RBM45 Promoted HCC Growth and Metastasis by Stabilizing BCL2 and Twist1 mRNA

Abstract

The post-transcriptional of mRNA expression involved in the hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) pathogenesis and progression need to be further explored. RBPs, the main undertaker of post-transcriptional regulatory process, has been shown to impact HCC carcinogenesis and progression. However, the role of RBP, RNA-binding motif 45 (RBM45) in hepatocarcinogenesis and its interaction with its potential target mRNA remains entirely unknown. The expression of RBM45 was significantly increased in HCC and was associated with poor clinicopathological features and clinical outcome of HCC patients. RBM45 promoted HCC cells growth, invasion, migration and EMT in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, RNA immunoprecipitation sequencing (RIP-seq) approach was utilized to screen the important differentially expressed RBM45 genes in HCC. Furthermore, RIP assay, pull-down assay and mRNA decay assay were carried out to uncover the effect of RBM45 on its downstream genes. And the results revealed that RBM45 mediated the stabilization of BCL2 and Twist1 mRNA via respectively binding to their 3`UTR. Further assay results suggested RBM45 promoted HCC growth and metastasis upon BCL2 and Twist1. In short, we unveiled a novel role of RBM45 in promoting hepatocarcinogenesis via the post-transcriptional regulation of BCL2 and Twist1 expression. The results proposes that RBM45 may serve as a potential therapeutic target for HCC.