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No description available.

Opioid receptor-mediated regulation of chemokine receptors is vital for the host immune response, development, and neurological function. Previous studies have demonstrated that the kappa opioid receptor (KOR) activation results in decreased infectivity of human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). We have found this effect is due to down-regulation of the major HIV-1 co-receptors, CCR5 and CXCR4. Using molecular techniques, CCR5 and CXCR4 mRNA levels drop dramatically following KOR activation. To dissect the mechanism involved, we used transcription factor binding arrays and compared control cell extracts to KOR activated cell extracts. We determined that the interferon regulatory factors (IRFs) and signal transducers and activators of transcription (STATs) could be involved in the KOR-mediated repression of CCR5 and CXCR4 transcription and protein expression. Using chemical inhibitors and small interfering RNA (siRNA) molecules, we determined that JAK2, STAT3, and IRF2 are critical members of this signal transduction pathway. The understanding of these particular mechanisms should prove to be beneficial for the development of potential pharmacological agents targeted at HIV-1 binding and infection since virus infection requires expression of the co-receptors CXCR4 and CCR5. Understanding the molecular basis for KOR-induced inhibition of co-receptor expression may provide a basis for the development of KOR agonist-based therapeutics to treat individuals infected with HIV. / Molecular Biology and Genetics

Nescient Helix Loop Helix 2 (Nhlh2) is a member of the basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor family. Mice with a targeted deletion of Nhlh2, called N2KO mice, show adult onset obesity in both males and females. Nhlh2 regulates other genes by binding to the E-box in the promoter region of these genes. This transcription factor regulates many other transcription factors including MC4R and PC1/3 which are associated with human obesity. The Nhlh2 promoter has been analyzed for putative transcription factors binding sites. These putative binding sites have been tested to be the regulators of Nhlh2 by transactivation assays with mutant promoters, Electrophoretic Shift Assay (EMSA), and Chromatin Immunoprecipitation Assay (ChIP) as methods to investigate the DNA-protein binding. The results of these experiments showed that the Nhlh2 promoter has five Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 3 (Stat3) binding site motifs at -47, -65, -80, -281, -294 and two Nuclear Factor Kappa-Light-Chain-Enhancer of Activated B Cells (NFκB) binding site motifs at -67 and -135. While NFκB acts as a negative regulator of Nhlh2, this research showed that Stat3 acts as a regulator for the Nhlh2 basal expression and leptin stimulation. The ChIP assay using chromatin from mouse hypothalamus and antibodies against Stat3 and the NFκB subunits P50, P65, and c-Rel demonstrated that all of these antibodies were able to pull down the part of the Nhlh2 promoter containing the binding sites of Stat3 and NFκB. The EMSA results not only demonstrated that NFκB and Stat3 binding site motifs are real binding sites, but also exists the possibility of a relationship between these transcription factors to regulate Nhlh2 expression with leptin stimulation. An effort in analyzing the human NHLH2 3'UTR showed that one of the SNPs located at position 1568 in the NHLH2 mRNA (NHLH2A^1568G) which converts adenosine to guanine might have the potential to decrease the mRNA stability. For more investigation about this SNP, the mouse Nhlh2 tail was cloned into 2 different vectors and these vectors were subjected to site directed mutagenesis to create the 3'UTR SNP that convert A to G. One of these vectors used luciferase as a reporter gene for expression while the other one was used to measure Nhlh2 mRNA stability. These vectors were transfected into hypothalamic cell line N29/2 to test the effect of this SNP on Nhlh2 expression. This study demonstrated that this SNP down regulated luciferase expression and also decreased Nhlh2 mRNA stability. Taken together, this study demonstrated that Nhlh2 could be regulated transcriptionally by both NFκB and Stat3 transcription factors and post-transcripitionally by the 3'UTR SNP that converts adenosine to guanine. / Ph. D.

