title: FCN2 inhibits epithelial-mesenchymal transition-induced metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma via TGF-β/Smad signaling.
abstract: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is currently still a major cause of cancer-related deaths. Identifying early metastatic biomarkers and therapeutic targets for HCC is of great importance. Emerging evidence suggest that epithelial-mesenchymal transitions (EMTs) play important roles in tumor metastasis and recurrence. Understanding molecular mechanisms that regulate the EMT process is crucial for improving HCC. In this study, we find Ficolin-2 (FCN2) plays an essential role in metastasis and EMT of HCC. FCN2 expression is downregulated in HCC cells and tissues. Low level of FCN2 in HCCs is correlated with aggressive metastatic features, and would be a prognostic factor for overall disease-free survival of HCC patients. Ectopic expression of FCN2 markedly inhibits HCC cells migration, invasion as well as EMT in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, TGF-β is found contribute to the function of FCN2 in suppressing metastasis and EMT of HCC. Collectively, our data suggest that FCN2 may have prognostic value in HCC metastasis. Additionally, the FCN2/ TGF-β/EMT axis identified in this study provides novel insight into the mechanisms of HCC metastasis, which may facilitate the development of new therapeutics against HCC.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Hepatosplenic Surgery, Ministry of Education, Department of General Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150001, China.
authors.forename: Guangchao
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Hepatosplenic Surgery, Ministry of Education, Department of General Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150001, China.
authors.forename: Yingjian
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Hepatosplenic Surgery, Ministry of Education, Department of General Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150001, China.
authors.forename: Tongsen
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Hepatosplenic Surgery, Ministry of Education, Department of General Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150001, China.
authors.forename: Ruipeng
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Hepatosplenic Surgery, Ministry of Education, Department of General Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150001, China.
authors.forename: Jiabei
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Hepatosplenic Surgery, Ministry of Education, Department of General Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150001, China.
authors.forename: Huawen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Hepatosplenic Surgery, Ministry of Education, Department of General Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150001, China.
authors.forename: Boshi
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Hepatosplenic Surgery, Ministry of Education, Department of General Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150001, China.
authors.forename: Changming
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Hepatosplenic Surgery, Ministry of Education, Department of General Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150001, China.
authors.forename: Yuejin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Hepatosplenic Surgery, Ministry of Education, Department of General Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150001, China.
authors.forename: Jihua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Hepatosplenic Surgery, Ministry of Education, Department of General Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150001, China.
authors.forename: Shangha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Hepatosplenic Surgery, Ministry of Education, Department of General Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150001, China.
authors.forename: Yaliang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lan
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Hepatosplenic Surgery, Ministry of Education, Department of General Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150001, China.
authors.forename: Xirui
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Hepatosplenic Surgery, Ministry of Education, Department of General Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150001, China.
authors.forename: Mingxi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Hepatosplenic Surgery, Ministry of Education, Department of General Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150001, China.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Hepatosplenic Surgery, Ministry of Education, Department of General Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150001, China. Electronic address: liulianxin@ems.hrbmu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Lianxin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000556:secondary / Q000628:therapy; D002465:Cell Movement; D058750:Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition; D056945:Hep G2 Cells; D006801:Humans; D037102:Lectins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000556:secondary; D008819:Mice, Nude; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D034622:RNA Interference; D000067492:RNAi Therapeutics; D051785:Smad Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D014162:Transfection; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D023041:Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays; D000097604:Ficolins
chemical_list: D037102:Lectins; D051785:Smad Proteins; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D000097604:Ficolins; C508960:TGFB1 protein, human
keywords: EMT; FCN2; Hepatocellular carcinoma; TGF β