RNA-binding protein AUF1 regulates expression of metabolism-related genes and plays a potential role in hepatocellular carcinoma
10.3969/j.issn.1000-4718.2025.06.003
- VernacularTitle:RNA结合蛋白AUF1调控代谢相关基因表达及其在肝癌中的潜在作用
- Author:
Shasha WU
1
;
Shunmei HUANG
;
Qunhua HAN
;
Mengyuan JIA
;
Suisui LUO
;
Lijun ZHU
Author Information
1. 浙江大学医学院附属第一医院老年医学科,浙江省增龄与理化损伤性疾病诊治研究重点实验室,浙江 杭州 310003;温岭市第一人民医院康复医学科,浙江 温岭 317500
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
AU-rich element RNA-binding factor 1;
hepatocellular carcinoma;
HepG2 cells;
metabolic regu-lation;
transcriptome;
proteome
- From:
Chinese Journal of Pathophysiology
2025;41(6):1066-1076
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
AIM:To investigate the expression of AU-rich element RNA-binding factor 1(AUF1),an RNA-binding protein,in hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC),and to explore its potential role in HCC progression through regula-tion of metabolism-related genes.METHODS:A tissue microarray containing 99 HCC samples and 95 adjacent nontu-morous liver tissues was used to assess AUF1 expression.The associations between AUF1 expression and HCC clinical pa-rameters were analysed using the GEPIA and UALCAN databases.The AUF1 gene was knocked down in human hepato-blastoma HepG2 cells by siRNA,and transcriptomic and TMT quantitative proteomic analyses were performed to identify alterations in metabolism-related genes.RESULTS:The AUF1 expression was significantly elevated in HCC tissues and correlated with a poor prognosis.Knockdown of AUF1 in HepG2 cells resulted in reduced cell viability and increased apop-tosis.Integrative analyses of transcriptomic and proteomic data revealed that AUF1 knockdown in HepG2 cells led to up-regulation of carboxylesterase 3(CES3),fibrinogen gamma chain(FGG)and 4-hydroxy-2-oxoglutarate aldolase 1(HOGA1),and down-regulation of lamin B receptor(LBR),riboflavin kinase(RFK),sterol O-acyltransferase 1(SOAT1)and TWIST neighbor(TWISTNB).Clinical data from GEPIA and UALCAN databases suggested that the expression of these metabolism-related genes in HCC patients exhibited an opposite trend.CONCLUSION:Our findings suggest that AUF1 is highly expressed in HCC,and may contribute to tumor progression and poor prognosis by modulating the expres-sion of a series of metabolism-related genes.
