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High Keratin 8/18 Ratio Predicts Aggressive Hepatocellular Cancer Phenotype12
BACKGROUND & AIMS: Steatohepatitis (SH) and SH-associated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are of considerable clinical significance. SH is morphologically characterized by steatosis, liver cell ballooning, cytoplasmic aggregates termed Mallory-Denk bodies (MDBs), inflammation, and fibrosis at lat...
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Published in: | Translational oncology 2018-11, Vol.12 (2), p.256-268 |
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Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | Get full text |
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Summary: | BACKGROUND & AIMS:
Steatohepatitis (SH) and SH-associated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are of considerable clinical significance. SH is morphologically characterized by steatosis, liver cell ballooning, cytoplasmic aggregates termed Mallory-Denk bodies (MDBs), inflammation, and fibrosis at late stage. Disturbance of the keratin cytoskeleton and aggregation of keratins (KRTs) are essential for MDB formation.
METHODS:
We analyzed livers of aged
Krt18
−/−
mice that spontaneously developed in the majority of cases SH-associated HCC independent of sex. Interestingly, the hepatic lipid profile in
Krt18
−/−
mice, which accumulate KRT8, closely resembles human SH lipid profiles and shows that the excess of
KRT8
over
KRT18
determines the likelihood to develop SH-associated HCC linked with enhanced lipogenesis.
RESULTS:
Our analysis of the genetic profile of
Krt18
−/−
mice with 26 human hepatoma cell lines and with data sets of >300 patients with HCC, where
Krt18
−/−
gene signatures matched human HCC. Interestingly, a high
KRT8/18
ratio is associated with an aggressive HCC phenotype.
CONCLUSIONS:
We can prove that intermediate filaments and their binding partners are tightly linked to hepatic lipid metabolism and to hepatocarcinogenesis. We suggest
KRT8/18
ratio as a novel HCC biomarker for HCC. |
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ISSN: | 1936-5233 |
DOI: | 10.1016/j.tranon.2018.10.010 |