Downregulation of NIN/RPN12 binding protein inhibit the growth of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells

The ribosome assembly factor NIN/RPN12 binding protein (Nob1) has been suggested to be essential for processing of the 20S pre-rRNA to the mature 18S rRNA, and is also reported to participate in proteasome biogenesis. However, it is unclear whether Nob1 is involved in tumor cells growth. The aim of this study was to determine whether the suppression of Nob1 by short hairpin RNA (shRNA) inhibits the growth of human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells. Recombinant lentiviral shRNA expression vector carrying Nob1 was constructed and then infected into human HCC cell line SMMC-7721. The growth properties of SMMC-7721/pGCSIL-GFP-shNC and pGCSIL-GFP-shNob1 cells were determined by MTT, BrdU incorporation assay, and flow cytometric analysis. In addition, the colony formation and tumor growth ability in nude mice were detected to define the function of Nob1 in cell transformation and tumorigenesis. Our data showed that the growth and proliferation of SMMC-7721/pGCSIL-GFP-shNob1 cells were significantly reduced compared with the SMMC-7721/pGCSIL-GFP-shNC. In addition, the colony formation was impaired after the suppression of Nob1 in SMMC-7721 cells. And in vivo, the tumor formation ability of the SMMC-7721/pGCSIL-GFP-shNob1 cells was significantly reduced compared with the control cells. Our data support that Nob1 is an important regulator of the tumorigenic properties of human HCC and could be used as a candidate therapeutic target in human HCC.     

Epigenetic inactivation of SLIT2 in human hepatocellular carcinomas

Recent findings have shown that SLIT2 appears to function as a novel tumor suppressor gene. In addition, hypermethylation of its promoter region has been detected in various cancers, including breast and lung cancer, colorectal carcinoma, and gliomas. Here, we report for the first time that there is epigenetic silencing of SLIT2 in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Downregulation of SLIT2 was detected in 6 of 8 (75%) HCC cell lines by quantitative real-time RT-PCR (qRT-PCR), and the downregulation of SLIT2 was generally dependent on the degree of methylation at the promoter region. Furthermore, expression of SLIT2 was restored in relatively low-expressing cell lines after treatment with 5-aza-2-deoxycytidine (5-Aza-dC). Downregulation of SLIT2 expression was also detected in 45 of 54 primary HCC samples (83.3%), and the decrease in expression was significantly correlated with CpG island hypermethylation. This decrease of SLIT2 expression was also associated with lymph node metastasis in HCC. Moreover, overexpression of SLIT2 in SMMC-7721 cells induced by recombinant adenovirus suppressed cell growth, migration, and invasion, These results suggest that epigenetic inactivation of SLIT2 in HCC may be important in the development and progression of HCC. Thus, SLIT2 may be useful as a therapeutic target in the treatment of HCC.     

Osteopontin promotes hepatocellular carcinoma invasion by up-regulating MMP-2 and uPA expression

Osteopontin (OPN) is over-expressed in a variety of cancers, but its role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression has not been clarified. In this study, weakly tumorigenic, non-metastastic human HCC cell line SMMC-7721 cells were forced to over-express OPN via stable transfection. A series of functional assays were performed to assess the effects of OPN on tumor cell behaviors and cDNA microarray was used to identify the genes regulated by OPN. The results showed that OPN significantly enhanced the migration and invasion of SMMC-7721 cells in vitro. In addition, CD44v6 antibody could significantly inhibit the invasion of OPN over-expressing SMMC-7721 cells. Moreover, MMP-2 and uPA expressions were significantly up-regulated in OPN over-expressing SMMC-7721 cells. Together, these findings indicate that OPN enhanced HCC cells invasion through interaction with its receptor CD44v6 and increased MMP-2 and uPA expressions, providing at least one mechanism for OPN-mediated HCC progression and metastasis.     

