title: Id4 promotes cell proliferation in hepatocellular carcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common malignant tumor in the world, especially in China. As a member of the inhibitor of differentiation (Id) family, Id4 has been reported to function in many cancer types, but relatively little is known about its role in HCC. The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential relationship between Id4 and HCC development and the underlying mechanism involving the function of Id4 in HCC.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting to examine the RNA and protein expression of Id4. In addition, we used Cell Counting Kit-8 assay and colony formation assay to identify the function of Id4 in the regulation of cell proliferation in human HCC.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found that the expression of Id4 protein was up-regulated in tumor tissues from HCC patients. Overexpression of Id4 promoted HCC cell proliferation, clonogenicity in vitro, and tumorigenicity in vivo. Id4 knockdown experiments showed that silencing Id4 blocked the proliferation and colony formation ability of HCC cells in vitro. Furthermore, overexpression of CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein β inhibited Id4 expression in HCC cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Id4 may be developed as a potent therapeutic agent for the treatment of HCC, but more details about the underlying mechanisms of action are needed.
authors.affiliation: Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, P. R. China.|State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, 25/Ln 2200, Xietu Road, Shanghai, 200032, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, 25/Ln 2200, Xietu Road, Shanghai, 200032, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Li-Xing
authors.initials: LX
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, 25/Ln 2200, Xietu Road, Shanghai, 200032, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Qin
authors.initials: XQ
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, 25/Ln 2200, Xietu Road, Shanghai, 200032, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Fang-Yu
authors.initials: FY
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, 25/Ln 2200, Xietu Road, Shanghai, 200032, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Chao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ge
authors.affiliation: Qidong Liver Cancer Institute, Qidong, 226200, Jiangsu, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Tao-Yang
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, 25/Ln 2200, Xietu Road, Shanghai, 200032, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, 25/Ln 2200, Xietu Road, Shanghai, 200032, P. R. China. jjli@shsci.org.
authors.forename: Jin-Jun
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D051796:Inhibitor of Differentiation Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008819:Mice, Nude; D008875:Middle Aged; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C490128:ID4 protein, human; D051796:Inhibitor of Differentiation Proteins
keywords: Hepatocellular carcinoma; Id4; Proliferation