AHNAK2 promotes thyroid carcinoma progression by activating the NF-κB pathway

Life Sci. 2021 Dec 1:286:120032. doi: 10.1016/j.lfs.2021.120032. Epub 2021 Oct 7.

Abstract

Thyroid carcinoma metastasis is the main reason for treatment failure; therefore, understanding the regulatory mechanisms of thyroid carcinoma metastasis is critical to treat patients with thyroid carcinoma. The present study aimed to investigate the role of AHNAK Nucleoprotein 2 (AHNAK2) in thyroid carcinoma metastasis. AHNAK2 was found to be upregulated in thyroid carcinoma tissues, especially in metastatic thyroid carcinoma tissues. Patients with high AHNAK2 expression had poor prognosis. AHNAK2 knockdown inhibited thyroid carcinoma migration, invasion, and metastasis. Mechanistic analysis showed that AHNAK2 knockdown reduced thyroid carcinoma progression by inhibiting nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) pathway activity. The results identified a novel target to treat metastatic thyroid carcinoma.

Keywords: AHNAK2; Metastasis; NF-κB pathway; Thyroid carcinoma.

MeSH terms

  • Cytoskeletal Proteins / genetics
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins / physiology*
  • Disease Progression
  • Female
  • Gene Knockdown Techniques
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • NF-kappa B / metabolism*
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness
  • Neoplasm Metastasis
  • Signal Transduction
  • Thyroid Neoplasms / pathology*

Substances

  • AHNAK2 protein, human
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins
  • NF-kappa B