Growth suppression of human hepatocellular carcinoma xenografts by a monoclonal antibody CH12 directed to epidermal growth factor receptor variant III

Human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is considered difficult to cure because it is resistant to radio- and chemotherapy and has a high recurrence rate after curative liver resection. Epidermal growth factor receptor variant III (EGFRvIII) has been reported to express in HCC tissues and cell lines. This article describes the efficacy of an anti-EGFRvIII monoclonal antibody (mAb CH12) in the treatment of HCC xenografts with EGFRvIII expression and the underlying mechanism of EGFRvIII as an oncogene in HCC. The results demonstrated that CH12 bound preferentially to EGFRvIII with a dissociation constant (K(d)) of 1.346 nm/liter. In addition, CH12 induces strong antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity and complement-dependent cytotoxicity in Huh7-EGFRvIII (with exogenous expression of EGFRvIII) and SMMC-7721 (with endogenous expression of EGFRvIII) cells. Notably, CH12 significantly inhibited the growth of Huh7-EGFRvIII and SMMC-7721 xenografts in vivo with a growth inhibition ratio much higher than C225, a U. S. Food and Drug Administration-approved anti-EGFR antibody. Treatment of the two HCC xenografts with CH12 significantly suppressed tumor proliferation and angiogenesis. Mechanistically, in vivo treatment with CH12 reduced the phosphorylation of constitutively active EGFRvIII, Akt, and ERK. Down-regulation of the apoptotic protectors Bcl-x(L), Bcl-2, and the cell cycle regulator cyclin D1, as well as up-regulation of the cell-cycle inhibitor p27, were also observed after in vivo CH12 treatment. Collectively, these results indicate that the monoclonal antibody CH12 is a promising therapeutic agent for HCC with EGFRvIII expression.     

microRNA-802 accelerates hepatocellular carcinoma growth by targeting RUNX3

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignancies worldwide. Prognosis is often unfavorable. In this study, the effects of microRNA-802 (miR-802) on HCC progression were assessed in vivo and in vitro. miR-802 was found to be significantly upregulated in HCC tumor tissue compared to paired adjacent nontumor tissue. In vitro, transfection with a miR-802 mimic accelerated SMMC-7721 cellular proliferation, increased accumulation of the cell-cycle S-phase cell populations, as well as cell migration. In vivo injection of a miR-802 agomir promoted HCC proliferation in nude mice. Targets of miR-802 were predicted by miRWalk, miRanda, RNA22, and Targetscan. By luciferase reporter assay RUNX3 was identified as a direct target of miR-802. As judged by western blot analysis, RUNX3 was upregulated when miR-802 was inhibited. These data demonstrate increased miR-802 expression in patients with HCC and that miR-802 overexpression promotes tumor cell growth, in a RUNX3-dependent manner.     

Longikaurin A,a natural ent-kaurane,induces G2/M phase arrest via downregulation of Skp2 and apoptosis induction through ROS/JNK/c-Jun pathway in hepatocellular carcinoma cells

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common form of primary liver cancer, and is also highly resistant to conventional chemotherapy treatments. In this study, we report that Longikaurin A (LK-A), an ent-kaurane diterpenoid isolated from the plant Isodon ternifolius, induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in human HCC cell lines. LK-A also suppressed tumor growth in SMMC-7721 xenograft models, without inducing any notable major organ-related toxicity. LK-A treatment led to reduced expression of the proto-oncogene S phase kinase-associated protein 2 (Skp2) in SMMC-7721 cells. Lower Skp2 levels correlated with increased expression of p21 and p-cdc2 (Try15), and a corresponding decrease in protein levels of Cyclin B1 and cdc2. Overexpression of Skp2 significantly inhibited LK-A-induced cell cycle arrest in SMMC-7721 cells, suggesting that LK-A may target Skp2 to arrest cells at the G2/M phase. LK-A also induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and apoptosis in SMMC-7721 cells. LK-A induced phosphorylation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), but not extracellular signal-regulated kinase and P38 MAP kinase. Treatment with, the JNK inhibitor SP600125 prevented LK-A-induced apoptosis in SMMC-7721 cells. Moreover, the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine prevented phosphorylation of both JNK and c-Jun. Taken together, these data indicate that LK-A induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in cancer cells by dampening Skp2 expression, and thereby activating the ROS/JNK/c-Jun signaling pathways. LK-A is therefore a potential lead compound for development of antitumor drugs targeting HCC.     