[EN] Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is the pulmonary disease with higher incidence and worse prognosis. Recent evidence suggests that cucurbitaceae, selective inhibitors of the JAK2/STAT3 pathway, may improve the pathogenesis of IPF, as anti-inflammatory and antioxidative properties have been confirmed in other diseases. However the role in IPF is unknown. Two pharmacological models were investigated in the present study. In the preventive model, Wistar rats were instilled intratracheally with a single dose of bleomycin (BLM)(3.75 U/kg; n=12) to induce lung injury. CuI (20mg/kg/day; n=6) or CuI vehicle (control and IPF group) was administered intraperitoneally daily for 21 days. The therapeutic model was exactly the same starting CuI administration on day 7 until day 21. Animal evolution together with the ventilation-perfusion ratio was controlled through CT/SPECT imaging. Cellular count and characterization was performed in broncoalveolar lavage (BAL) together with the total protein content and the IL-6 and IL-13 concentration in BAL and lung tissue. Hematoxilin-eosin and masson trichrome stains allowed the study of the lung's tissue histology. TGF-ß1, CTGF, COL1A and ET-1 gene and protein expression were both measured by real time PCR and WB as pulmonary vascular remodeling markers. P-STAT3, P-SMAD3 and P-JAK2 proteins were determined by protein and immunohistochemistry quantification. Finally, JAK2 and STAT3 expression and distribution was studied in lung tissue of fibrotic patients with pulmonary hypertension. CT/SPECT quantification showed reduction of the fibrotic areas in the CuI treated group by reestablishing the air space in the lungs back to day 0 levels for the preventive and the therapeutic model. Furthermore, ventilation/perfusion correlation was restored in the therapeutic model after administrating CuI during 14 days. Hematoxilin-eosine stains demonstrated how the group treated pharmacologically presented an improvement in the lung tissue architecture, reversing vascular remodeling and right heart hypertrophy. Masson trichrome stain revealed a reduction of the collagen deposits. Ashcroft score, used to determine the severity of pulmonary fibrosis, was measured and diminished significantly in the CuI treated group. The results showed a gene and protein overexpression of TGF-ß1, CTGF, COL1A and ET-1 in BLM relative to Control rats. This was counteracted with CuI treatment which reduced the expression back to control. In terms of immunohistochemistry, the results demonstrated a decrease in the COL1A deposits in the treated group versus the absence of treatment group. Protein and immunohistochemistry analysis of JAK2, STAT3 and SMAD3 demonstrated an overexpression in bleomycin rats while the protein expression was inhibited in the CuI treated group. In accordance to the results obtained, the immunohistochemistry analysis of the lung parenchyma in patients with pulmonary hypertension related to pulmonary fibrosis showed and overexpression of the phosphorylated forms of JAK2 and STAT3, lacking its expression in healthy lung tissue. The preventive and therapeutic administration of JAK2/STAT3 inhibitor can be a potential treatment for pulmonary fibrosis, as it improves the parameters related to the disease. / [ES] La fibrosis pulmonar idiopática (FPI) es la enfermedad pulmonar con mayor incidencia y peor pronóstico. Estudios recientes sugieren que la familia de las cucurbitaceae, inhibidores selectivos de la ruta JAK2/STAT3, pueden mejorar la patogénesis de la enfermedad, al haberse confirmado sus propiedades antinflamatorias y antioxidantes en otras enfermedades. Sin embargo se desconoce su papel en FPI. En el presente trabajo se estudiaron dos modelos farmacológicos. En el modelo preventivo las ratas Wistar fueron instiladas con una dosis única de bleomicina intratraqueal (BLM)(3.75 U/kg; n=12) para inducir las lesión pulmonar. Durante 21 días se administró CuI (20mg/kg/día; n=6) o vehículo de CuI (control y grupo FPI) por vía intraperitoneal. El modelo curativo