Overexpression of SUMO-1 in hepatocellular carcinoma: a latent target for diagnosis and therapy of hepatoma.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the expression of SUMO-1 in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell lines and clinical HCC samples.


METHODS
RT-PCR and Western blot were used to detect the expressions of SUMO-1 in HCC cell lines, clinical HCC samples,and the non-neoplastic liver tissues adjacent to HCC. After transfection of SUMO-1 siRNA into HCC cell line SMMC-7721, the expression levels of Bcl-2, c-Myc and α-tubulin were examined, and MTT assay and cell cycle analysis were carried out as well.


RESULTS
Overexpressions of SUMO-1 were detected in HCC cell lines and clinical HCC samples, while the expression level of SUMO-1 in the non-neoplastic liver tissues was significantly lower (P < 0.001). Transfection of SUMO-1 siRNA resulted in 73.43% of maximal silencing efficiency of SUMO-1 in 48 h. The expressions of Bcl-2 and c-Myc were down-regulated coincidentally. SUMO-1 siRNA notably inhibited SMMC-7721 cells proliferation in vitro and increased the ratios of G2 phase and S phase in the cells.


CONCLUSIONS
Owing to overexpression of SUMO-1 in HCC and its important role in the development of HCC, SUMO-1 could be a latent target in diagnosis and therapy of HCC.
Guo
Wu-Hua
WH
Department of Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China.
Yuan
Li-Hua
LH
Xiao
Zhi-Hua
ZH
Liu
Dan
D
Zhang
Ji-Xiang
JX
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000628:therapy; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D015536:Down-Regulation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy / Q000379:methods; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D016271:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics; D025842:SUMO-1 Protein / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D014162:Transfection
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C489427:MYC protein, human; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D016271:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D025842:SUMO-1 Protein