FOXQ1在肝癌中的临床意义及其对SMMC-7721细胞体外血管形成的影响

探讨叉头框蛋白Q1(forkhead box Q1, FOXQ1)基因在肝癌中的临床意义及对肝癌细胞体外血管生成作用.利用 qRT-PCR法及Western印迹法,检测24例肝癌、癌旁组织、正常肝细胞L02及肝癌细胞SMMC-7721中FOXQ1的mRNA和蛋白质的表达;利用免疫组织化学法检测68例肝癌及癌旁组织中FOXQ1的蛋白质表达.合成shRNA-FOXQ1及shRNA-NC慢病毒,转染到SMMC-7721细胞.用体外血管生成实验检测转染shRNA-FOXQ1的肝癌细胞血管生成能力. 用qRT-PCR和Western印迹法检测细胞间FOXQ1、VEGF基因和蛋白质的表达.结果显示,癌组织和SMMC-7721细胞中FOXQ1 mRNA和蛋白质的表达均高于癌旁组织和正常肝细胞(P<0.05),FOXQ1蛋白的表达与TNM分期、肿瘤分化程度、肿瘤数目、肿瘤大小等参数差异显著(P<0.05).shRNA-FOXQ1组血管生成能力明显低于shRNA-NC组和空白组(P<0.05),FOXQ1、VEGF基因和蛋白质的表达也明显低于shRNA-NC组和空白组(P<0.05).研究结果证实,FOXQ1在肝癌中高表达,如果沉默FOXQ1的表达可抑制肝癌细胞血管生成,与肝癌的临床病理特征密切相关.     

shRNA-mediated silencing of Gli2 gene inhibits proliferation and sensitizes human hepatocellular carcinoma cells towards TRAIL-induced apoptosis

Aberrant activation of the Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway has been reported in various cancer types including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). As a key effector of this signaling, Gli2 plays a crucial role in carcinogenesis, including the activation of genes encoding apoptosis inhibitors and cell-cycle regulators. In this study, we examined the role of Gli2 proliferation and survival of HCC cells. First, the expression levels of Hh pathway components were detected in a subset of HCC cell lines. To establish the role of Gli2 in maintaining the tumorigenic properties of HCC cells, we developed small hairpin RNA (shRNA) targeting Gli2 and transfected it into SMMC-7721 cell, which was selected with high level of Hh signaling expression. Next, effects of Gli2 gene silencing, on cell proliferation and on the expression of cell cycle-related proteins were evaluated, then, whether down-regulation of Gli2 renders HCC cell susceptible to TRAIL was examined in vitro. Knockdown of Gli2 inhibited cell proliferation and induced G1 phase arrest of cell cycle in SMMC-7721 cell through down-regulation of cyclin D1, cyclinE2, and up-regulation of p21-WAF1. Also, Gli2 gene siliencing sensitized SMMC-7721 cell to tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand-induced apoptosis by reducing the expression of the long and short isoform of c-FLIP and Bcl-2, and then augmented the activation of initiator caspases-8/-9 and effector caspases-3, which induces PARP cleavage. In conclusion, our data suggest that Gli2 plays a predominant role in the proliferation and apoptosis resistance of HCC cells, and that knockdown of Gli2 may be a novel anticancer strategy for the treatment of HCC.     

Plumbagin induces autophagy and apoptosis of SMMC-7721 cells in vitro and in vivo

Plumbagin (PL), an active naphthoquinone compound, has been demonstrated to be a potential anticancer agent. However, the underlying anticancer mechanism is not fully understood. In this study, the human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) SMMC-7721 cell line was studied in an in vitro model. The cell proliferation was inhibited by PL in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Electron microscopy, acridine orange staining, and immunofluorescence were used to evaluate autophagosome formation and LC3 protein expression in PL-treated SMMC-7721 cells. Real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot showed that PL treatment suppressed the expression of apoptosis and autophagy factors (LC3, Beclin1, Atg7, and Atg5), which are associated with tumor apoptosis and autophagy in SMMC-7721 cells. In the study of in vitro tumor nude mouse models, PL can inhibit tumor growth. Cell apoptosis and autophagy of the transplanted tumors were evaluated by hematoxylin and eosin staining, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end-labeling staining, and Western blot. In addition, in the in vivo studies of HCC cells, we found that pretreatment with the autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine blocked the formation of apoptosis induced by PL. In contrast, administration of the apoptosis inhibitor Z-VAD did not affect PL-induced autophagy. Taken together, our findings strongly suggest that PL is a promising drug with significant antitumor activity in HCC.     

