title: Smoc2 potentiates proliferation of hepatocellular carcinoma cellsviapromotion of cell cycle progression.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the influence of Smoc2 on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell proliferation and to find a possible new therapeutic target for preventing HCC progression.
  
  
  METHODS
  We detected expression of Smoc2 in HCC tissues and corresponding non-tumor liver (CNL) tissues using PCR, western blot, and immunohistochemistry methods. Subsequently, we down-regulated and up-regulated Smoc2 expression using siRNA and lentivirus transfection assay, respectively. Then, we identified the effect of Smoc2 on cell proliferation and cell cycle using CCK-8 and flow cytometry, respectively. The common cell growth signaling influenced by Smoc2 was detected by western blot assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The expression of Smoc2 was significantly higher in HCC tissues compared with CNL tissues. Overexpression of Smoc2 promoted HCC cell proliferation and cell cycle progression. Down-regulation of Smoc2 led to inhibition of cell proliferation and cell cycle progression. Smoc2 had positive effect on ERK and AKT signaling.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Smoc2 promotes the proliferation of HCC cells through accelerating cell cycle progression and might act as an anti-cancer therapeutic target in the future.
authors.affiliation: Jing-Ran Su, Yan-Qing Li, Department of Gastroenterology, Laboratory of Translational Gastroenterology, Shandong University, Qilu Hospital, Jinan 250012, Shandong Province, China.
authors.forename: Jing-Ran
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Su
authors.affiliation: Jing-Ran Su, Yan-Qing Li, Department of Gastroenterology, Laboratory of Translational Gastroenterology, Shandong University, Qilu Hospital, Jinan 250012, Shandong Province, China.
authors.forename: Jing-Hua
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kuai
authors.affiliation: Jing-Ran Su, Yan-Qing Li, Department of Gastroenterology, Laboratory of Translational Gastroenterology, Shandong University, Qilu Hospital, Jinan 250012, Shandong Province, China.
authors.forename: Yan-Qing
authors.initials: YQ
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D015153:Blotting, Western; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D002453:Cell Cycle; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D015536:Down-Regulation; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D051417:Focal Adhesion Kinase 1 / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / Q000378:metabolism; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014162:Transfection; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; C476827:SMOC2 protein, human; D051417:Focal Adhesion Kinase 1; C496050:PTK2 protein, human; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
keywords: Cell cycle; Hepatocellular carcinoma; Proliferation; Smoc2