Published online Jun 15, 2023. doi: 10.4251/wjgo.v15.i6.988
Peer-review started: January 17, 2023
First decision: February 28, 2023
Revised: March 18, 2023
Accepted: April 12, 2023
Article in press: April 12, 2023
Published online: June 15, 2023
Processing time: 148 Days and 18.2 Hours
Glucocorticoid modulatory element-binding protein 1 (GMEB1), which has been identified as a transcription factor, is a protein widely expressed in various tissues. Reportedly, the dysregulation of GMEB1 is linked to the genesis and development of multiple cancers.
To explore GMEB1’s biological functions in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and figuring out the molecular mechanism.
GMEB1 expression in HCC tissues was analyzed employing the StarBase database. Immunohistochemical staining, Western blotting and quantitative real-time PCR were conducted to examine GMEB1 and Yes-associate protein 1 (YAP1) expression in HCC cells and tissues. Cell counting kit-8 assay, Transwell assay and flow cytometry were utilized to examine HCC cell proliferation, migration, invasion and apoptosis, respectively. The JASPAR database was employed for predicting the binding site of GMEB1 with YAP1 promoter. Dual-luciferase reporter gene assay and chromatin immunoprecipitation-qPCR were conducted to verify the binding relationship of GMEB1 with YAP1 promoter region.
GMEB1 was up-regulated in HCC cells and tissues, and GMEB1 expression was correlated to the tumor size and TNM stage of HCC patients. GMEB1 overexpression facilitated HCC cell multiplication, migration, and invasion, and suppressed the apoptosis, whereas GMEB1 knockdown had the opposite effects. GMEB1 bound to YAP1 promoter region and positively regulated YAP1 expression in HCC cells.
GMEB1 facilitates HCC malignant proliferation and metastasis by promoting the transcription of the YAP1 promoter region.
Core Tip: Glucocorticoid modulatory element-binding protein 1 (GMEB1) was highly expressed in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissues. Functionally, GMEB1 modulates the malignant biological behaviors of HCC cells. Mechanistically, GMEB1 promotes the expression of Yes-associate protein 1 at transcriptional level. In short, the present study suggested that for HCC, GMEB1 might be a diagnostic biomarker and treatment target.