiltrates. Analysis of clinical datasets revealed a strong association between BIRC5 expression and HCC pathological progression, including pathological stage, T stage, overall survival (OS), and race. By constructing a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network and using molecular docking, we identified ten bioactive compounds from traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) that could potentially modulate BIRC5. Subsequent in vitro experiments confirmed the influence of platycodin D, one of the identified compounds, on key elements within the ceRNA network.Discussion: In conclusion, our study presents a novel framework for an anoikis-centered prognostic model and an immune-involved ceRNA network in HCC, revealing potential regulatory targets. These insights contribute to our understanding of HCC pathology and may lead to improved therapeutic interventions.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2023.1325992/fullhepatocellular carcinomaanoikisprognostic signatureceRNAactive compounds
spellingShingle Sa Guo
Nan Xing
Qinyun Du
Bin Luo
Shaohui Wang
Shaohui Wang
Deciphering hepatocellular carcinoma pathogenesis and therapeutics: a study on anoikis, ceRNA regulatory network and traditional Chinese medicine
Frontiers in Pharmacology
hepatocellular carcinoma
anoikis
prognostic signature
ceRNA
active compounds
title Deciphering hepatocellular carcinoma pathogenesis and therapeutics: a study on anoikis, ceRNA regulatory network and traditional Chinese medicine
title_full Deciphering hepatocellular carcinoma pathogenesis and therapeutics: a study on anoikis, ceRNA regulatory network and traditional Chinese medicine
title_fullStr Deciphering hepatocellular carcinoma pathogenesis and therapeutics: a study on anoikis, ceRNA regulatory network and traditional Chinese medicine
title_full_unstemmed Deciphering hepatocellular carcinoma pathogenesis and therapeutics: a study on anoikis, ceRNA regulatory network and traditional Chinese medicine
title_short Deciphering hepatocellular carcinoma pathogenesis and therapeutics: a study on anoikis, ceRNA regulatory network and traditional Chinese medicine
title_sort deciphering hepatocellular carcinoma pathogenesis and therapeutics a study on anoikis cerna regulatory network and traditional chinese medicine
topic hepatocellular carcinoma
anoikis
prognostic signature
ceRNA
active compounds
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2023.1325992/full
work_keys_str_mv AT saguo decipheringhepatocellularcarcinomapathogenesisandtherapeuticsastudyonanoikiscernaregulatorynetworkandtraditionalchinesemedicine
AT nanxing decipheringhepatocellularcarcinomapathogenesisandtherapeuticsastudyonanoikiscernaregulatorynetworkandtraditionalchinesemedicine
AT qinyundu decipheringhepatocellularcarcinomapathogenesisandtherapeuticsastudyonanoikiscernaregulatorynetworkandtraditionalchinesemedicine
AT binluo decipheringhepatocellularcarcinomapathogenesisandtherapeuticsastudyonanoikiscernaregulatorynetworkandtraditionalchinesemedicine
AT shaohuiwang decipheringhepatocellularcarcinomapathogenesisandtherapeuticsastudyonanoikiscernaregulatorynetworkandtraditionalchinesemedicine
AT shaohuiwang decipheringhepatocellularcarcinomapathogenesisandtherapeuticsastudyonanoikiscernaregulatorynetworkandtraditionalchinesemedicine