TLR4 Signaling via NANOG Cooperates With STAT3 to Activate Twist1 and Promote Formation of Tumor-Initiating Stem-Like Cells in Livers of Mice

Obesity and alcohol consumption contribute to steatohepatitis, which increases the risk for hepatitis C virus (HCV)-associated hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs). Mouse hepatocytes that express HCV-NS5A in liver up-regulate the expression of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), and develop liver tumors containing tumor-initiating stem-like cells (TICs) that express NANOG. We investigated whether the TLR4 signals to NANOG to promote the development of TICs and tumorigenesis in mice placed on a Western diet high in cholesterol and saturated fat (HCFD).

Source: Gastroenterology - November 12, 2015 Category: Gastroenterology Authors: Dinesh Babu Uthaya Kumar, Chia-Lin Chen, Jian-Chang Liu, Douglas E. Feldman, Linda S. Sher, Samuel French, Joseph DiNorcia, Samuel W. French, Bita V. Naini, Sunhawit Junrungsee, Vatche Garen Agopian, Ali Zarrinpar, Keigo Machida Tags: Original Research Source Type: research