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RNA-binding protein Dnd1 inhibits epithelial–mesenchymal transition and cancer stem cell-related traits on hepatocellular carcinoma cells

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Abstract

Objectives

To investigate the roles of Dead end 1 (Dnd1) in modulating cancer stem cell-related traits of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Results

Dead end (Dnd1) inhibited spheroid formation, suppressed the expression of stemness-related genes, and increased sensitivity to sorafenib in HCC cells. Mechanistically, Dnd1 could bind to 3′-UTR of LATS2, the key kinase of Hippo pathway, thus elevating LATS2 mRNA stability and its expression, subsequently leading to phosphorylation of YAP and its cytoplasmic retention. As a result, epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) was weakened and therefore the generation of HCC stem cell properties was suppressed.

Conclusions

Dnd1 functions as a tumor suppressor by prohibiting CSC-like characteristics via activating Hippo pathway in HCC cells. Dnd1 could thus be a novel therapeutic target for HCC patients.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Medical, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China

    Weiling Xu & Baorong Chi

  2. Department of Radiology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China

    Weiling Xu & Jingyu Wang

  3. Department of General Surgery, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China

    Fangchao Gong

  4. Department of Ultrasound Room of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Medical, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China

    Ting Zhang

Authors
  1. Weiling Xu
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  2. Fangchao Gong
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  3. Ting Zhang
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  4. Baorong Chi
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  5. Jingyu Wang
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Baorong Chi or Jingyu Wang.

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The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Supporting information

Supplementary Table 1—Primer sequences used for PCR.

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Supplementary material 1 (DOCX 12 kb)

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Xu, W., Gong, F., Zhang, T. et al. RNA-binding protein Dnd1 inhibits epithelial–mesenchymal transition and cancer stem cell-related traits on hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Biotechnol Lett 39, 1359–1367 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10529-017-2375-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10529-017-2375-5

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