title: BMP4 promotes metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma by an induction of epithelial-mesenchymal transition via upregulating ID2.
abstract: The role of bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4), a crucial epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) mediator, in the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients heretofore has not been elucidated. The present study analyzed BMP4 expression in tumors and paired non-tumorous liver tissue and its correlation with clinicopathological characteristics from two independent cohorts consisting of 420 HCC patients. Functional analysis of BMP4 was performed in Bel-7402 and HCCLM3 HCC cells, and in a murine HCC model. The downstream targets of BMP4 in HCC were screened and confirmed. The results indicated that BMP4 expression was significantly increased in HCC tissue and highly metastatic HCC cells. BMP4 expression was correlated with vein invasion, overall survival and recurrence-free survival of HCC. BMP4 promoted HCC EMT and metastasis in vitro, and consistently in vivo. BMP4 knockdown blocked EMT and tumor metastasis in nude mice. ID2 was up-regulated by recombinant human BMP4, resulting in HCC EMT. Knockdown of ID2 blocked BMP4-induced EMT. In conclusion, BMP4 promotes invasion and metastasis of HCC by an induction of EMT via up-regulating ID2. BMP4 may be a valuable prognostic factor and potential therapeutic target for HCC therapy.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Sciences, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China; Department of Oncology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China; Key Laboratory for Molecular Radiation Oncology of Hunan Province, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China.
authors.forename: Shan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Sciences, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China; Department of Oncology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Sciences, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China; Department of Oncology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China.
authors.forename: Junli
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Sciences, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China; Department of Oncology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China.
authors.forename: Ganlu
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Sciences, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China; Department of Oncology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China.
authors.forename: Yanlin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Qu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Sciences, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China; Key Laboratory for Molecular Radiation Oncology of Hunan Province, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China.
authors.forename: Cao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China; Key Laboratory for Molecular Radiation Oncology of Hunan Province, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Sciences, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China; Department of Oncology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China.
authors.forename: Ling
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China; Key Laboratory for Molecular Radiation Oncology of Hunan Province, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China.
authors.forename: Changjing
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Sciences, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China; Department of Oncology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China.
authors.forename: Yiyi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA.
authors.forename: Guqi
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA. Electronic address: hbonkovs@wakehealth.edu.
authors.forename: Herbert L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Bonkovsky
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Sciences, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China; Department of Oncology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China; Key Laboratory for Molecular Radiation Oncology of Hunan Province, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China. Electronic address: hongshen2000@csu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shen
mesh_terms: D055415:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4 / Q000378:metabolism*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D058750:Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D051797:Inhibitor of Differentiation Protein 2 / Q000235:genetics*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: C525809:BMP4 protein, human; D055415:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4; C497450:ID2 protein, human; D051797:Inhibitor of Differentiation Protein 2; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
keywords: Bone morphogenetic protein 4; Epithelial–mesenchymal transition; Hepatocellular carcinoma; ID2; Metastasis