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bioRxiv · 10.1101/826453

Blocking IRE1a-endoribonuclease activity in hepatic stellate cells decreases tumor cell proliferation and metastasis in hepatocellular carcinoma

Pavlovic, N.·Thanapirom, K.·Mazza, G.·Rombouts, K.·Gerwins, P.·Heindryckx, F.
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Abstract

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a liver tumor that arises in patients with cirrhosis. Hepatic stellate cells are key players in the progression of HCC, as they create a fibrotic micro-environment and produce growth factors and cytokines that enhance tumor cell proliferation and migration. We assessed the role of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in the cross-talk between stellate cells and HCC-cells. Mice with a fibrotic HCC were treated with the IRE1-inhibitor 48C, which reduced tumor burden and collagen deposition. By co-culturing HCC-cells with stellate cells, we found that HCC-cells induce ER-stress in stellate cells, thereby contributing to their activation. Inhibiting IRE1 blocked stellate cell activation, which inhibited tumor cell proliferation and migration in different in vitro 2D and 3D co-cultures. Our results suggest that IRE1 is an important mediator in the communication between stellate cells and cancer cells and components of the ER-stress pathway may be therapeutically relevant for HCC-patients. Impact statementIRE1 is an important mediator in the communication between stellate cells and cancer cells and components of the ER-stress pathway may be therapeutically relevant for liver cancer.

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Pavlovic, N., Thanapirom, K., Mazza, G., Rombouts, K., Gerwins, P., Heindryckx, F.. 2019-10-31. Blocking IRE1a-endoribonuclease activity in hepatic stellate cells decreases tumor cell proliferation and metastasis in hepatocellular carcinoma. https://doi.org/10.1101/826453

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