se diferencia del preventivo en el comienzo de la administración farmacológica a los 7 días de inducir la enfermedad. El seguimiento de la evolución animal y el ratio de ventilación-perfusión se realizó mediante las técnicas de imagen TC/SPECT. Se realizó el recuento y caracterización de las células totales extravasadas en lavado broncoalveolar (LBA) así como el contenido de proteína total y la concentración de IL- 6 e IL-13 en LBA y tejido pulmonar. Las tinciones de hematoxilina-eosina y masson tricrómico permitieron el estudio de la histología del tejido pulmonar. Se determinó la expresión génica y proteica de TGF-ß1, CTGF, COL1A y ET-1 mediante las técnicas de real time PCR y WB como marcadores de remodelado vascular. Las proteínas P-STAT3, P-SMAD3 y P-JAK2, fueron determinadas mediante cuantificación proteica e inmunohistoquimia. Por último se estudió la expresión y distribución de JAK2 y STAT3 en tejido de pacientes con fibrosis pulmonar e hipertensión pulmonar. La cuantificación de las imágenes TC/SPECT mostraron una reducción de las áreas fibróticas en el grupo tratado con CuI. El tratamiento farmacológico permitió el restablecimiento del espacio aéreo pulmonar hasta valores control en ambos modelos estudiados. El grupo con tratamiento farmacológico restauró el ratio de ventilación/perfusión tras administrar CuI durante 14 días. Las tinciones de hematoxilina eosina revelaron como el grupo animal tratado farmacológicamente presenta una mejora de la histología pulmonar, revirtiendo el remodelado vascular y la hipertrofia del ventrículo derecho. La tinción de masson tricrómico mostró una disminución de los depósitos de colágeno. Se determinó el valor de Ashcroft, evaluador del grado de fibrosis pulmonar, que descendió significativamente en el grupo tratado con CuI. Los resultados presentan una sobrexpresión génica y proteica de TGF-ß1, CTGF, COL1A y ET-1 en los grupos de bleomicina frente a las ratas control. Dicha condición fue revertida mediante el tratamiento con CuI que restableció los valores a niveles control. Los análisis proteicos e inmunohistoquíimicos de JAK2, STAT3 y SMAD3 revelaron una sobreexpresión en las ratas con bleomicina mientras que la expresión proteica fue inhibida en el grupo tratado con CuI. En consonancia con los resultados obtenidos, el análisis inmunohistoquímico del parénquima pulmonar de pacientes con FPI e HP asociada muestran una sobreeexpresión de las formas fosforiladas de JAK2 y STAT3 frente a la ausencia de expresión en tejido pulmonar sano. La administración curativa y preventiva de un inhibidor de la ruta JAK2/STAT3 puede ser un potencial tratamiento para la fibrosis pulmonar, ya que mejora parámetros indicativos de la patología. / [CA] La fibrosi pulmonar idiopàtica (FPI) és la enfermetat pulmonar amb major incidència i pitjor pronostic. Estudis recents suggereixen que la família de les cucurbitàcies, Inhibidors selectius de la ruta JAK2 / STAT3, poden millorar la patogènesi de la malaltia, en haver-se confirmat les seues propietats antiinflamatòries i antioxidants En altres patologies. No obstant això es desconeix el seu paper en FPI. En el present treball es van estudiar 2 models farmacològics. En el model preventiu les rates Wistar foren instilades amb una dosi única de bleomicina intratraqueal (BLM) (3,75 U / kg; n = 12) per a induir les lesions pulmonars. Durant 21 dies es va administrar CuI (20 mg / kg / dia, n = 6) o Vehicle de CuI (control i grup FPI) per vía intraperitoneal. El model curatiu es diferència del preventiu en el començament de l'administració farmacológica als 7 dies d'induir l'enfermetat. El seguiment de l'evoluciò dels animals i el ratio de Ventilació-perfusió es va realitzar mitjançant tècniques d'imatge TC/SPECT. Es realitzà el recompte i caracterització de les cèl·lules totals extravasades en el llavat broncoalveolar (LBA). Així com el contingut de proteina total i la concentració d'IL-6 i IL-13 en LBA i teixit pulmonar. Les tincions d'hematoxilina-eosina i tricròmic de Masson van permetre l'estudi de la histologia del teixit