Pro-oncogenic potential of NM23-H2 in hepatocellular carcinoma

Exp Mol Med. 2012 Mar 31;44(3):214-24. doi: 10.3858/emm.2012.44.3.016.

Abstract

NM23 is a family of structurally and functionally conserved proteins known as nucleoside diphosphate kinases (NDPK). There is abundant mRNA expression of NM23-H1, NM23-H2, or a read through transcript (NM23-LV) in the primary sites of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Although the NM23-H1 protein is implicated as a metastasis suppressor, the role of NM23-H2 appears to be less understood. Thus, the aim of this study was to examine whether NM23-H2 is associated with hepatocarcinogenesis. The level of NM23-H2 expression in tumor tissues and the surrounding matrix appeared to be independent of etiology and tumor differentiation. Its subcellular localization was confined to mainly the cytoplasm and to a lesser extent in the nucleus. Ectopic expression of NM23-H2 in NIH3T3 fibroblasts and HLK3 hepatocytes showed a transformed morphology, enhanced focus formation, and allowed anchorage-independent growth. Finally, NIH3T3 fibroblasts and HLK3 hepatocytes stably expressing NM23-H2 produced tumors in athymic mice and showed c-Myc over-expression. In addition, NF-κB and cyclin D1 expression were also increased by NM23-H2. Lentiviral delivery of NM23-H2 shRNA inhibited tumor growth of xenotransplanted tumors produced from HLK3 cells stably expressing NM23-H2. Collectively, these results indicate that NM23-H2 may be pro-oncogenic in hepatocarcinogenesis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / enzymology*
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / genetics
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / pathology
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic*
  • Humans
  • Liver / enzymology*
  • Liver / metabolism
  • Liver / pathology
  • Liver Neoplasms / enzymology*
  • Liver Neoplasms / genetics
  • Liver Neoplasms / pathology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • NIH 3T3 Cells
  • NM23 Nucleoside Diphosphate Kinases / genetics*
  • NM23 Nucleoside Diphosphate Kinases / metabolism

Substances

  • NM23 Nucleoside Diphosphate Kinases