Faculty Profiles - HORIGUCHI Shigeru

Potential of adenovirus-mediated REIC/Dkk-3 gene therapy for use in the treatment of pancreatic cancer Reviewed

Daisuke Uchida, Hidenori Shiraha, Hironari Kato, Teruya Nagahara, Masaya Iwamuro, Junro Kataoka, Shigeru Horiguchi, Masami Watanabe, Akinobu Takaki, Kazuhiro Nouso, Yasutomo Nasu, Takahito Yagi, Hiromi Kumon, Kazuhide Yamamoto

JOURNAL OF GASTROENTEROLOGY AND HEPATOLOGY 29 ( 5 ) 973 - 983 2014.5

Language：English Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal) Publisher：WILEY-BLACKWELL

Background and AimThe reduced expression in immortalized cells REIC/the dickkopf 3 (Dkk-3) gene, tumor suppressor gene, is downregulated in various malignant tumors. In a prostate cancer study, an adenovirus vector carrying the REIC/Dkk-3 gene (Ad-REIC) induces apoptosis. In the current study, we examined the effects of REIC/Dkk-3 gene therapy in pancreatic cancer.
MethodsREIC/Dkk-3 expression was assessed by immunoblotting and immunohistochemistry in the pancreatic cancer cell lines (ASPC1, MIAPaCa2, Panc1, BxPC3, SUIT-2, KLM1, and T3M4) and pancreatic cancer tissues. The Ad-REIC agent was used to investigate the apoptotic effect in vitro and antitumor effects in vivo. We also assessed the therapeutic effects of Ad-REIC therapy with gemcitabine.
ResultsThe REIC/Dkk-3 expression was lost in the pancreatic cancer cell lines and decreased in pancreatic cancer tissues. Ad-REIC induced apoptosis and inhibited cell growth in the ASPC1 and MIAPaCa2 lines in vitro, and Ad-REIC inhibited tumor growth in the mouse xenograft model using ASPC1 cells. The antitumor effect was further enhanced in combination with gemcitabine. This synergistic effect may be caused by the suppression of autophagy via the enhancement of mammalian target of rapamycin signaling.
ConclusionsAd-REIC induces apoptosis and inhibits tumor growth in pancreatic cancer cell lines. REIC/Dkk-3 gene therapy is an attractive therapeutic tool for pancreatic cancer.

DOI： 10.1111/jgh.12501

Loss of runt-related transcription factor 3 induces gemcitabine resistance in pancreatic cancer Reviewed

Shigeru Horiguchi, Hidenori Shiraha, Teruya Nagahara, Jyunnro Kataoka, Masaya Iwamuro, Minoru Matsubara, Shinichi Nishina, Hironari Kato, Akinobu Takaki, Kazuhiro Nouso, Takehiro Tanaka, Koichi Ichimura, Takahito Yagi, Kazuhide Yamamoto

Molecular Oncology 7 ( 4 ) 840 - 849 2013

Language：English Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal) Publisher：John Wiley and Sons Ltd

Background &amp
Aim: Runt-related transcription factor 3 (RUNX3) is a tumor suppressor gene that is expressed in gastric and other cancers including pancreatic cancer. However, the precise function of RUNX3 in pancreatic cancer has not been fully elucidated. In this study, we aimed to determine the effect of decreased RUNX3 expression in pancreatic cancer. Methods: This study included 36 patients with primary pancreatic cancer, who had undergone pancreaticoduodenectomy. All patients were treated with 1000mg/m2 gemcitabine after the surgery. The pancreatic cancer cell lines PANC-1, MIAPaCa-2, BxPC-3, SUIT-2, and KLM-1 were used for immunoblotting analysis of RUNX3 and multidrug resistance protein (MRP) expressions. Ectopic RUNX3 expression was achieved by cDNA transfection of the cells, and small interfering RNA (siRNA) against RUNX3 was used to knock down endogenous RUNX3. Cell growth in the presence of gemcitabine was assessed using the MTT assay. Results: Patients with RUNX3-positive and RUNX3-negative pancreatic cancer had a median survival of 1006 and 643 days, respectively. Exogenous RUNX3 expression reduced the expression of MRP1, MRP2, and MRP5 in endogenous RUNX3-negative cells, whereas RUNX3 siRNA increased the expressions of these genes in endogenous RUNX3-positive cells. Exogenous RUNX3 expression decreased gemcitabine IC50 in RUNX3-negative cells. Conclusion: Loss of RUNX3 expression contributes to gemcitabine resistance by inducing MRP expression, thereby resulting in poor patient survival. © 2013 Federation of European Biochemical Societies.

