Liver carcinogenesis by FOS-dependent inflammation and cholesterol dysregulation

Human hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs), which arise on a background of chronic liver damage and inflammation, express c-Fos, a component of the AP-1 transcription factor. Using mouse models, we show that hepatocyte-specific deletion of c-Fos protects against diethylnitrosamine (DEN)-induced HCCs, wh...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Bakiri, Latifa, Hamacher, Rainer, Graña Castro, Osvaldo, Guío-Carrión, Ana, Campos Olivas, Ramon, Martinez, Lola, Dienes, Hans P, Thomsen, Martin K, Hasenfuss, Sebastian C, Wagner, Erwin F
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2017
País:España
Institución:Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII)
Repositorio:Repisalud
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:repisalud.isciii.es:20.500.12105/8391
Acceso en línea:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12105/8391
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Animals
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular
Cell Transformation, Neoplastic
Cholesterol
Diethylnitrosamine
Disease Models, Animal
Drosophila Proteins
Liver
Liver Neoplasms
Mice
Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos
Repressor Proteins
Descripción
Sumario:Human hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs), which arise on a background of chronic liver damage and inflammation, express c-Fos, a component of the AP-1 transcription factor. Using mouse models, we show that hepatocyte-specific deletion of c-Fos protects against diethylnitrosamine (DEN)-induced HCCs, whereas liver-specific c-Fos expression leads to reversible premalignant hepatocyte transformation and enhanced DEN-carcinogenesis. c-Fos-expressing livers display necrotic foci, immune cell infiltration, and altered hepatocyte morphology. Furthermore, increased proliferation, dedifferentiation, activation of the DNA damage response, and gene signatures of aggressive HCCs are observed. Mechanistically, c-Fos decreases expression and activity of the nuclear receptor LXRα, leading to increased hepatic cholesterol and accumulation of toxic oxysterols and bile acids. The phenotypic consequences of c-Fos expression are partially ameliorated by the anti-inflammatory drug sulindac and largely prevented by statin treatment. An inverse correlation between c-FOS and the LXRα pathway was also observed in human HCC cell lines and datasets. These findings provide a novel link between chronic inflammation and metabolic pathways important in liver cancer.