Growth differentiation factor 15 induces growth and metastasis of human liver cancer stem-like cells via AKT/GSK-3β/β-catenin signaling

Qiong Xu; Hai-Xu Xu; Jin-Ping Li; Song Wang; Zheng Fu; Jing Jia; Li Wang; Zhi-Feng Zhu; Rong Lu; Zhi Yao

doi:10.18632/oncotarget.15216

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Research Papers:

Growth differentiation factor 15 induces growth and metastasis of human liver cancer stem-like cells via AKT/GSK-3β/β-catenin signaling

Qiong Xu, Hai-Xu Xu, Jin-Ping Li, Song Wang, Zheng Fu, Jing Jia, Li Wang, Zhi-Feng Zhu, Rong Lu and Zhi Yao _

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Oncotarget. 2017; 8:16972-16987. https://doi.org/10.18632/oncotarget.15216

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Abstract

Qiong Xu1,2,*, Hai-Xu Xu1,*, Jin-Ping Li2, Song Wang2, Zheng Fu1,2, Jing Jia2, Li Wang1,2, Zhi-Feng Zhu2, Rong Lu1,2, Zhi Yao1

1Department of Immunology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China

2Tianjin Kangzhe Pharmaceutical Company, Ltd., Tianjin, China

*These authors contributed equally to this work

Correspondence to:

Zhi Yao, email: [email protected]

Rong Lu, email: [email protected]

Keywords: cancer stem cells, hepatocellular carcinoma, GDF15, metastasis, tumorigenesis

Received: November 25, 2016 Accepted: January 27, 2017 Published: February 09, 2017

ABSTRACT

Cancer stem cells in liver cancer are thought to be responsible for tumor recurrence and metastasis. However, the factors that mediate this mechanism have yet to be completely elucidated. In this study, we isolated CD13⁺CD44⁺ sphere cells (SCs) derived from liver cancer tissues and SK-Hep-1 cells, which possessed cancer stem cell-like properties. Through cytokine array analysis, growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) was significantly increased in SCs. Clinical data showed GDF15 was overexpressed in liver cancer tissues and was positively related to pathological grading. GDF15 knockdown significantly inhibited the growth and metastasis of SCs through AKT/GSK-3β/β-catenin pathway suppression. Moreover, a PI3K inhibitor LY294002 inhibited AKT/GSK-3β/β-catenin pathway activated by GDF15 and attenuated GDF15-induced proliferation, colony formation and invasion of SCs. Conclusion: Our studies suggest that CD13⁺CD44⁺ SCs may represent a subset of LCSCs. GDF15 promotes the growth and metastasis of SCs by activating AKT/GSK-3β/β-catenin signaling pathway. Promisingly, GDF15 could be considered as a potential therapeutic target in liver cancer.

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Research Papers:

Growth differentiation factor 15 induces growth and metastasis of human liver cancer stem-like cells via AKT/GSK-3β/β-catenin signaling

Abstract