pulmonar. Es va determinar l'expressió gènica i proteica de TGF-ß1, CTGF, COL1A i Et-1 mitjançant tècniques de PCR en temps real i WB com marcadors de remodelat vascular. Les proteïnes P-STAT3, P-SMAD3 i P-JAK2, varen ser determinades mitjançant quantificació proteica i inmunohistoquimia. Per últim se estudià l'expressió i distribució de JAK2 i STAT3 en teixit de pacients amb fibrosi pulmonar e hipertensió pulmonar. La quantificació de les imatges TC/SPECT mostraren una reducció de les àrees fibrótiques en el grup tractat amb CuI. El tractament farmacològic permet el restabliment de l'espai aeri pulmonar fins valors de control en els dos models estudiats. El grup amb tractament farmacològic va restaurar el ratio de ventilació/perfusió tras administrar Cul durant 14 dies. Les tincions d'hematoxilina eosina van revelar com el grup animal tractat farmacològicament presenta una Millora de la histologia pulmonar, revertint el remodelat vascular i la hipertròfia del ventricle dret. La tinció de tricròmic de Masson va mostrar una disminució dels dipòsits de col·lagen. Es va determinar el valor d'Ashcroft, avaluador del grau de fibrosi pulmonar, que va baixar significativament a el grup tractat amb CuI. Els resultats presenten una sobreexpressió gènica i proteica de TGF-ß1, CTGF, COL1A i Et-1 en els grups de bleomicina en comparacióa les rates control. Aquesta condició va ser revertida mitjançant el tractament amb CuI que va restablir els valors fins a nivel dels control. A nivell immunohistoquímic els resultats mostren una disminució dels dipòsits de COL1A en el grup tractat comparativament al grup sense tractament. Els anàlisi proteics i inmunohistoquíimics de JAK2, STAT3 i SMAD3 van revelar una sobreexpressió en les rates amb bleomicina mentre que l'expressió proteica va ser inhibida en el grup tractat amb CuI. D'acord amb els resultats obtinguts, l'anàlisi immunohistoquímic del parènquima pulmonar de pacients amb FPI i HP associada mostren sobreeexpresió de les formes fosforilades de JAK2 i STAT3 davant l'absència d'expressió en teixit pulmonar sa. La administració curativa i preventiva d'un inhibidor de la ruta JAK2 / STAT3 pot ser un potencial tractament per la fibrosi pulmonar, ja que millora paràmetres indicatius de la patologia. / Hernández Ribes, G. (2016). ESTUDIO DE LA RUTA CELULAR JAK2/STAT3 COMO POTENCIAL INHIBIDOR EN EL MODELO DE FIBROSIS PULMONAR [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/64087

Many human tumors harbor persistently-active Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription (ST AT)3 protein. There is substantial evidence that aberrantly-active STAT3 is a master regulator of events that promote carcinogenesis and human tumor formation. Abnormal STAT3 activity induces uncontrolled growth and survival of cells, thereby contributing to neoplastic transformation and progression. Cisplatin is a major chemotherapeutic modality for ovarian cancer, but is frequently challenged by drug resistance. Given that STAT3 is aberrantly-active in many human tumors, including ovarian cancer, there is the potential that it contributes to the development of Cisplatin resistance, a problem ripe for investigation. This study was conducted to explore the potential that the aberrant STAT3 present in ovarian cancer cells contributes to the decreased sensitivity to Cisplatin observed for ovarian cancer cells. The investigation revealed that STAT3 is aberrantly activated in cancer cell lines resistant to Cisplatin, but not in sensitive cells. Inhibition of aberrant STAT3 activity by the small-molecule STAT3 inhibitor, NSC 74859, increased growth inhibition induced by Cisplatin in resistant ovarian cancer cells. Furthermore, NSC 74859 enhanced apoptosis induced by Cisplatin in resistant cells in vitro by nearly 52%. Collectively, these observations indicate that inhibition of hyperactive STAT3 increases Cisplatin sensitivity, and therefore effectiveness, in resistant cells. Thus, STAT3 represents a viable target for enhancing the sensitivity of ovarian cancer cells to Cisplatin.