DOI： 10.1016/j.molonc.2013.04.004

Scopus

Runt-related transcription factor 3 reverses epithelial-mesenchymal transition in hepatocellular carcinoma Reviewed

Shigetomi Tanaka, Hidenori Shiraha, Yutaka Nakanishi, Shin-Ichi Nishina, Minoru Matsubara, Shigeru Horiguchi, Nobuyuki Takaoka, Masaya Iwamuro, Junro Kataoka, Kenji Kuwaki, Hiroaki Hagihara, Junichi Toshimori, Hideki Ohnishi, Akinobu Takaki, Shinichiro Nakamura, Kazuhiro Nouso, Takahito Yagi, Kazuhide Yamamoto

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CANCER 131 ( 11 ) 2537 - 2546 2012.12

Language：English Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal) Publisher：WILEY-BLACKWELL

Loss or decreased expression of runt-related transcription factor 3 (RUNX3), a tumor suppressor gene involved in gastric and other cancers, has been frequently observed in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The objective of this study was to identify the regulatory mechanism of the epithelialmesenchymal transition (EMT) by RUNX3 in HCC. Human HCC cell lines, Hep3B, Huh7, HLF and SK-Hep1, were divided into low- and high-EMT lines, based on their expression of TWIST1 and SNAI2, and were used in this in vitro study. Ectopic RUNX3 expression had an anti-EMT effect in low-EMT HCC cell lines characterized by increased E-cadherin expression and decreased N-cadherin and vimentin expression. RUNX3 expression has previously been reported to reduce jagged-1 (JAG1) expression; therefore, JAG1 ligand peptide was used to reinduce EMT in RUNX3-expressing low-EMT HCC cells. Immunohistochemical analyses were performed for RUNX3, E-cadherin, N-cadherin and TWIST1 in 33 human HCC tissues, also divided into low- and high-EMT HCC, based on TWIST1 expression. E-cadherin expression was correlated positively and N-cadherin expression was correlated negatively with RUNX3 expression in low-EMT HCC tissues. Correlations between EMT markers and RUNX3 mRNA expression were analyzed using Oncomine datasets. Similarly, mRNA expression of E-cadherin was also significantly correlated with that of RUNX3 in low-EMT HCC, while mRNA expression of JAG1 was negatively correlated with that of RUNX3. These results suggest a novel mechanism by which loss or decreased expression of RUNX3 induces EMT via induction of JAG1 expression in low-EMT HCC.

DOI： 10.1002/ijc.27575

Diagnostic usefulness of precise examinations with intraductal ultrasonography, peroral cholangioscopy and laparoscopy of immunoglobulin G4-related sclerosing cholangitis. Reviewed International journal

Shigeru Horiguchi, Fusao Ikeda, Hidenori Shiraha, Naoki Yamamoto, Ichiro Sakakihara, Yasuhiro Noma, Koichiro Tsutsumi, Hironari Kato, Hiroaki Hagihara, Tetsuya Yasunaka, Shinichiro Nakamura, Haruhiko Kobashi, Hirofumi Kawamoto, Kazuhide Yamamoto

Digestive endoscopy : official journal of the Japan Gastroenterological Endoscopy Society 24 ( 5 ) 370 - 3 2012.9

