Loss of Barx1 promotes hepatocellular carcinoma metastasis through up-regulating MGAT5 and MMP9 expression and indicates poor prognosis

Guodong Wang, Jian Liu, Yi Cai, Jie Chen, Wenbing Xie, Xiangqian Kong, Wenjie Huang, Hao Guo, Xiaodi Zhao, Yuanyuan Lu, Lu Niu, Xiaowei Li, Haijia Zhang, Chao Lei, Zhijie Lei, Jipeng Yin, Hao Hu, Fan Yu, Yongzhan Nie, Limin XiaKaichun Wu

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

13 Scopus citations

Abstract

Metastasis is the major dominant reason for poor prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after surgical treatment. However, the molecular mechanism of metastasis has not been well characterzied. Here, we report a novel function of Barx homeobox1 (Barx1) in inhibiting HCC invasion and metastasis. Barx1 expression is significantly decreased in human HCC tissues than in adjacent non-tumorous tissues and normal liver tissues. Low Barx1 expression is correlated with higher tumor-nodule-metastasis stage and indicates poor prognosis. Down-regulation of Barx1 promotes HCC migration, invasion and metastasis, whereas up-regulation of Barx1 inhibits HCC migration, invasion and metastasis. Mannosyl (alpha-1,6-)-glycoprotein beta-1,6-N-acetyl-glucosaminyltransferase 5 (MGAT5) and matrix metallopeptidase 9 (MMP9) are direct target genes of Barx1. Knockdown of Barx1 up-regulates MGAT5 and MMP9 expression in HCC cells with low metastatic capability, whereas overexpression of Barx1 suppresses their expression in HCC cells with high metastatic capability. Knockdown of both MGAT5 and MMP9 significantly decreases the invasion and metastasis abilities induced by Barx1 knockdown. Barx1 expression is negatively correlated with MGAT5 and MMP9 expression in human HCC tissues. Patients with low expression of Barx1 and high expression of MGAT5 or MMP9 are associated with poorer prognosis. Thus, loss of Barx1 represents a prognostic biomarker in human HCC patients.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)71867-71880
Number of pages14
JournalOncotarget
Volume8
Issue number42
DOIs
StatePublished - May 30 2017

Keywords

  • 6-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase 5
  • Barx homeobox 1
  • Hepatocellular carcinoma
  • Mannosyl (alpha-16-)
  • Matrix metallopeptidase 9
  • Metastasis
  • glycoprotein beta-1

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Oncology

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