Die angeborene Zwerchfellhernie (congenital diaphragmatic hernia, CDH) ist eine Erkrankung von Neugeborenen, welche mit signifikanten Störungen der Lungenentwicklung einhergeht. Insbesondere die assoziierte pulmonale Hypoplasie und pulmonal arterielle Hypertension stellen die Therapie noch immer vor enorme Herausforderungen. Trotz langjähriger Forschung ist der Pathomechanismus der angeborenen Zwerchfellhernie nicht ausreichend verstanden. Mithilfe des international anerkannten Nitrofen Ratten Modells konnten wir in der vorliegenden Arbeit neue Erkenntnisse der pathobiologischen Vorgänge der Lungenentwicklung bei angeborener Zwerchfellhernie generieren. Im Gegensatz zu vorherigen Experimenten nutzen wir u.a. proteomanalytische Methoden, um eine Vielzahl krankhaft veränderter Signalwege zu detektieren. Dabei wurden fötale Lungen in späten pränatalen Stadien der Lungenentwicklung auf ihr Proteinexpressionsmuster untersucht. Insbesondere die Proteine Tenascin C, CREB-binding protein (CREBBP) sowie Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) waren in CDH-Lungen signifikant verändert. Tenascin C war deutlich reduziert, wohingegen CREBBP und insbesondere STAT3 eine erhöhte Expression aufwiesen. Die Expressionsminderung von Tenascin C bei angeborener Zwerchfellhernie konnten wir in humanen CDH-Lungen bestätigen. Mithilfe von Immunfluoreszenzfärbungen konnte die Expressionssteigerung von STAT3 insbesondere in den bronchialen Epithelzellen dargestellt werden. Wir nutzten ein ex-vivo Modell hypoplastischer Lungen, um den zuvor identifizierten pathologisch veränderten STAT3 Signalweg näher zu untersuchen. Dazu erfolgte die Isolation und in-vitro Kultivierung fötaler Rattenlungen an Tag 15 der embryonalen Entwicklung. Die externe Applikation des Herbizids Nitrofen führte dabei erwartungsgemäß zur Induktion einer pulmonalen Hypoplasie, angezeigt durch eine Abnahme der peripheren Lungenverzweigungen, sowie zu einer Zunahme der peripheren Mesenchymstärke. Auf Proteinebene zeigte sich in den hypoplastischen Lungen eine Aktivierung des STAT3 Signalweges durch eine signifikante Zunahme von phosphoryliertem STAT3 (pSTAT3). Die Applikation des spezifischen STAT3-Inhibitors S3I-201 erzielte eine Korrektur des Lungenwachstums und eine Normalisierung der STAT3 Phosphorylierung. STAT3 und dessen Aktivität ist dieser Arbeit zufolge in CDH-Rattenlungen krankhaft erhöht und die spezifische Inhibition von STAT3 verbessert im ex-vivo hypoplastischen Lungen-Modell das Lungenwachstum signifikant.:Inhaltsverzeichnis BIBLIOGRAPHISCHE BEZEICHNUNG 1. Einführung 1 1.1. Krankheitsbild 1 1.2. Tiermodell 2 1.3. Physiologische Lungenentwicklung 3 1.3.1. Morphologische Entwicklung der Lunge 3 1.3.2. Molekularbiologische Ebene der Lungenentwicklung 4 1.4. Abnormale Lungenentwicklung bei CDH 7 1.5. „Lung explant“ Modell der Lungenhypoplasie 9 1.6. Ziele der Arbeit 10 2. Publikationsmanuskript 11 2.1. Abstract 11 2.2. Methods 12 2.3. Results 13 2.4. Discussion 17 2.5. References 20 2.6. Supplements 22 3. Zusammenfassung der Arbeit 23 4. Referenzen 28 5. Anlagen 33 5.1 Erklärung über den wissenschaftlichen Beitrag des Promovenden zur Publikation 33 5.2. Erklärung über die eigenständige Anfertigung der Arbeit 35 5.3. Curriculum Vitae 36 5.4 Danksagung 39

