Down-regulating UHRF1 Expression could Inhibit Progression of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Objective To explore the role and mechanism of UHRF1 abnormal expression in the invasion and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC). Methods The mRNA and protein levels of UHRF1 in 20 cases of HCC tissues were detected by real-time RT-PCR and Western blot. Western blot assay was cond ucted to detect UHRF1 expression in HepG2 and SMMC7721 with low metastasis potency, as well as in MHCC97L and HCCLM3 with high metastasis potency. After siRNA was successfully performed in HCCLM3 cells to down-expression, cell proliferation was assayed by MTT method. Expression of Bax and Bcl-2 were detected by Western blot. Cell cycle and apoptosis of HCCLM3 cells were assayed by FCM. Results UHRF1 expression was overexpressed in human HCC tissues compared with the matched adjacent non-tumorous hepatic tissues(P<0.05). UHRF1 expression in MHCC97L and HCCLM3 groups with high metastasis potency were higher than those in HepG2 and SMMC7721 groups with lowmetastasis potency(P<0.01). After siRNA was successfully performed in HCCLM3 cells to down-ulate UHRF1 expression, the growth speed of HCCLM3 cells in HCCLM3-UHRF1- siRNA groups was faster than those in HCCLM3 and HCCLM3-Neg-siRNA groups(P<0.05). UHRF1 depletion triggered apoptotic pathways by promoting the expression of BAX and by suppressing BCL-2 expression in HCCLM3 cells. Conclusion UHRF1 gene expression was significantly upregulated in HCC tissues. Down-regulating UHRF1 expression could suppress the growth of HCC cells through inducing cell apoptosis.