Knockdown of STK39 suppressed cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in hepatocellular carcinoma by repressing the phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase p38

Bioengineered. 2021 Dec;12(1):6529-6537. doi: 10.1080/21655979.2021.1973876.

Abstract

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a serious malignant tumor of the liver. It has been reported that serine/threonine kinase 39 (STK39) participates in tumorigenesis. However, the role of STK39 in HCC remains unknown. In this study, the qRT-PCR and western blot assay demonstrated that STK39 expression was enhanced in HCC patients and tissues. Moreover, CCK-8 and colony formation assays confirmed that knockdown of STK39 suppressed SK-HEP-1 and Huh7 cells proliferation. Furthermore, wound healing assay and transwell assay revealed that knockdown of STK39 repressed SK-HEP-1 and Huh7 cells migration and invasion. Interestingly, knockdown of STK39 reduced p-p38/p38 ratio and levels of c-Myc. Consistently, knockdown of STK39 inhibited the HCC tumor growth in vivo. In summary, knockdown of STK39 suppressed the proliferation, migration, and invasion of HCC cells by inducing the lower levels of p-p38, which might provide a novel therapeutic target for HCC.

Keywords: Hepatocellular carcinoma; invasion; p38; proliferation; stk39.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* / genetics
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* / metabolism
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* / pathology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Movement / genetics
  • Cell Proliferation / genetics
  • Female
  • Gene Knockdown Techniques
  • Humans
  • Liver Neoplasms* / genetics
  • Liver Neoplasms* / metabolism
  • Liver Neoplasms* / pathology
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • Middle Aged
  • Phosphorylation
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases* / genetics
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases* / metabolism
  • p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / genetics
  • p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / metabolism*

Substances

  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • STK39 protein, human
  • p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the Deyang City Science and Technology Project. (Grant No. 2018SZS077);Deyang City Science and Technology Project. [2018SZS077.]