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Les adénomes hépatocellulaires (AHC) sont des tumeurs bénignes rares qui se développent le plus souvent chez la femme jeune suite à la prise de contraceptifs oraux. Les complications principales sont l’hémorragie et plus rarement, la transformation maligne en carcinome hépatocellulaire (CHC). Des travaux récents ont permis d’identifier 3 groupes moléculaires principales d’AHC qui se définissent par (1) l’inactivation du facteur de transcription HNF1A (H-HCA), (2) l'activation de la voie Wnt/ß-caténine (bHCA) ou (3) la présence d’infiltrats inflammatoires (IHCA).Afin d’identifier les voies de tumorigenèse associées au développement d’AHC inflammatoires (IHCA), une analyse transcriptomique comparant des IHCA à des foies non tumoraux a été réalisée au laboratoire, ce qui a permis d’identifier dans ce groupe tumoral une activation de la voie IL-6/JAK/STAT3. Nous avons recherché de nouvelles altérations géniques et nous avons caractérisé le mécanisme d'activation de la voie IL-6/JAK/STAT dans les IHCA. Les conséquences fonctionnelles sur la voie STAT3 des différents mutants ont été analysées par une modélisation de leur expression dans des lignées hépatocellulaires. Par ailleurs, nous avons réalisé des études génomiques intégrées (analyse CGH-SNP, méthylome et séquençage exome) sur une large série de 250 AHC avec pour objectif d’affiner la classification moléculaire des AHC, d’identifier de nouveaux gènes altérés dans ces tumeurs et d’élucider les mécanismes de transformation maligne des AHC en CHC.Dans le groupe des IHCA, ces analyses nous ont permis d’identifier de nombreux oncogènes activés par mutation somatique ; de plus, trois de ces gènes n’avaient jamais été décrits comme étant mutés dans des tumeurs humaines. Nous avons identifié des mutations activatrices du récepteur à l’IL-6, gp130 dans 60% des IHCA. Nous avons aussi retrouvé des mutations de FRK, une src-like kinase, dans 10% des IHCA, du facteur de transcription STAT3 dans 5% des IHCA, du gène GNAS dans 5% des cas, et de la tyrosine kinase JAK1 dans 1% des cas. Toutes les mutations identifiées étaient somatiques, monoalléliques et mutuellement exclusives. Nous avons pu montrer, dans des systèmes de lignées cellulaires hépatocellulaires, que l'expression des formes mutées de ces gènes est capable d’activer la voie IL-6/STAT3 en absence du ligand IL-6, contrairement aux protéines sauvages. Nous avons identifié des inhibiteurs pharmacologiques qui permettent d’inhiber de façon spécifique ces mutants et qui pourraient être utilisés en clinique pour le traitement des IHCA.Grâce à une technique de CGH-SNP, nous avons identifié des événements récurrents de pertes et gains de chromosomes associés aux groupes moléculaires d’AHC. De façon similaire, l’étude de la méthylation dans les AHC a permis de mettre en évidence un pattern spécifique à chaque sous groupe. Nous avons montré que l’instabilité chromosomique augmente progressivement dans les lésions borderline et dans les CHC développés sur AHC comparés aux AHC classiques. Le séquençage exome de 5 transformations malignes de AHC en CHC a identifié un nombre plus important de mutations dans les AHC qui ont transformé comparé aux AHC classiques ; ce nombre est significativement augmenté dans la partie CHC des tumeurs. La comparaison de la partie bénigne et maligne des tumeurs a mis en évidence l'activation de ß-caténine comme un évènement précoce dans le processus de transformation et a révélé la présence de mutations somatiques fréquentes dans le promoteur de la télomèrase (TERT), identifiées principalement dans la partie maligne des tumeurs.En conclusion, cette étude a permis d’identifier des mécanismes distincts conduisant à l'activation de STAT3 dans les IHCA, renforçant le rôle de la voie JAK-STAT3 dans la tumorigenèse bénigne hépatocellulaire ainsi que le lien entre Src kinases et inflammation. Ces travaux ont permis d’affiner la classification moléculaire des AHC avec des corrélations