1
|
Gao J, Huo Z, Song X, Shao Q, Ren W, Huang X, Zhou S, Tang X. EGFR mediates epithelial‑mesenchymal transition through the Akt/GSK-3β/Snail signaling pathway to promote liver cancer proliferation and migration. Oncol Lett 2024; 27:59. [PMID: 38192662 PMCID: PMC10773224 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2023.14192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is expressed in various types of cancer and is associated with the malignant biological behavior of cancer cells. In the present study, the expression of EGFR in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissues and liver cancer cells was detected by immunohistochemical staining, western blotting and immunofluorescence. Furthermore, a lentivirus was transduced into HepG2 liver cancer cells to knock down EGFR expression. Cell proliferation and migration, and the expression levels of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers were assessed by EdU staining, Cell Counting Kit-8, colony formation, wound healing and Transwell assays, and western blotting. The results revealed that EGF/EGFR can mediate EMT through the Akt/glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β)/Snail signaling pathway to promote HepG2 cell proliferation and migration. Inhibition of the activation of the EGFR signaling pathway can help to partially reverse the EMT phenotype, and inhibit the proliferation and migration of HepG2 cells. In conclusion, the EGFR/Akt/GSK-3β/Snail signaling pathway serves an important role in HCC progression, and inhibition of the activation of the EGFR signaling pathway may be a valuable strategy in liver cancer treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jiafeng Gao
- Medical School, Anhui University of Science & Technology, Huainan, Anhui 232001, P.R. China
| | - Zhen Huo
- Medical School, Anhui University of Science & Technology, Huainan, Anhui 232001, P.R. China
| | - Xueyi Song
- Medical School, Anhui University of Science & Technology, Huainan, Anhui 232001, P.R. China
| | - Qianqian Shao
- Medical School, Anhui University of Science & Technology, Huainan, Anhui 232001, P.R. China
| | - Weiwei Ren
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Huainan First People's Hospital and First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Science & Technology, Huainan, Anhui 232001, P.R. China
| | - Xiaolong Huang
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Huainan First People's Hospital and First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Science & Technology, Huainan, Anhui 232001, P.R. China
| | - Shuping Zhou
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Huainan First People's Hospital and First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Science & Technology, Huainan, Anhui 232001, P.R. China
| | - Xiaolong Tang
- Medical School, Anhui University of Science & Technology, Huainan, Anhui 232001, P.R. China
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Huainan First People's Hospital and First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Science & Technology, Huainan, Anhui 232001, P.R. China
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Koustas E, Trifylli EM, Sarantis P, Papadopoulos N, Papanikolopoulos K, Aloizos G, Damaskos C, Garmpis N, Garmpi A, Matthaios D, Karamouzis MV. An Insight into the Arising Role of MicroRNAs in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Future Diagnostic and Therapeutic Approaches. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24087168. [PMID: 37108330 PMCID: PMC10138911 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24087168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2023] [Revised: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) constitutes a frequent highly malignant form of primary liver cancer and is the third cause of death attributable to malignancy. Despite the improvement in the therapeutic strategies with the exploration of novel pharmacological agents, the survival rate for HCC is still low. Shedding light on the multiplex genetic and epigenetic background of HCC, such as on the emerging role of microRNAs, is considered quite promising for the diagnosis and the prediction of this malignancy, as well as for combatting drug resistance. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) constitute small noncoding RNA sequences, which play a key role in the regulation of several signaling and metabolic pathways, as well as of pivotal cellular functions such as autophagy, apoptosis, and cell proliferation. It is also demonstrated that miRNAs are significantly implicated in carcinogenesis, either acting as tumor suppressors or oncomiRs, while aberrations in their expression levels are closely associated with tumor growth and progression, as well as with local invasion and metastatic dissemination. The arising role of miRNAs in HCC is in the spotlight of the current scientific research, aiming at the development of novel therapeutic perspectives. In this review, we will shed light on the emerging role of miRNAs in HCC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Evangelos Koustas
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 75, M. Asias Street, 11527 Athens, Greece
- First Department of Internal Medicine, 417 Army Equity Fund Hospital, 11521 Athens, Greece
| | - Eleni-Myrto Trifylli
- First Department of Internal Medicine, 417 Army Equity Fund Hospital, 11521 Athens, Greece
| | - Panagiotis Sarantis
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 75, M. Asias Street, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | - Nikolaos Papadopoulos
- Second Department of Internal Medicine, 401 General Army Hospital of Athens, 11525 Athens, Greece
| | | | - Georgios Aloizos
- First Department of Internal Medicine, 417 Army Equity Fund Hospital, 11521 Athens, Greece
| | - Christos Damaskos
- 'N.S. Christeas' Laboratory of Experimental Surgery and Surgical Research, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
- Renal Transplantation Unit, 'Laiko' General Hospital, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | - Nikolaos Garmpis
- Second Department of Propaedeutic Surgery, 'Laiko' General Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
- First Department of Pathology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | - Anna Garmpi
- First Department of Pathology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | | | - Michalis V Karamouzis
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 75, M. Asias Street, 11527 Athens, Greece
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Micronome Revealed miR-205-5p as Key Regulator of VEGFA During Cancer Related Angiogenesis in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Mol Biotechnol 2022:10.1007/s12033-022-00619-5. [DOI: 10.1007/s12033-022-00619-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
|