Aspartyl-(asparaginyl)-beta-hydroxylase regulates hepatocellular carcinoma invasiveness.
Journal Article (Journal Article)
BACKGROUND/AIMS: We measured aspartyl (asparaginyl)-beta-hydroxylase (AAH) gene expression in human hepatocelluar carcinoma and surrounding uninvolved liver at both the mRNA and protein level and examined the regulation and function of this enzyme. METHODS: Since growth of HCC is mediated by signaling through the insulin-receptor substrate, type 1 (IRS-1), we examined-if AAH is a downstream gene regulated by insulin and IGF-1 in HCC cells. In addition, IRS-1 regulation of AAH was examined in a transgenic (Tg) mouse model in which the human (h) IRS-1 gene was over-expressed in the liver, and an in vitro model in which a C-terminus truncated dominant-negative hIRS-1 cDNA (hIRS-DeltaC) was over-expressed in FOCUS HCC cells. The direct effects of AAH on motility and invasiveness were examined in AAH-transfected HepG2 cells. RESULTS: Insulin and IGF-1 stimulation increased AAH mRNA and protein expression and motility in FOCUS and Hep-G2 cells. These effects were mediated by signaling through the Erk MAPK and PI3 kinase-Akt pathways. Over-expression of hIRS-1 resulted in high levels of AAH in Tg mouse livers, while over-expression of hIRS-DeltaC reduced AAH expression, motility, and invasiveness in FOCUS cells. Finally, over-expression of AAH significantly increased motility and invasiveness in HepG2 cells, whereas siRNA inhibition of AAH expression significantly reduced directional motility in FOCUS cells. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that enhanced AAH gene activity is a common feature of human HCC and growth factor signaling through IRS-1 regulates AAH expression and increases motility and invasion of HCC cells. Therefore, AAH may represent an important target for regulating tumor growth in vivo.
Full Text
Duke Authors
Cited Authors
- de la Monte, SM; Tamaki, S; Cantarini, MC; Ince, N; Wiedmann, M; Carter, JJ; Lahousse, SA; Califano, S; Maeda, T; Ueno, T; D'Errico, A; Trevisani, F; Wands, JR
Published Date
- May 2006
Published In
Volume / Issue
- 44 / 5
Start / End Page
- 971 - 983
PubMed ID
- 16564107
International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)
- 0168-8278
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
- 10.1016/j.jhep.2006.01.038
Language
- eng
Conference Location
- Netherlands