STEAP4 with copper reductase activity suppresses tumorigenesis by regulating the cell cycle in hepatocellular carcinoma cells

Abstract Background Abnormal expression of six-transmembrane epithelial antigen of prostate 4 (STEAP4) has been implicated in the carcinogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the biological role and regulatory mechanisms of STEAP4 in HCC remain unclear. Methods and Results Here, we ana...

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Main Authors: Ting Yang, Minhong Zou, Yujie Xie, Yong Zhang, Kun Wang, Shihai Jiang, Qiong Zou
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2024-12-01
Series:Cell Division
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s13008-024-00140-y
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author Ting Yang
Minhong Zou
Yujie Xie
Yong Zhang
Kun Wang
Shihai Jiang
Qiong Zou
author_facet Ting Yang
Minhong Zou
Yujie Xie
Yong Zhang
Kun Wang
Shihai Jiang
Qiong Zou
author_sort Ting Yang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Abnormal expression of six-transmembrane epithelial antigen of prostate 4 (STEAP4) has been implicated in the carcinogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the biological role and regulatory mechanisms of STEAP4 in HCC remain unclear. Methods and Results Here, we analyzed STEAP4 expression levels and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between STEAP4 high- and low-expression groups using multiple databases. Proliferation assays, 5-ethynyl-2’-deoxyuridine (EdU) assays, propidium iodide (PI) flow cytometry, and colony formation assays were conducted to assess the effects of STEAP4 on HCC cell proliferation, cell cycle progression, and clonogenic capacity. STEAP4 was downregulated in HCC tumor tissues, with lower expression associated with poorer overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) in patients. Functional network analysis suggested that STEAP4 regulates cell cycle signaling, with tumor sections showing a negative correlation between STEAP4 and cell cycle proteins. Overexpression of STEAP4, combined with non-cytotoxic copper exposure in the HepG2 cell line, reduced proliferation and clonogenicity, induced cell cycle arrest, and downregulated the mRNA and protein levels of cell cycle-regulating genes. A predictive model based on STEAP4 and cell cycle gene demonstrated prognostic value in HCC patients. Conclusions Our results lay a foundation for further study of the cell cycle regulatory role of STEAP4 with Cu2+ reductase activity in HCC, indicating that STEAP4 may be a promising therapeutic target for HCC.
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spelling doaj-art-91983a1ab80c40929ae5651fa1def37f2024-12-29T12:38:22ZengBMCCell Division1747-10282024-12-0119111710.1186/s13008-024-00140-ySTEAP4 with copper reductase activity suppresses tumorigenesis by regulating the cell cycle in hepatocellular carcinoma cellsTing Yang0Minhong Zou1Yujie Xie2Yong Zhang3Kun Wang4Shihai Jiang5Qiong Zou6Department of Nuclear Medicine, Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen UniversityDepartment of Ultrasonic Diagnosis, Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen UniversityDepartment of Nuclear Medicine, Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen UniversityDepartment of Nuclear Medicine, Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen UniversityDepartment of Joint Surgery and Orthopedic Trauma, Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen UniversityInstitute of Laboratory Medicine, Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnostics, University Hospital LeipzigDepartment of Nuclear Medicine, Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen UniversityAbstract Background Abnormal expression of six-transmembrane epithelial antigen of prostate 4 (STEAP4) has been implicated in the carcinogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the biological role and regulatory mechanisms of STEAP4 in HCC remain unclear. Methods and Results Here, we analyzed STEAP4 expression levels and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between STEAP4 high- and low-expression groups using multiple databases. Proliferation assays, 5-ethynyl-2’-deoxyuridine (EdU) assays, propidium iodide (PI) flow cytometry, and colony formation assays were conducted to assess the effects of STEAP4 on HCC cell proliferation, cell cycle progression, and clonogenic capacity. STEAP4 was downregulated in HCC tumor tissues, with lower expression associated with poorer overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) in patients. Functional network analysis suggested that STEAP4 regulates cell cycle signaling, with tumor sections showing a negative correlation between STEAP4 and cell cycle proteins. Overexpression of STEAP4, combined with non-cytotoxic copper exposure in the HepG2 cell line, reduced proliferation and clonogenicity, induced cell cycle arrest, and downregulated the mRNA and protein levels of cell cycle-regulating genes. A predictive model based on STEAP4 and cell cycle gene demonstrated prognostic value in HCC patients. Conclusions Our results lay a foundation for further study of the cell cycle regulatory role of STEAP4 with Cu2+ reductase activity in HCC, indicating that STEAP4 may be a promising therapeutic target for HCC.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13008-024-00140-ySTEAP4Hepatocellular carcinomaCopper reductase activityCell cycleTumorigenesis
spellingShingle Ting Yang
Minhong Zou
Yujie Xie
Yong Zhang
Kun Wang
Shihai Jiang
Qiong Zou
STEAP4 with copper reductase activity suppresses tumorigenesis by regulating the cell cycle in hepatocellular carcinoma cells
Cell Division
STEAP4
Hepatocellular carcinoma
Copper reductase activity
Cell cycle
Tumorigenesis
title STEAP4 with copper reductase activity suppresses tumorigenesis by regulating the cell cycle in hepatocellular carcinoma cells
title_full STEAP4 with copper reductase activity suppresses tumorigenesis by regulating the cell cycle in hepatocellular carcinoma cells
title_fullStr STEAP4 with copper reductase activity suppresses tumorigenesis by regulating the cell cycle in hepatocellular carcinoma cells
title_full_unstemmed STEAP4 with copper reductase activity suppresses tumorigenesis by regulating the cell cycle in hepatocellular carcinoma cells
title_short STEAP4 with copper reductase activity suppresses tumorigenesis by regulating the cell cycle in hepatocellular carcinoma cells
title_sort steap4 with copper reductase activity suppresses tumorigenesis by regulating the cell cycle in hepatocellular carcinoma cells
topic STEAP4
Hepatocellular carcinoma
Copper reductase activity
Cell cycle
Tumorigenesis
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s13008-024-00140-y
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