Open AccessHypomethylation‐mediated activation of cancer/testis antigen KK‐LC‐1 facilitates hepatocellular carcinoma progression through activating the Notch1/Hes1 signalling
Author(s) -
Chen Zhiqiang,
Zuo Xueliang,
Pu Liyong,
Zhang Yao,
Han Guoyong,
Zhang Long,
Wu Zhengshan,
You Wei,
Qin Jianjie,
Dai Xinzheng,
Shen Hongbing,
Wang Xuehao,
Wu Jindao
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
cell proliferation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.647
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1365-2184
pISSN - 0960-7722
DOI - 10.1111/cpr.12581
Subject(s) - cancer research , methylation , cpg site , dna methylation , cancer , biology , bisulfite sequencing , epithelial–mesenchymal transition , hes1 , antigen , immunohistochemistry , western blot , notch signaling pathway , immunology , signal transduction , gene expression , microbiology and biotechnology , metastasis , gene , biochemistry , genetics
Objectives Kita‐Kyushu lung cancer antigen‐1 (KK‐LC‐1) is a cancer/testis antigen reactivated in several human malignancies. So far, the major focus of studies on KK‐LC‐1 has been on its potential as diagnostic biomarker and immunotherapy target. However, its biological functions and molecular mechanisms in cancer progression remain unknown. Materials and Methods Expression of KK‐LC‐1 in HCC was analysed using RT‐qPCR, Western blot and immunohistochemistry. The roles of KK‐LC‐1 on HCC progression were examined by loss‐of‐function and gain‐of‐function approaches. Pathway inhibitor DAPT was employed to confirm the regulatory effect of KK‐LC‐1 on the downstream Notch signalling. The interaction of KK‐LC‐1 with presenilin‐1 was determined by co‐immunoprecipitation. The association of CpG island methylation status with KK‐LC‐1 reactivation was evaluated by methylation‐specific PCR, bisulphite sequencing PCR and 5‐Aza‐dC treatment. Results We identified that HCC tissues exhibited increased levels of KK‐LC‐1. High KK‐LC‐1 level independently predicted poor survival outcome. KK‐LC‐1 promoted cell growth, migration, invasion and epithelial‐mesenchymal transition in vitro and in vivo. KK‐LC‐1 modulated the Notch1/Hes1 pathway to exacerbate HCC progression through physically interacting with presenilin‐1. Upregulation of KK‐LC‐1 in HCC was attributed to hypomethylated CpG islands. Conclusions This study identified that hypomethylation‐induced KK‐LC‐1 overexpression played an important role in HCC progression and independently predicted poor survival. We defined the KK‐LC‐1/presenilin‐1/Notch1/Hes1 as a novel signalling pathway that was involved in the growth and metastasis of HCC.