Therapeutic Potential of STE20-Type Kinase STK25 Inhibition for the Prevention and Treatment of Metabolically Induced Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

IF 7.1 1区医学 Q1 GASTROENTEROLOGY & HEPATOLOGY Cellular and Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology Pub Date : 2025-02-28 DOI:10.1016/j.jcmgh.2025.101485

Ying Xia, Mara Caputo, Emma Andersson, Bernice Asiedu, Jingjing Zhang, Wei Hou, Manoj Amrutkar, Emmelie Cansby, Nadia Gul, Anne Gemmink, Caitlyn Myers, Mariam Aghajan, Sheri Booten, Andrew J Hoy, Anetta Härtlova, Per Lindahl, Anders Ståhlberg, Gert Schaart, Matthijs K C Hesselink, Andreas Peter, Sue Murray, Margit Mahlapuu

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Abstract

Background & aims: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a rapidly growing malignancy with high mortality. Recently, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) has emerged as a major HCC catalyst; however, signals driving transition of MASH to HCC remain elusive and treatment options are limited. Herein, we investigated the role of STE20-type kinase STK25, a critical regulator of hepatocellular lipotoxic milieu and MASH susceptibility, in the initiation and progression of MASH-related HCC.

Methods: The clinical relevance of STK25 in HCC was assessed in publicly available datasets and by RT-qPCR and proximity ligation assay in a validation cohort. The functional significance of STK25 silencing in human hepatoma cells was evaluated in vitro and in a subcutaneous xenograft mouse model. The therapeutic potential of STK25 antagonism was examined in a mouse model of MASH-driven HCC, induced by a single diethylnitrosamine injection combined with a high-fat diet.

Results: Analysis of public databases and in-house cohorts revealed that STK25 expression in human liver biopsies positively correlated with HCC incidence and severity. The in vitro silencing of STK25 in human hepatoma cells suppressed proliferation, migration, and invasion with efficacy comparable to that achieved by anti-HCC drugs sorafenib or regorafenib. STK25 knockout in human hepatoma cells also blocked tumor formation and growth in a subcutaneous xenograft mouse model. Furthermore, pharmacologic inhibition of STK25 with antisense oligonucleotides-administered systemically or hepatocyte-specifically-efficiently mitigated the development and exacerbation of hepatocarcinogenesis in a mouse model of MASH-driven HCC.

Conclusion: This study underscores STK25 antagonism as a promising therapeutic strategy for the prevention and treatment of HCC in the context of MASH.

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来源期刊

Cellular and Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology Medicine-Gastroenterology

CiteScore

13.00

自引率

2.80%

发文量

246

审稿时长

42 days

期刊介绍： "Cell and Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology (CMGH)" is a journal dedicated to advancing the understanding of digestive biology through impactful research that spans the spectrum of normal gastrointestinal, hepatic, and pancreatic functions, as well as their pathologies. The journal's mission is to publish high-quality, hypothesis-driven studies that offer mechanistic novelty and are methodologically robust, covering a wide range of themes in gastroenterology, hepatology, and pancreatology. CMGH reports on the latest scientific advances in cell biology, immunology, physiology, microbiology, genetics, and neurobiology related to gastrointestinal, hepatobiliary, and pancreatic health and disease. The research published in CMGH is designed to address significant questions in the field, utilizing a variety of experimental approaches, including in vitro models, patient-derived tissues or cells, and animal models. This multifaceted approach enables the journal to contribute to both fundamental discoveries and their translation into clinical applications, ultimately aiming to improve patient care and treatment outcomes in digestive health.