RESUMO
Mitochondrial phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PCK2), a mitochondrial isoenzyme, supports the growth of cancer cells under glucose deficiency conditions in vitro. This study investigated the role and potential mechanism of PCK2 in the occurrence and development of Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), and other databases distinguish the expression of PCK2 and verified by qRT-PCR and Western blotting. Kaplan-Meier was conducted to assess PCK2 survival in HCC. The potential biological function of PCK2 was verified by enrichment analysis and gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA). The correlation between PCK2 expression and immune invasion and checkpoint was found by utilizing Tumor Immune Estimation Resource (TIMER). Lastly, the effects of PCK2 on the proliferation and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma cells were evaluated by cell tests, and the expressions of Epithelial mesenchymal transformation (EMT) and apoptosis related proteins were detected. PCK2 is down-regulated in HCC, indicating a poor prognosis. PCK2 gene mutation accounted for 1.3% of HCC. Functional enrichment analysis indicated the potential of PCK2 as a metabolism-related therapeutic target. Subsequently, we identified several signaling pathways related to the biological function of PCK2. The involvement of PCK2 in immune regulation was verified and key immune checkpoints were predicted. Ultimately, after PCK2 knockdown, cell proliferation and migration were significantly increased, and N-cadherin and vimentin expression were increased. PCK2 has been implicated in immune regulation, proliferation, and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma, and is emerging as a novel predictive biomarker and metabolic-related clinical target.
Assuntos
Carcinoma Hepatocelular , Proliferação de Células , Regulação Neoplásica da Expressão Gênica , Neoplasias Hepáticas , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/genética , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/patologia , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/imunologia , Neoplasias Hepáticas/genética , Neoplasias Hepáticas/patologia , Neoplasias Hepáticas/imunologia , Neoplasias Hepáticas/mortalidade , Humanos , Prognóstico , Linhagem Celular Tumoral , Fosfoenolpiruvato Carboxiquinase (GTP)/genética , Fosfoenolpiruvato Carboxiquinase (GTP)/metabolismo , Transição Epitelial-Mesenquimal/genética , Mitocôndrias/metabolismo , Mitocôndrias/genética , Masculino , Feminino , Apoptose , Movimento Celular/genética , Biomarcadores Tumorais/genética , Biomarcadores Tumorais/metabolismo , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Fosfoenolpiruvato Carboxiquinase (ATP)/metabolismo , Fosfoenolpiruvato Carboxiquinase (ATP)/genéticaRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Upregulation of Stathmin 1 (STMN1), a cytoplasmic phosphoprotein that controls the dynamics of cellular microtubules, is linked to malignant behavior and poor prognosis in a range of malignancies. However, little research has been done on STMN1's potential role in HCC as a single factor in DNA methylation, m6A, or immunological modulation. RESULTS: STMN1 is overexpressed in hepatocellular carcinoma, where it is related to clinicopathological parameters and affects the prognosis of HCC patients. STMN1 overexpression plays an important role in the diagnosis and prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma. Meanwhile, methylation of 7 CpG sites of STMN1 in HCC was correlated with prognosis, and STMN1 expression was closely related to m6A modification. In addition, STMN1 expression is associated with immune cell infiltration, immune molecules, and immune checkpoints in HCC. CONCLUSION: STMN1 has a significant role in hepatocellular carcinoma diagnosis and prediction. STMN1 is implicated not just in the onset and course but also in the immunological modulation of the disease. DNA methylation and m6A are both linked to STMN1. Therefore, STMN1 could be used as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for HCC, as well as a target for immunotherapy.
Assuntos
Carcinoma Hepatocelular , Neoplasias Hepáticas , Estatmina , Biomarcadores , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/patologia , Humanos , Neoplasias Hepáticas/patologia , Metilação , Prognóstico , Estatmina/genética , Estatmina/metabolismoRESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To observe the presence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) in first-trimester villi cells from pregnant women carrying HBsAg. METHODS: Immunohistochemical streptavidin-biotin peroxidase complex (SABC) staining with monoclonal HBsAg, hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg) and PCR, in situ hybridization were used for detection of HBV infection markers in villi. Positive villi ultramicrostructures were observed with transmission electron microscope. RESULTS: HBV was detected in 8 of 25 villi of HBsAg positive pregnant women, the positive rate was 32%. HBsAg was located in the decidual cell, trophoblastic cell and villous mesenchymal cell. HBV analog was detected in rough endoplasmic reticulum of trophoblastic cell. CONCLUSIONS: HBV may infect villous cells in first-trimester pregnancy. It would be impossible for HBV to transmit the desmosomes.
