CLCA4 inhibits cell proliferation and invasion of hepatocellular carcinoma by suppressing epithelial-mesenchymal transition via PI3K/AKT signaling

Zhao Liu, Mi Chen, Lin Ka Xie, Ting Liu, Zhen Wei Zou, Yong Li, Peng Chen, Xin Peng, Charlie Ma, Wen Jie Zhang, Pin Dong Li

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

30 Scopus citations

Abstract

Calcium activated Chloride Channel A4 (CLCA4), as a tumor suppressor, was reported to contribute to the progression of several malignant tumors, yet little is known about the significance of CLCA4 in invasion and prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). CLCA4 expression was negatively correlated with tumor size, vascular invasion and TNM stage. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that CLCA4 was an independent predictor for overall survival (OS) and time to recurrence (TTR). In addition, CLCA4 status could act as prognostic predictor in different risk of subgroups. Moreover, combination of CLCA4 and serum AFP could be a potential predictor for survival in HCC patients. Furthermore, CLCA4 may inhibit cell migration and invasion by suppressing epithelialmesenchymal transition (EMT) via PI3K/ATK signaling. Knockdown of CLCA4 significantly increased the migration and invasion of HCC cells and changed the expression pattern of EMT markers and PI3K/AKT phosphorylation. An opposite expression pattern of EMT markers and PI3K/AKT phosphorylation was observed in CLCA4-transfected cells. Additionally, immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR results further confirmed this correlation. Taken together, CLCA4 contributes to migration and invasion by suppressing EMT via PI3K/ATK signaling and predicts favourable prognosis of HCC. CLCA4/AFP expression may help to distinguish different risks of HCC patients after hepatectomy.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2570-2584
Number of pages15
JournalAging
Volume10
Issue number10
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 1 2018

Keywords

  • Animals
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/enzymology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Movement
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Chloride Channels/genetics
  • Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Liver Neoplasms/enzymology
  • Male
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Nude
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase/metabolism
  • Phosphorylation
  • Prognosis
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/metabolism
  • Signal Transduction

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