Testis-specific protein Y-encoded 1 regulates androgen receptor expression through the MAPK/ERK pathway in male hepatocellular carcinoma

Abstract

The expression of TSPY1, androgen receptor )AR(, messenger ribonucleic acids )mRNAs(, and proteins were detected by qRT-PCR and Western blotting. The co-localization and interaction of TSPY1 and AR were observed by immunofluorescence assay and co-immunoprecipitation. Hepatocellular Original Articlecarcinoma cells overexpressing and silencing TSPY1 were constructed, and the expression and phosphorylation levels of TSPY1, AR, and mitogenactivated protein kinases/extracellular signal-regulated kinases )MAPK/ERK( signaling pathway-related key molecules ERK1/2, p38, and JNK were also detected. Results:The expression levels of TSPY1, AR mRNAs, and proteins were highly positively correlated in HCC cells in different metastatic potentials with a high correlation coefficient of R=0.929 and R=0.884. Testis-specific protein Y-encoded 1 and AR were then co-localized in the nucleus of HCC cells, and TSPY1 and AR can interact with each other. In addition, the expression of AR and phosphorylation of ERK1/2 were enhanced in TSPY1 overexpressed Huh7 cells. They were reduced in HCCLM3 cells with TSPY1 knockdown expression. In addition, in response to blocking MAPK/ERK signaling activity, AR was reduced in expression. Conclusion:These findings suggested that there was a positive correlation between TSPY1 expression and AR in male HCC cells, and high TSPY1 expression stimulates AR expression, MAPK/ERK signaling pathway may be involved in its mechanism.