ESM-1 silencing decreased cell survival, migration, and invasion and modulated cell cycle progression in hepatocellular carcinoma

• Published in: Amino acids Vol. 40; no. 3; pp. 1003 - 1013
• Main Authors: Kang, Yun Hee, Ji, Na Young, Lee, Chung Il, Lee, Hee Gu, Kim, Jae Wha, Yeom, Young IL, Kim, Dae Ghon, Yoon, Seung Kew, Kim, Jong Wan, Park, Pil Je, Song, Eun Young
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Vienna Vienna : Springer Vienna 01.03.2011; Springer Vienna; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Analytical Chemistry; Biochemical Engineering; Biochemistry; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular - genetics; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular - metabolism; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular - pathology; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular - physiopathology; Cell Cycle; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell migration; Cell Movement; Cell Survival; Diagnostic marker; ESM-1; Gene Silencing; hepatoma; Humans; Life Sciences; Liver Neoplasms - genetics; Liver Neoplasms - metabolism; Liver Neoplasms - pathology; Liver Neoplasms - physiopathology; Neoplasm Invasiveness; Neoplasm Proteins - genetics; Neoplasm Proteins - metabolism; Neurobiology; Original Article; Proteoglycans - genetics; Proteoglycans - metabolism; Proteomics; RNA, Small Interfering - genetics; RNA, Small Interfering - metabolism; ESM-1; Diagnostic marker; Hepatocellular carcinoma; Cell migration; Cell cycle
• DOI: 10.1007/s00726-010-0729-6
• ISSN: 0939-4451

Endothelial cell-specific molecule-1 (ESM-1) is a secretory proteoglycan comprising a mature polypeptide of 165 amino acids and a single dermatan sulfate. The aim of this study was to evaluate endothelial cell-specific molecule-1 (ESM-1) as a hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) marker and to analyze the effect of ESM-1 gene silencing in hepatocellular carcinoma cells. RT-PCR and Western Blot analysis revealed overexpression of ESM-1 in human HCC liver tissue and in serum from patients with HCC. Sandwich ELISA assay was used for quantitative analysis of ESM-1 in serum. Levels of ESM-1 were significantly elevated in the serum of patients with HCC (n = 40) as compared to serum from patients with hepatitis (AH, n = 40; CH, n = 39) or liver cirrhosis (n = 40) or from healthy subjects (n = 40). The accuracy of ESM-1 for HCC was higher than that of α-fetoprotein (AFP) according to ROC curve analysis. Expression of ESM-1 siRNA decreased cell survival through the inhibition of NF-κB pathway and induced cell cycle arrest by PTEN induction resulting in the inhibition of cyclin D1 in SK-Hep1 cells. Furthermore, ESM-1 silencing inhibited cell migration and invasion of SK-Hep1 cells. This study demonstrates that ESM-1 as a potential tumor marker is overexpressed in most tissues and serum in the presence of HCC and is involved with cell survival, cell cycle progression, migration, and invasion of hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Based on our results, we suggest that ESM-1 or a combination of ESM-1 and AFP is useful markers for diagnosis of HCC and ESM-1 may be useful therapeutic target of hepatocellular carcinoma.