RNA interference targeting CITRON can significantly inhibit the proliferation of hepatocellular carcinoma cells

CITRON (rho-interacting, serine/threonine kinase 21), which is a key component of the midbody, is essential for cytokinesis. However, the role of CITRON in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is poorly understood. Here we first measured the expression of CITRON in HCC specimens by quantitative real-time RT–PCR and immunohistochemical staining. The results showed CITRON to be frequently up-regulated in HCC as compared with adjacent non-tumour tissues. Then we employed adenovirus-mediated RNA interference against CITRON to assess its anti-proliferation effect on SMMC-7721 cells, a representative HCC cell line. The resulting data demonstrated that CITRON knockdown was capable of inhibiting the proliferation and colony formation of SMMC-7721 cells, with an obvious increase of multinucleated cells. Furthermore, we subcutaneously injected the SMMC-7721 cells with the CITRON knockdown into nude mice to evaluate the tumourigenicity. The data indicated that adenovirus-mediated RNA interference can suppress tumourigenicity in vivo of HCC cells. Our data suggest that CITRON may be a potential target for therapeutic intervention in HCC.     

盐霉素抑制人肝细胞癌转移与侵袭的体外与体内实验研究

目的：肝癌的转移与复发是肝癌治疗的一大难题,盐霉素是近年来新发现的具有抗肿瘤作用的抗生素,本文研究了盐霉素在体外及体内对人肝细胞癌转移与侵袭能力的作用及机制。方法：在体外对肝癌细胞株HepG2,SMMC-7721,BEL-7402给予盐霉素处理,体内建立裸鼠肝脏原位肿瘤模型,并给予腹腔注射盐霉素治疗。观察肿瘤细胞的转移侵袭能力以及肝内肿瘤转移灶的情况,进一步测定E．cadherin,Vimentin的表达,来研究盐霉素对肝癌转移及侵袭能力的影响及机制。结果：经盐霉素处理后,肝癌细胞株HepG2,SMMC．7721,BEL．7402的转移及侵袭能力明显下降,肝内转移灶的数目也减少。分子机制检测发现盐霉素处理后E．cadherin表达增高,Vimentin表达下降。结论：盐霉素在体内与体外都抑制了肝癌的转移与侵袭,其机制可能抑制了肿瘤细胞的上皮间质化（EMT）过程。这为控制肝癌的转移和复发提供了新的治疗思路。     

铁皮石斛内生真菌次生代谢产物研究

为了解铁皮石斛(Dendrobium officinale)内生真菌Phyllosticta aristolochiicola的次生代谢产物,从该真菌中分离得到15个化合物,经波谱分析分别鉴定为N-methyl-2-pyrolidinone (1)、环-(甘氨酸-L-脯氨酸)(2)、环-(D-丙氨酸-L-脯氨酸)(3)、环-(L-缬氨酸-L-脯氨酸)(4)、环-(L-亮氨酸-L-脯氨酸)(5)、cyclo-(L-Leu-D-4-hydroxyprolinyl)(6)、环-(L-苯丙氨酸-L-脯氨酸)(7)、环-(L-苯丙氨酸-L-4-羟基脯氨酸)(8)、环-(L-酪氨酸-L-脯氨酸)(9)、环-(L-苯丙氨酸-L-亮氨酸)(10)、啤酒甾醇(11)、对羟基苯乙醇(12)、对羟基苯乙酸(13)、(2S,3R)-1-(4-羟基苯基)丁烷-2,3-二醇(14)和(2R,3S)-1-苯基丁烷-2,3-二醇(15)。采用MTS法检测抗肿瘤活性表明,化合物2、10和14对HL-60、A-549、SMMC-7721、MCF-7和SW-480细胞株具有一定的抑制活性。     

