Mu Wei, Shi Ya-Ge, Jian Yu-Lun, Li Lei, Zhou Yan-Feng, Wang Hui, Ge Yang
School of Public Health, Center for Single-Cell Omics, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China.
Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China.
Acta Pharmacol Sin. 2025 Aug 7. doi: 10.1038/s41401-025-01623-6.
The progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is partly driven by reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced tissue damage and inflammation. Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidases (NOXs) are key regulators of ROS production, yet the specific role of NOX1 in HCC progression and therapeutic response remain incompletely understood. In this study we investigated the critical role of NOX1 in progression, metastasis and therapeutic sensitivity of HCC, and explored its potential as a therapeutic target. By comprehensive analysis of public databases and validation with in-house clinical specimens, we showed that NOX1 expression was significantly elevated in metastatic HCC that was correlated to poor patient prognosis. Knockdown of NOX1 or pharmacological inhibition with a selective NOX1 inhibitor ML171 significantly reduced ROS production and suppressed HCC cell motility and invasion in vitro. NOX1 inhibition also attenuated HCC metastasis in experimental metastasis mouse model using direct injection of HCC cells, and mitigated CCl-induced liver injury and pro-tumorigenic microenvironment in CCl-induced chronic liver injury and spontaneous tumor development mouse model. Importantly, we demonstrated that combined sorafenib or radiotherapy with NOX1 inhibition synergistically reduced the metastatic potential of HCC cells and enhanced the therapeutic efficacy. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that NOX1 contributed to HCC metastasis and therapy resistance by modulating ROS homeostasis, cellular antioxidant systems and inflammatory pathways. Taken together, this study elucidates the critical role of NOX1 in HCC pathogenesis, suggesting that NOX1 inhibition represents a promising strategy to overcome resistance and enhance HCC sensitivity to sorafenib and radiotherapy.
肝细胞癌(HCC)的进展部分是由活性氧(ROS)诱导的组织损伤和炎症驱动的。烟酰胺腺嘌呤二核苷酸磷酸氧化酶(NOXs)是ROS产生的关键调节因子,然而NOX1在HCC进展和治疗反应中的具体作用仍不完全清楚。在本研究中,我们调查了NOX1在HCC进展、转移和治疗敏感性中的关键作用,并探索了其作为治疗靶点的潜力。通过对公共数据库的综合分析以及用内部临床标本进行验证,我们发现NOX1在转移性HCC中表达显著升高,这与患者预后不良相关。敲低NOX1或用选择性NOX1抑制剂ML171进行药理抑制可显著降低ROS产生,并在体外抑制HCC细胞的运动和侵袭。在使用直接注射HCC细胞的实验性转移小鼠模型中,抑制NOX1也减弱了HCC转移,并在CCl4诱导的慢性肝损伤和自发肿瘤发展小鼠模型中减轻了CCl4诱导的肝损伤和促肿瘤微环境。重要的是,我们证明索拉非尼或放疗与NOX1抑制联合使用可协同降低HCC细胞的转移潜力并增强治疗效果。生物信息学分析表明,NOX1通过调节ROS稳态、细胞抗氧化系统和炎症途径促进HCC转移和治疗抗性。综上所述,本研究阐明了NOX1在HCC发病机制中的关键作用,表明抑制NOX1是克服抗性并增强HCC对索拉非尼和放疗敏感性的一种有前景的策略。
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