étroites... / Hepatocellular adenomas (HCA) are rare benign tumors that develop most often in young women after taking oral contraception. The main complications are hemorrhage and rarely, malignant transformation to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Recent work in the laboratory identified three main HCA molecular groups that are defined by (1) inactivation of the transcription factor HNF1A (H-HCA), (2) activation of the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway (bHCA) or (3) the presence of inflammatory infiltrates (IHCA).To identify tumorigenesis pathways associated with the development of inflammatory HCA (IHCA), a transcriptome analysis comparing IHCA to non-tumor liver was performed in the laboratory, leading to the identification of an activation of the IL-6/JAK/STAT3 pathway in these tumors. We sought new gene alterations and we characterized the activation mechanism of the IL-6/JAK/STAT pathway in IHCA. The functional consequences of the different mutants on the STAT3 pathway were analyzed by modeling their expression in hepatocellular cell lines. In addition, we performed integrated genomic studies (CGH-SNP analysis, methylome and exome sequencing) on a wide range of 250 HCA with the aim to refine the molecular classification of HCA, to identify new genes altered in these tumors and to elucidate the mechanisms of malignant transformation of HCA to HCC.In the group of the IHCA, we identified many oncogenes activated by somatic mutation; in addition, three of these genes were never been described as mutated in human tumors. We identified activating mutations in the IL-6 receptor gp130 in 60% of IHCA. We also found mutations in FRK, a src-like kinase, in 10% of IHCA, of the transcription factor STAT3 in 5% of IHCA, of the GNAS gene in 5% of cases, and of the tyrosine kinase JAK1 in 1% of the cases. All identified mutations were somatic and monoallelic and were mutually exclusive. We have shown in hepatocellular cell lines that the expression of mutated forms of these genes is able to activate the IL-6/STAT3 pathway in the absence of the IL-6 ligand, in contrast to wild-type proteins. We have identified pharmacological inhibitors that specifically inhibit the mutants and that could be used for the clinical treatment of IHCA.Using a CGH-SNP technique, we identified recurrent chromosomes gains and losses associated with the HCA molecular groups. Similarly, the study of methylation in HCA highlighted a specific pattern in each subgroup. We showed that chromosomal instability increases gradually in borderline lesions and in HCC developed on HCA compared to classical HCA. Exome sequencing of 5 malignant transformation of HCA to HCC identified a large number of mutations in the transformed HCA compared to classical HCA; and this number is significantly increased in HCC tumors counterpart. Comparison of benign and malignant tumors highlighted the activation of ß-catenin as an early event in the transformation process and revealed frequent somatic mutations in the promoter of the telomerase gene (TERT), identified mainly in the malignant part of tumors.In conclusion, this study has led to the identification of distinct mechanisms leading to the activation of STAT3 in IHCA, strengthening the role of the JAK-STAT3 pathway in benign hepatocellular tumorigenesis and the relationship between Src kinases and inflammation. This work helped to refine the molecular classification of HCA with tight correlations between genotype and phenotype, and led to advances in the identification of major genetic determinants involved in the process of malignant transformation.