Elimination of Ras Suppressor-1 from hepatocellular carcinoma cells hinders their in vitro metastatic properties.
OBJECTIVE
Extracellular matrix (ECM) is of great significance for homeostasis in the liver. In fact, one of the stages leading to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) includes accumulation of excess ECM. Ras Suppressor-1 (RSU-1) is localized in the cell-ECM adhesions but its role in HCC is unexplored.


METHODS
We investigated the expression and role of RSU-1 in two HCC cell lines that differ in aggressiveness; non-invasive Alexander cells and highly invasive HepG2 cells.


RESULTS
Our results showed that RSU-1 expression is elevated in HepG2 cells both at the mRNA and protein level, while its silencing leads to increased cell proliferation in both cell lines. Interestingly, RSU-1 depletion from highly invasive HepG2 cells reduces cell adhesion and invasion.


CONCLUSIONS
This is the first study to provide in vitro evidence for the involvement of RSU-1 in HCC cell invasive behavior.
Department of Biomedical Research and Technology, Institute for Research and Technology-Thessaly, Centre for Research and Technology-Hellas (CE.R.T.H.), Larissa, Greece vasso.gkretsi@gmail.com.
Vasiliki
V
Gkretsi
Department of Biomedical Research and Technology, Institute for Research and Technology-Thessaly, Centre for Research and Technology-Hellas (CE.R.T.H.), Larissa, Greece Department of Rheumatology, School of Medicine, University of Thessaly, University Hospital of Larissa, Larissa, Greece Institute of Liver Studies, King's College Hospital, London, U.K.
Dimitrios P
DP
Bogdanos
D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary*; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*
D014157:Transcription Factors; C076224:RSU1 protein, human
Hepatocellular carcinoma; Ras suppressor-1; adhesion; invasion