Language：English

Herein, a case of immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4)-related sclerosing cholangitis is reported. IgG4 was diagnosed based on observations from peroral cholangioscopy and laparoscopy, and these methods are proposed for definitive and precise diagnosis of this disease. A 76-year-old male patient with inguinal Paget's disease had intrahepatic bile duct dilatations detected with computed tomography at his periodic check-up. Magnetic resonance cholangiography showed stenosis of the upper common bile duct and poststenotic dilatation of left intrahepatic bile ducts. The portal tract and bilateral intrahepatic bile ducts were surrounded by a low-density area, facing a tumor-like lesion at segment 2. Cytological examinations of the stenotic and dilated lesions revealed no cellular atypia. Histological examination of the tumor showed normal liver tissue with infiltration of lymphocytes, indicating an inflammatory pseudotumor. Peroral cholangioscopy excluded the possibility of biliary cancer and indicated that the stenotic legion was of submucosal, not mucosal, origin. Laparoscopic observations showed discoloration with wide yellowish-white lobular markings and wide depressed lesions at segments 2 and 7. Liver histology showed mild cholangitis with infiltration of IgG4-positive plasma cells around the bile ducts. Serum IgG4 levels were elevated. From these findings, the patient was diagnosed with IgG4-related sclerosing cholangitis. After treatment with prednisolone, blood liver enzymes and IgG4 rapidly normalized, bile duct dilatations improved, and the hepatic pseudotumor disappeared. The cholangitis did not recur. In this case, biliary cancer was ruled out by observation with peroral cholangioscopy, and the spread of cholangitis in the liver periphery was verified with laparoscopy; this information could not be obtained with other modalities.

DOI： 10.1111/j.1443-1661.2012.01300.x

Restored expression of the tumor suppressor gene RUNX3 reduces cancer stem cells in hepatocellular carcinoma by suppressing Jagged1-Notch signaling Reviewed

Shin-Ichi Nishina, Hidenori Shiraha, Yutaka Nakanishi, Shigetomi Tanaka, Minoru Matsubara, Nobuyuki Takaoka, Masayuki Uemura, Shigeru Horiguchi, Junro Kataoka, Masaya Iwamuro, Takahito Yagi, Kazuhide Yamamoto

ONCOLOGY REPORTS 26 ( 3 ) 523 - 531 2011.9

Language：English Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal) Publisher：SPANDIDOS PUBL LTD

Runt-related transcription factor 3 (RUNX3) is a candidate tumor suppressor gene that is downregulated in various cancers. In the present study, we analyzed the regulatory function of RUNX3 on Jagged-1 (JAG1) expression and cancer stem cell (CSC) signaling in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Eleven HCC cell lines and 30 human HCC tissues were used. RUNX3 and JAG1 expression levels were analyzed by immunoblotting and immunohistochemistry. Ectopic RUNX3 expression was induced by introducing RUNX3 cDNA into the RUNX3-negative HCC cell line Hep3B and Huh7 cells. Furthermore endogenous RUNX3 expression was knocked down by RUNX3 siRNA in SK-Hep-1 cells. In order to analyze JAG1 transcriptional regulation, we conducted reporter assays, chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays and electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSAs). Tumorigenicity was analyzed using a SCID mouse liver injection model. An inverse correlation was observed between RUNX3 expression and JAG1 expression in most HCC cell lines and tissues. Restoring RUNX3 expression decreased the expression of JAG1 in Hep3B and Huh7 cells, whereas JAG1 expression was upregulated in RUNX3 siRNA-treated SK-Hep-1 cells. Reporter assays, ChIP assays and EMSAs revealed that RUNX3 directly bound to the transcriptional regulatory region of JAG1 and suppressed JAG1 transcription. Moreover, RUNX3 restoration downregulated CSCs by suppressing JAG1-mediated Notch signaling. The tumorigenic capacity of RUNX3-expressing Hep3B cells was lower compared to that of control Hep3B cells. RUNX3 expression suppressed JAG1 expression and resulted in downregulation of tumorigenesis by suppression of JAG1-mediated CSCs.