Notch信号通路对肝癌细胞迁移能力及E-cadherin，COX-2表达的影响

目的:探讨Notch信号通路对肝癌细胞迁移能力及钙粘附蛋白E(E-cadherin)、环氧化酶-2(COX-2)表达的影响。方法:体外培养肝癌细胞系(SMMC-7721、MHCC97H)、正常非肿瘤肝细胞系(HL-7702),Transwell小室用于测定细胞的迁移侵袭能力,Western blot蛋白印迹法用于测定Notch1、E-cadherin、COX-2蛋白的表达水平,并采用DAPT阻断Notch信号通路,比较肝癌细胞系与正常非肿瘤肝细胞系的迁移侵袭能力及肝癌细胞中E-cadherin、COX-2蛋白的表达水平的改变。结果:SMMC-7721细胞、MHCC97H细胞的迁移能力强于HL-7702细胞,差异有统计学意义(P0.05);相比于HL-7702细胞,MHCC97H细胞、SMMC-7721细胞中的Notch1、COX-2表达水平均显著升高,E-cadherin的表达水平明显降低(P0.05);DAPT处理后,SMMC-7721细胞、MHCC97H细胞发生迁移的能力均弱于对照组,差异有统计意义(P0.05);DAPT处理后,SMMC-7721细胞、MHCC97H细胞内COX-2、Notch1的表达量明显降低,而E-cadherin的表达水平升高(P0.05)。结论:Notch信号通路参与肝癌细胞迁移过程,其机制可能与E-cadherin、COX-2的表达相关。     

Inhibition of the growth of human hepatoma cell line bothin vitro andin vivo by transducing CKI genep21 WAF-1 with GE7 targeting gene delivery system

The EGF receptor-mediated targeting gene delivery system GE7 was used to transduce exogenous genepCEP-p21 ^WAF-1 into human hepatocellular carcinoma cell bothin vitro andin vivo. Afterin vitro transduction of the exogenous gene, the growth of the cell lines SMMC-7721 and BEL-7402 was significantly inhibited compared with the control. On day 8 the inhibition rates of the above cell lines reached 56.0% and 66.7%, respectively. Thein vivo experiment showed that the growth of human hepatoma transplanted in nude mice injected with GE7 gene delivery system subcutaneously once a week for 3 weeks was remarkably inhibited compared with that of untransfected control. The average tumor weight of the experiment group was (0.083 ±0.043) g, while that of the control group was (0.281 ±0.173) g. The difference is significant (P<0.05). It was indicated that GE7 gene delivery system could efficiently transduce exogenous genepCEP-p21 ^WAF-1 into hepatoma cell with high EGF receptor expression, and inhibit the cell growth with high efficacy bothin vivo andin vitro.     

Stealth siRNA against CD147 inhibits hepatocellular carcinoma cell metastatic properties

CD147 plays a critical role in the invasive and metastatic activity of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells by stimulating the surrounding fibroblasts to secrete matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Tumor cells adhesion to extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins is the first step to the tumor metastasis. MMPs degrade the ECM to promote tumor metastasis. The aim of this research was to investigate the inhibitory effects of stealth small interfering RNA (siRNA) against CD147 on HCC cell line (SMMC-7721) metastatic properties including invasion, adhesion to ECM, gelatinase production, focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and vinculin expression. Flow cytometry (FCM) and western blot assays were employed to detect the transfection efficiency of the stealth siRNA against CD147. Invasion assays and gelatin zymography were also used to detect the effects of stealth siRNA against CD147 on SMMC-7721 cells’ invasion and gelatinase production. The effects of stealth siRNA against CD147 on FAK and vinculiln expression in SMMC-7721 cells were also detected by western blot. The results showed that stealth siRNA against CD147 inhibited SMMC-7721 invasion, adhesion to ECM proteins, MMP-2 production, and FAK and vinculin expression. These findings indicate that CD147 is required for tumor cell invasion and adhesion. Perturbation of CD147 expression may have potential therapeutic uses in the prevention of MMP-2-dependent tumor invasion.     

Microfilament regulatory protein MENA increases activity of RhoA and promotes metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma

Mammalian enabled (MENA), usually known as a direct regulator of microfilament polymerization and bundling, promotes metastasis in various cancers. Here we focus on the role of MENA in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) metastasis and the relevant mechanism from the view of RhoA activity regulation. By HCC tissue microarray analysis, we found that MENA expression was positively associated with satellite lesions (P<0.01) and vascular invasion (P<0.01). Cases with membrane reinforcement of MENA staining in HCC tissues had significantly higher rates of early recurrence in the intermediate MENA expression group. Knockdown of MENA significantly suppressed HCC cell migration and invasion in vitro, as well as their intrahepatic and distant metastasis in vivo. Knockdown of MENA also decreased filopodia and stress fibers in SMMC-7721 cells. Furthermore, a decrease of RhoA activity was detected by a pull-down assay in SMMC-7721-shMENA cells. The ROCK inhibitor, Y-27632, suppressed migration of both MENA knockdown SMMC-7721 cells and control cells, but diminished their difference. Thus, our findings suggest that MENA promotes HCC cell motility by activating RhoA.     

