Study on the Expression of GAB/GBAP1 Gene in Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Its Functional Mechanism of Interaction with miRNAs

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the expression of the GAB/GBAP1 gene in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and explore its interaction with microRNAs (miRNAs) and functional mechanisms. By employing bioinformatics analysis on publicly available databases of HCC tissue samples and normal tissues, we determined the expression level of the GAB/GBAP1 gene in HCC. Moreover, we predicted potential miRNAs that interact with the GAB/GBAP1 gene and further screened miRNAs associated with the occurrence and development of HCC. PCR analysis was utilized to verify the interaction between the GAB/GBAP1 gene and selected miRNAs, investigating their functional regulatory mechanisms in HCC cell lines. The results showed that the expression level of the GAB/GBAP1 gene was significantly upregulated in HCC tissue samples compared to normal tissues (P < 0.05). Bioinformatics prediction identified a group of miRNAs that potentially interact with the GAB/GBAP1 gene, among which miRNAs were found to be downregulated in HCC. Furthermore, we confirmed a direct binding interaction between miRNAs and the GAB/GBAP1 gene, and overexpression of miRNAs significantly inhibited the proliferation, invasion, and migration abilities of HCC cells. In summary, this study demonstrated the expression of the GAB/GBAP1 gene in HCC cell lines through PCR analysis and cell line culture, supporting its potential as a therapeutic target. Furthermore, this study revealed the overexpression of the GAB/GBAP1 gene in HCC and demonstrated that miRNAs exert inhibitory effects on HCC occurrence and development through their interaction with the GAB/GBAP1 gene.