The complex and heterogeneous nature of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) hampers the identification of effective therapeutic strategies. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) represent a fraction of cells within tumors with the ability to self-renew and differentiate, and thus significantly contribute to the formation and maintenance of heterogeneous tumor mass. Increasing evidence indicates high plasticity in tumor cells, suggesting that non-CSCs could acquire stem cell properties through de-differentiation or reprogramming processes. In this paper, we reveal KLF4 as a transcription factor that can induce a CSC-like phenotype in non-CSCs through upregulating the EpCAM and E-CAD expression. Our studies indicated that KLF4 could directly bind to the promoter of EpCAM and increase the number of EpCAM+/CD133+ liver cancer stem cells (LCSCs) in the HuH7 HCC cell line. When KLF4 was overexpressed in EpCAM−/CD133− non-stem cells, the expressions of hepatic stem/progenitor cell genes such as CK19, EpCAM and LGR5 were significantly increased. KLF4 overexpressing non-stem cells exhibited greater cell viability upon sorafenib treatment, while the cell migration and invasion capabilities of these cells were suppressed. Importantly, we detected an increased membranous expression and colocalization of β-CAT, E-CAD and EpCAM in the KLF4-overexpressing EpCAM−/CD133− non-stem cells, suggesting that this complex might be required for the cancer stem cell phenotype. Moreover, our in vivo xenograft studies demonstrated that with a KLF4 overexpression, EpCAM−/CD133− non-stem cells attained an in vivo tumor forming ability comparable to EpCAM+/CD133+ LCSCs, and the tumor specimens from KLF4-overexpressing xenografts had increased levels of both the KLF4 and EpCAM proteins. Additionally, we identified a correlation between the KLF4 and EpCAM protein expressions in human HCC tissues independent of the tumor stage and differentiation status. Collectively, our data suggest a novel function for KLF4 in modulating the de-differentiation of tumor cells and the induction of EpCAM+/CD133+ LCSCs in HuH7 HCC cells.
Luciferase reporter assays represent a simple and sensitive experimental system in cell and molecular biology to study multiple biological processes. However, the application of these assays is often limited by the costs of conventional luminometer instruments and the versatility of their use in different experimental conditions. Therefore, we aimed to develop a small, affordable luminometer allowing continuous measurement of luciferase activity, designed for inclusion into various kinds of tissue culture incubators. Here, we introduce LuminoCell—an open-source platform for the construction of an affordable, sensitive, and portable luminometer capable of real-time monitoring in-cell luciferase activity. The LuminoCell costs $40, requires less than 1 h to assemble, and it is capable of performing real-time sensitive detection of both magnitude and duration of the activity of major signalling pathways in cell cultures, including receptor tyrosine kinases (EGF and FGF), WNT/β-catenin, and NF-κB. In addition, we show that the LuminoCell is suitable to be used in cytotoxicity assays as well as for monitoring periodic circadian gene expression.
Retinal microRNA (miRNA) molecules play critical roles in a wide range of processes including cell proliferation, cell death, and synaptic plasticity. Recently they have been shown to regulate crucial processes that are associated with perception of light including visual function, light adaptation, and control of genes regulating circadian light entrainment. Despite extensive work on retinal miRNAs in different model organisms, light-regulated miRNAs in human retina are not known. Here, we aim to characterize these miRNAs. We generated light responsive human retinal organoids that express miRNA families and clusters typically found in the retina. Using in-house-developed photostimulation device, we found that 51 miRNAs are up- or downregulated upon brief photostimulation periods. Clustering analysis revealed that only two miRNA families and three clusters are upregulated, while eight families and ten cluster are downregulated upon photostimulation. Additionally, we found that the light-regulated miRNAs have rapid turnover, and their expression is differentially regulated by distinct wavelengths of light. This study demonstrates that only a small subset of miRNAs is light-responsive in human retinal tissue and the generated human retinal organoids are a valuable model for studying the molecular mechanisms of light perception in the retina.
Luciferase reporter assays represent a simple and sensitive experimental system in cell and molecular biology to study multiple biological processes. However, the application of these assays is often limited by the costs of conventional luminometer instruments and the versatility of their use in different experimental conditions. Therefore, we aimed to develop a small, affordable luminometer allowing continuous measurement of luciferase activity, designed for inclusion into various kinds of tissue culture incubators. Here we introduce LuminoCell - an open-source platform for the construction of an affordable, sensitive, and portable luminometer capable of real-time monitoring in-cell luciferase activity. The LuminoCell costs $40, requires less than 1 hour to assemble, and it is capable of performing real-time sensitive detection of both magnitude and duration of the activity of major signalling pathways in cell cultures, including receptor tyrosine kinases (EGF, FGF), WNT/β-catenin, and NF-κB. Additionally, we show that the LuminoCell is suitable to be used in cytotoxicity assays as well as for monitoring periodic circadian gene expression.
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