MICAL1 Mediates TGF-β1-Induced Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition and Metastasis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma by Activating Smad2/3.

IF 1.8 4区生物学 Q4 BIOCHEMISTRY & MOLECULAR BIOLOGY Cell Biochemistry and Biophysics Pub Date : 2025-02-15 DOI:10.1007/s12013-025-01668-8

Xun Zhuang, Chunrong Wang, Zhenghui Ge, Mengjie Wu, Mengjiao Chen, Zhen Chen, Jianghong Hu

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Abstract

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) induced by transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) is involved in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) growth and metastasis. Our study aimed to investigate the role of molecules interacting with CasL 1 (MICAL1) in regulating TGF-β-triggered EMT in HCC and the related mechanisms. After detecting MICAL1 expression and prognostic value in HCC, in vitro assays including CCK-8 assay, EdU staining, flow cytometry assay, Transwell assay, western blotting, and RT-qPCR and in vivo metastasis assay was conducted to evaluate the influence of MICAL1 knockdown on the proliferation and apoptosis as well as TGF-β-induced EMT and metastasis of Huh7 and MHCC97H cells. MICAL1 was highly expressed in HCC, and its high expression was related to histological grade, TNM stage, and shorter overall survival of HCC patients. MICAL1 silencing suppressed proliferation, promoted apoptosis, and curbed TGF-β1-triggered cytoskeletal remodeling, EMT, and metastasis of HCC cells. MICAL1 knockdown impeded TGF-β1-induced upregulation in phosphorylated-Smad2/3 protein levels and reduced Smad2/3 mRNA levels in HCC cells. MICAL1 downregulation enhanced the polyubiquitination and proteasomal degradation of TβRI. Additionally, MICAL1 silencing suppressed tumor growth and lung metastasis in Huh7-derived xenograft mouse models. Collectively, MICAL1 knockdown impairs TGF-β1-stimulated EMT and metastasis of HCC cells by restraining Smad2/3 phosphorylation and activation.

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来源期刊

Cell Biochemistry and Biophysics 生物-生化与分子生物学

CiteScore

4.40

自引率

0.00%

发文量

审稿时长

7.5 months

期刊介绍： Cell Biochemistry and Biophysics (CBB) aims to publish papers on the nature of the biochemical and biophysical mechanisms underlying the structure, control and function of cellular systems The reports should be within the framework of modern biochemistry and chemistry, biophysics and cell physiology, physics and engineering, molecular and structural biology. The relationship between molecular structure and function under investigation is emphasized. Examples of subject areas that CBB publishes are: · biochemical and biophysical aspects of cell structure and function; · interactions of cells and their molecular/macromolecular constituents; · innovative developments in genetic and biomolecular engineering; · computer-based analysis of tissues, cells, cell networks, organelles, and molecular/macromolecular assemblies; · photometric, spectroscopic, microscopic, mechanical, and electrical methodologies/techniques in analytical cytology, cytometry and innovative instrument design For articles that focus on computational aspects, authors should be clear about which docking and molecular dynamics algorithms or software packages are being used as well as details on the system parameterization, simulations conditions etc. In addition, docking calculations (virtual screening, QSAR, etc.) should be validated either by experimental studies or one or more reliable theoretical cross-validation methods.