title: Integrin αvβ3 is required for cathepsin B-induced hepatocellular carcinoma progression.
abstract: The cysteine protease cathepsin B (Cat B) is important in the progression of tumor cells, however, the function and molecular mechanisms of Cat B in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain to be elucidated. Our previous study demonstrated that integrin αvβ3 regulated the biological behavior of HCC. The present study demonstrated that Cat B was also important in cell proliferation and apoptosis in HCC. Notably, Cat B was observed to activate the phosphoinositide 3‑kinase (PI3K)/Akt signaling pathway to promote HCC proliferation. Furthermore, inhibition of integrin αvβ3 significantly prevented Cat B‑induced activation of PI3K/Akt and the progression of HCC. Thus, the results of the present study suggested the presence of a Cat B/integrin αvβ3/PI3K/Akt axis in the regulation of the progression of HCC.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Qianfoshan Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250014, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Zong-Zhen
authors.initials: ZZ
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Qianfoshan Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250014, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Xiu
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Qianfoshan Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250014, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Ju-Wei
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Lv
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Qianfoshan Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250014, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Fu-Hai
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Qianfoshan Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250014, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Feng
authors.initials: XF
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Qianfoshan Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250014, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Qianfoshan Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250014, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Qianfoshan Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250014, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D002401:Cathepsin B / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D018450:Disease Progression; D015870:Gene Expression; D055785:Gene Knockdown Techniques; D064593:Heterografts; D006801:Humans; D039302:Integrin alphaVbeta3 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D051379:Mice
chemical_list: D039302:Integrin alphaVbeta3; D002401:Cathepsin B