Hongjuan You1, Dongchen Yuan1, Yanwei Bi1,2, Ning Zhang1, Qi Li1, Tao Tu1, Xiao Wei1, Qi Lian1, Tong Yu1, Delong Kong1, Xiaoying Yang1, Xiangye Liu1, Xiaomei Liu1, Fanyun Kong3, Kuiyang Zheng1,4, Renxian Tang5,6. 1. Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Immunity and Metabolism, Department of Pathogenic Biology and Immunology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China. 2. Clinical Laboratory, Xuzhou TCM Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China. 3. Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Immunity and Metabolism, Department of Pathogenic Biology and Immunology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China. kong.fanyun@163.com. 4. National Demonstration Center for Experimental Basic Medical Sciences Education, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China. 5. Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Immunity and Metabolism, Department of Pathogenic Biology and Immunology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China. tangrenxian-t@163.com. 6. National Demonstration Center for Experimental Basic Medical Sciences Education, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China. tangrenxian-t@163.com.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) X protein (HBX) has been reported to be responsible for the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in HBV-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Vimentin is an EMT-related molecular marker. However, the importance of vimentin in the pathogenesis of HCC mediated by HBX has not been well determined. METHODS: The expression of vimentin induced by HBX, and the role of LIM and SH3 domain protein 1 (LASP1) in HBX-induced vimentin expression in hepatoma cells were examined by western blot and immunohistochemistry analysis. Both the signal pathways involved in the expression of vimentin, the interaction of HBX with vimentin and LASP1, and the stability of vimentin mediated by LASP1 in HBX-positive cells were assessed by western blot, Co-immunoprecipitation, and GST-pull down assay. The role of vimentin in EMT, proliferation, and migration of HCC cells mediated by HBX and LASP1 were explored with western blot, CCK-8 assay, plate clone formation assay, transwell assay, and wound healing assay. RESULTS: Vimentin expression was increased in both HBX-positive hepatoma cells and HBV-related HCC tissues, and the expression of vimentin was correlated with HBX in HBV-related HCC tissues. Functionally, vimentin was contributed to the EMT, proliferation, and migration of hepatoma cells mediated by HBX. The mechanistic analysis suggested that HBX was able to enhance the expression of vimentin through LASP1. On the one hand, PI3-K, ERK, and STAT3 signal pathways were involved in the upregulation of vimentin mediated by LASP1 in HBX-positive hepatoma cells. On the other hand, HBX could directly interact with vimentin and LASP1, and dependent on LASP1, HBX was capable of promoting the stability of vimentin via protecting it from ubiquitination mediated protein degradation. Besides these, vimentin was involved in the growth and migration of hepatoma cells mediated by LASP1 in HBX-positive hepatoma cells. CONCLUSION: Taken together, these findings demonstrate that, dependent on LASP1, vimentin is crucial for HBX-mediated EMT and hepatocarcinogenesis, and may serve as a potential target for HBV-related HCC treatment. Video abstract.
BACKGROUND: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) X protein (HBX) has been reported to be responsible for the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in HBV-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Vimentin is an EMT-related molecular marker. However, the importance of vimentin in the pathogenesis of HCC mediated by HBX has not been well determined. METHODS: The expression of vimentin induced by HBX, and the role of LIM and SH3 domain protein 1 (LASP1) in HBX-induced vimentin expression in hepatoma cells were examined by western blot and immunohistochemistry analysis. Both the signal pathways involved in the expression of vimentin, the interaction of HBX with vimentin and LASP1, and the stability of vimentin mediated by LASP1 in HBX-positive cells were assessed by western blot, Co-immunoprecipitation, and GST-pull down assay. The role of vimentin in EMT, proliferation, and migration of HCC cells mediated by HBX and LASP1 were explored with western blot, CCK-8 assay, plate clone formation assay, transwell assay, and wound healing assay. RESULTS: Vimentin expression was increased in both HBX-positive hepatoma cells and HBV-related HCC tissues, and the expression of vimentin was correlated with HBX in HBV-related HCC tissues. Functionally, vimentin was contributed to the EMT, proliferation, and migration of hepatoma cells mediated by HBX. The mechanistic analysis suggested that HBX was able to enhance the expression of vimentin through LASP1. On the one hand, PI3-K, ERK, and STAT3 signal pathways were involved in the upregulation of vimentin mediated by LASP1 in HBX-positive hepatoma cells. On the other hand, HBX could directly interact with vimentin and LASP1, and dependent on LASP1, HBX was capable of promoting the stability of vimentin via protecting it from ubiquitination mediated protein degradation. Besides these, vimentin was involved in the growth and migration of hepatoma cells mediated by LASP1 in HBX-positive hepatoma cells. CONCLUSION: Taken together, these findings demonstrate that, dependent on LASP1, vimentin is crucial for HBX-mediated EMT and hepatocarcinogenesis, and may serve as a potential target for HBV-related HCC treatment. Video abstract.
Authors: Vivek K Chaturvedi; Anshuman Singh; Sushil K Dubey; Helal F Hetta; James John; M P Singh Journal: Microb Pathog Date: 2019-01-03 Impact factor: 3.738
Authors: Shi Zhong Yang; Lei Da Zhang; Yi Zhang; Yan Xiong; Yu Jun Zhang; Hao Lin Li; Xiao Wu Li; Jia Hong Dong Journal: Biochem Biophys Res Commun Date: 2009-03-18 Impact factor: 3.575