High Expression of INF2 Predicts Poor Prognosis and Promotes Hepatocellular Carcinoma Progression
10.16476/j.pibb.2024.0151
- VernacularTitle:倒立式蛋白2（INF2）高表达预示不良预后并促进肝细胞癌进展
- Author:
Hai-Biao WANG
1
;
Man LIN
2
;
Fu-Sang YE
3
;
Jia-Xin SHI
2
;
Hong LI
1
;
Meng YE
4
;
Jie WANG
4
Author Information
1. Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Ningbo Medical Center of LiHuiLi Hospital, Ningbo315040, China
2. Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, Science Health Center of Ningbo University, Ningbo315211, China
3. Department of Pathology, Ningbo Clinical Pathology Diagnosis Center, Ningbo315021, China
4. Department of Radiotherapy and Chemotherapy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Ningbo University, Ningbo315010, China
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
HCC;
INF2;
expression;
prognosis;
Drp1
- From:
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics
2025;52(1):194-208
- CountryChina
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
ObjectiveINF2 is a member of the formins family. Abnormal expression and regulation of INF2 have been associated with the progression of various tumors, but the expression and role of INF2 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain unclear. HCC is a highly lethal malignant tumor. Given the limitations of traditional treatments, this study explored the expression level, clinical value and potential mechanism of INF2 in HCC in order to seek new therapeutic targets. MethodsIn this study, we used public databases to analyze the expression of INF2 in pan-cancer and HCC, as well as the impact of INF2 expression levels on HCC prognosis. Quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), Western blot, and immunohistochemistry were used to detect the expression level of INF2 in liver cancer cells and human HCC tissues. The correlation between INF2 expression and clinical pathological features was analyzed using public databases and clinical data of human HCC samples. Subsequently, the effects of INF2 expression on the biological function and Drp1 phosphorylation of liver cancer cells were elucidated through in vitro and in vivo experiments. Finally, the predictive value and potential mechanism of INF2 in HCC were further analyzed through database and immunohistochemical experiments. ResultsINF2 is aberrantly high expression in HCC samples and the high expression of INF2 is correlated with overall survival, liver cirrhosis and pathological differentiation of HCC patients. The expression level of INF2 has certain diagnostic value in predicting the prognosis and pathological differentiation of HCC. In vivo and in vitro HCC models, upregulated expression of INF2 triggers the proliferation and migration of the HCC cell, while knockdown of INF2 could counteract this effect. INF2 in liver cancer cells may affect mitochondrial division by inducing Drp1 phosphorylation and mediate immune escape by up-regulating PD-L1 expression, thus promoting tumor progression. ConclusionINF2 is highly expressed in HCC and is associated with poor prognosis. High expression of INF2 may promote HCC progression by inducing Drp1 phosphorylation and up-regulation of PD-L1 expression, and targeting INF2 may be beneficial for HCC patients with high expression of INF2.
