LMO1 Promotes the Development of Hepatocellular Carcinoma by Regulation of bcl-2 and bax

Abstract

The existing treatments have no satisfactory outcomes for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). LMO1 is abnormally expressed in several tumors, but its relationship with HCC is unclear. Therefore, we intend to evaluate LMO1’s role in HCC and the clinical significance. The HCC patients cancer tissues and adjacent tissues were collected. LMO1/control-siRNA was transfected into HepG2 cells followed by analysis of relevant protein expression by immunohistochemistry and Western blot, LMO1 mRNA level by qPCR, cell proliferation by CCK8 assay and apoptosis by flow cytometry. LMO1 positive rate was significantly elevated in HCC tissues relative to adjacent tissues. LMO1 expression was related to TNM stage and lymph node metastasis of tumor tissues (P <0.05). Patients with positive LMO1 level had a lower cumulative survival rate than those with negative expression (P <0.05). TNM stage, lymphatic metastasis and LMO1 expression were identified to be independent risk factors affecting HCC survival; cells transfected with LMO1-siRNA showed significantly reduced proliferation, increased cell apoptosis and upregulated bax as well as downregulated bcl-2 (P < 0.05). In conclusion, LMO1 may affect the occurrence and development of HCC through regulation of the bcl-2/bax expression.