Differential regulation of the expression of aquaporins 3 and 9 by Auphen and dbcAMP in the SMMC-7721 hepatocellular carcinoma cell line

Aquaglycero-aquaporins (agAQPs) are the structural foundation of rapid water transport and they appear to participate in cancer proliferation and malignancy. AQP3 expression is increased and AQP9 expression is decreased in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) compared to normal liver, which suggests their possible use as targets for cancer treatment. AQP-based modifiers, such as Auphen and dibutyryladenosine 3′, 5′-cyclic monophosphate (dbcAMP), might be used to treat several diseases and as chemical tools for assessing the functions of AQPs in biological systems. We investigated the effects of both Auphen on AQP3 and dbcAMP on AQP9 in SMMC-7721 cells. We used western blotting, real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and immunohistochemistry to evaluate changes in AQP3 and AQP9 expression in SMMC-7721 cells after culturing with Auphen and dbcAMP, respectively. We also determined the proliferation of SMMC-7721 cells. We found that compared to HL-7702 (L02) liver cells, Auphen increased AQP3 expression in tumor cells, whereas dbcAMP decreased expression of AQP9 in these cells. Also, high concentrations of Auphen and dbcAMP inhibited proliferation of SMMC-7721 cells in vitro. Auphen and dbcAMP may inhibit HCC development and could be considered targets for HCC diagnosis and therapy.     

Overexpression of miR-623 suppresses progression of hepatocellular carcinoma via regulating the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway by targeting XRCC5

It has been reported that miR-623 is deregulated in lung adenocarcinoma and inhibits tumor growth and invasion. However, it is unclear whether miR-623 has a role in the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Herein, we found that miR-623 was significantly downregulated in HCC, and that its expression was related to poor clinical outcomes of patients with HCC. Upregulation of miR-623 decreased cell proliferation, viability, migration, and invasion and further promoted apoptosis in 7721, Huh7, and Bel-7402 cells. Moreover, we also observed that miR-623 regulated the phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/Akt), Wnt/β-catenin, and extracellular regulated protein kinases/c-Jun N-terminal kinase (ERK/JNK) signaling pathways as well as the expression level of related proteins. Further, X-ray repair cross complementing 5 (XRCC5) was a direct target for miR-623, and the suppression of PI3K/Akt, Wnt/β-catenin, and ERK/JNK signaling pathways and cell proliferation and invasion abilities caused by miR-623 in HCC cells was significantly reversed by the upregulation of XRCC5. Collectively, our data suggested that miR-623 suppressed the progression of HCC by regulating the PI3K/Akt, Wnt/β-catenin, and ERK/JNK pathways by targeting XRCC5 in HCC in vitro, indicating that miR-623 may be a target for the therapy of HCC.     

Lentivirus mediated silencing of Ubiquitin Specific Peptidase 39 inhibits cell proliferation of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells in vitro

Background

Ubiquitin Specific Peptidase 39 (USP39) is a 65 kDa SR-related protein involved in RNA splicing. Previous studies showed that USP39 is related with tumorigenesis of human breast cancer cells.

Results

In the present study, we investigated the functions of USP39 in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell line SMMC-7721. We knocked down the expression of USP39 through lentivirus mediated RNA interference. The results of qRT-PCR and western blotting assay showed that both the mRNA and protein levels were suppressed efficiently after USP39 specific shRNA was delivered into SMMC-7721 cells. Cell growth was significantly inhibited as determined by MTT assay. Crystal violet staining indicated that colony numbers and sizes were both reduced after knock-down of USP39. Furthermore, suppression of USP39 arrested cell cycle progression at G₂/M phase in SMMC-7721cells. In addition, Annexin V showed that downregulation of USP39 significantly increased the population of apoptotic cells.

Conclusions

All our results suggest that USP39 is important for HCC cell proliferation and is a potential target for molecular therapy of HCC.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s40659-015-0006-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.