Effect of zinc-finger binding protein-89 on the stemness of liver cancer cells by inhibiting octamer binding transcription factor 4 pathway

Abstract

Objective To investigate the effect of zinc-finger binding protein-89 (ZBP-89) on octamer binding transcription factor 4 (Oct4) signaling pathway and liver cancer stemness. Methods Immunohistochemical staining was used to detect the expression of ZBP-89, CD133 and epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) in 120 cases of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and the correlation between ZBP-89 expression and CD133 and EpCAM was analyzed. The expression of ZBP-89 in Hep3B cells was regulated by ZBP-89 overexpressing lentiviral vector and small interfering RNA (siRNA), and the expression of Oct4, CD133 and EpCAM was detected by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR) and Western blotting. Results The expression of ZBP-89 was negatively correlated with the expression of CD133 and EpCAM in HCC tissues (χ2=45.000, P<0.05; χ2=26.020, P<0.05). When the expression of ZBP-89 in Hep3B cells was increased, the expression of Oct4, CD133 and EpCAM decreased, and the mRNA levels of Oct4, CD133 and EpCAM were (0.47±0.03), (0.63±0.01) and (0.53±0.02) times of the control group respectively (all P<0.05). When the expression of ZBP-89 decreased, the expression of Oct4, CD133 and EpCAM increased, and the mRNA levels of Oct4, CD133 and EpCAM were (2.04±0.03), (1.62±0.03) and (1.79±0.05) times of the control group respectively (all P<0.05). The results of Western blotting were consistent with the results of Real-time PCR. Conclusion ZBP-89 can inhibit the stemness of liver cancer cells by inhibiting the Oct4 signaling pathway. Key words: Zinc-finger binding protein-89; Octamer binding transcription factor 4; Hepatocellular carcinoma; Epithelial cell adhesion molecule; CD133