Expression of MFF and its biological effects in hepatocellular carcinoma / 国际肿瘤学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To evaluate the expression of mitochondrial fission factor (MFF) and its biological effects in the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).Methods ①Quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR),Western blotting and immunohistochemistry analysis were used to detect the expression levels of MFF in HCC tumor tissues and cell lines.②The effect of MFF knockdown on proliferation of HCC cells was analyzed by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MrTT) and colony formation assays in siCtrl,si-MFF#1,si-MFF#2 groups.③The effect of MFF knockdown on apoptosis of HCC cells was analyzed by apoptosis assay with Annexin Ⅴ-FITC and PI.Results ①The MFF expression was higher in tumor tissues compared with tumor-adjacent normal tissues [mRNA level M(QR)0.292 (0.443) vs.0.235(0.333),Z=-4.166,P＜0.001;protein level M(QR)5.414 (4.545) vs.3.120 (3.955),Z =-3.961,P ＜ 0.001)].The MFF expression was higher in HCC cell lines compared with normal liver cell line.②RNA interference-mediated knockdown of MFF inhibited proliferation of HCC cells (siCtrl vs.si-MFF#15.29 ± 0.34 vs.3.34 ± 0.37,P =0.014;siCtrl vs.si-MFF#25.29 ± 0.34 vs.3.09 ± 0.40,P =0.010).RNA interference-mediated knockdown of MFF inhibited colony formation of HCC cells (siCtrl vs.si-MFF#195.35 ± 21.20 vs.37.56 ± 10.61,P =0.003;siCtrl vs.si-MFF#295.35 ± 21.20 vs.41.23 ± 10.82,P =0.004).③RNA interference-mediated knockdown of MFF induced apoptosis of HCC cells (siCtrl vs.si-MFF#19.56％ ± 1.70％ vs.20.08％ ± 2.03％,P ＜ 0.001;siCtrl vs.si-MFF#29.56％ ± 1.70％ vs.21.14％ ± 1.38％,P ＜ 0.001).Conclusion MFF is overexpressed in HCC,which accelerates cell proliferation and suppresses apoptosis,indicating that MFF can serve as a potential oncogene and drug target in HCC treatment.