Thyroid hormone-mediated regulation of lipocalin 2 through the Met/FAK pathway in liver cancer

I. Hsiao Chung, Cheng Yi Chen, Yang-Hsiang Lin, Hsiang-Cheng Chi, Ya-Hui Huang, Pei Ju Tai, Chia Jung Liao, Chung Ying Tsai, Syuan Ling Lin, Meng Han Wu, Ching Ying Chen, Kwang Huei Lin*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal Article peer-review

39 Scopus citations

Abstract

The thyroid hormone, 3,3',5-triiodo-L-thyronine (T3), regulates cell growth, development and differentiation via interactions with thyroid hormone receptors (TR), but the mechanisms underlying T3-mediated modulation of cancer progression are currently unclear. Lipocalin 2 (LCN2), a tumor-associated protein, is overexpressed in a variety of cancer types. Oligonucleotide microarray, coupled with proteomic analysis, has revealed that LCN2 is positively regulated by T3/TR. However, the physiological role and pathway of T3-mediated regulation of LCN2 in hepatocellular carcinogenesis remain to be characterized. Upregulation of LCN2 after T3 stimulation was observed in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Additionally, TRE on the LCN2 promoter was identified at positions -1444/-1427. Overexpression of LCN2 enhanced tumor cell migration and invasion, and conversely, its knockdown suppressed migration and invasion, both in vitro and in vivo. LCN2-induced migration occurred through activation of the Met/FAK cascade. LCN2 was overexpressed in clinical hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients, compared with normal subjects, and positively correlated with TRa levels. Both TRa and LCN2 showed similar expression patterns in relation to survival rate, tumor grade, tumor stage and vascular invasion. Our findings collectively support a potential role of T3/TR in cancer progression through regulation of LCN2 via the Met/FAK cascade. LCN2 may thus be effectively utilized as a novel marker and therapeutic target in HCC.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)15050-15064
Number of pages15
JournalOncotarget
Volume6
Issue number17
DOIs
StatePublished - 2015
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • LCN2
  • Met/FAK cascade
  • Thyroid hormone receptor

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