DOI： 10.3892/or.2011.1336

Loss of runt-related transcription factor 3 expression leads hepatocellular carcinoma cells to escape apoptosis Reviewed

Yutaka Nakanishi, Hidenori Shiraha, Shin-ichi Nishina, Shigetomi Tanaka, Minoru Matsubara, Shigeru Horiguchi, Masaya Iwamuro, Nobuyuki Takaoka, Masayuki Uemura, Kenji Kuwaki, Hiroaki Hagihara, Junichi Toshimori, Hideki Ohnishi, Akinobu Takaki, Shinichiro Nakamura, Yoshiyuki Kobayashi, Kazuhiro Nouso, Takahito Yagi, Kazuhide Yamamoto

BMC CANCER 11 3 2011.1

Language：English Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal) Publisher：BIOMED CENTRAL LTD

Background: Runt-related transcription factor 3 (RUNX3) is known as a tumor suppressor gene for gastric cancer and other cancers, this gene may be involved in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
Methods: RUNX3 expression was analyzed by immunoblot and immunohistochemistry in HCC cells and tissues, respectively. Hep3B cells, lacking endogenous RUNX3, were introduced with RUNX3 constructs. Cell proliferation was measured using the MTT assay and apoptosis was evaluated using DAPI staining. Apoptosis signaling was assessed by immunoblot analysis.
Results: RUNX3 protein expression was frequently inactivated in the HCC cell lines (91%) and tissues (90%). RUNX3 expression inhibited 90 +/- 8% of cell growth at 72 h in serum starved Hep3B cells. Forty-eight hour serum starvation-induced apoptosis and the percentage of apoptotic cells reached 31 +/- 4% and 4 +/- 1% in RUNX3-expressing Hep3B and control cells, respectively. Apoptotic activity was increased by Bim expression and caspase-3 and caspase-9 activation.
Conclusion: RUNX3 expression enhanced serum starvation-induced apoptosis in HCC cell lines. RUNX3 is deleted or weakly expressed in HCC, which leads to tumorigenesis by escaping apoptosis.

DOI： 10.1186/1471-2407-11-3

Single-pattern convergence of K-ras mutation correlates with surgical indication of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms. Reviewed International journal

Osamu Mizuno, Hirofumi Kawamoto, Naoki Yamamoto, Shigeru Horiguchi, Koichiro Tsutsumi, Masakuni Fujii, Hironari Kato, Ken Hirao, Naoko Kurihara, Etsuji Ishida, Tsuneyoshi Ogawa, Hiroyuki Okada, Kazuhide Yamamoto

Pancreas 39 ( 5 ) 617 - 21 2010.7

Language：English

OBJECTIVES: One or more patterns of 6 K-ras mutations are detected in cells from the pancreatic juice of patients with intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs). We investigated whether these mutations are associated with malignant progression. METHODS: Between January 2002 and December 2007, 53 patients with IPMN were subjected to collection of pure pancreatic juice to evaluate K-ras mutation. According to the histological and radiological findings, the IPMNs were classified into 4 groups: carcinoma group, adenoma group, high-risk group, and low-risk group. We retrospectively investigated the mutation with these groups. RESULTS: In patients with a positive K-ras mutation, a single pattern of K-ras mutation was observed in 80% (8/10) of the carcinoma group, in 71% (5/7) of the adenoma group, in 40% (2/5) of the high-risk group, and in 38% (8/21) of the low-risk group. The rate of a single pattern of K-ras mutation decreased in a stepwise order (P = 0.017). The incidence of a single pattern of K-ras mutation was significantly higher in the patients who received surgical therapy (75%, 12/16) than in those who did not (38%, 10/26; P = 0.033). CONCLUSIONS: The present study suggests that the single-clonal convergence of K-ras mutation is associated with the malignant progression of IPMNs.

DOI： 10.1097/MPA.0b013e3181c75d9b