Low Expression of GOT2 Promotes Tumor Progress and Predicts Poor Prognosis in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Abstract

Background: To explore the biological function and the underlying mechanisms of GOT2 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Materials & methods: The expression level and prognostic value of GOT2 were examined using International Cancer Genome Consortium and International Cancer Proteogenome Consortium databases. The cell counting kit-8 method, clone formation, Transwell^® assays and western blotting were used to evaluate the effects of GOT2 on the biological function and autophagy of HCC cells. Results: The expression of GOT2 was downregulated in HCC tissues and correlated with poor prognosis of HCC patients. Knockdown of GOT2 promoted proliferation, migration and invasion of HCC cells and promoted cells’ proliferation by inducing autophagy. Conclusion: GOT2 plays a tumor-inhibitory role in HCC and may be a potential therapeutic target for HCC.

Tweetable abstract

GOT2 is a biomarker that inhibited proliferation, migration and invasion of hepatocellular carcinoma and affected cell proliferation through autophagy.

Keywords::

• autophagy
• biomarker
• GOT2
• hepatocellular carcinoma
• prognosis

Author contributions

QL Liang was responsible for and carried out the methodology, validation, formal analysis, investigation, data curation, writing (original draft) and visualization. S Liu carried out the methodology, investigation, data curation, writing (review and editing) and project administration. FQ Yin carried out the methodology, validation, formal analysis and writing (review and editing). ML Liu carried out the methodology and formal analysis. LJ Wang carried out the validation and writing (review and editing). EN Guo was responsible for the validation and writing (review and editing). L Lei was responsible for the validation and writing (review and editing). LY Wu was responsible for validation and formal analysis. Y Yang was responsible for validation. D Zhang carried out the formal analysis. XY Zeng conducted the conceptualization, methodology, project administration and funding acquisition. All authors approved the final manuscript.

Financial disclosure

The study was supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Guangxi (2020GXNSFDA238002) and Key Laboratory of Early Prevention and Treatment for Regional High Frequency Tumor (Guangxi Medical University), Ministry of Education (GKE2019-01). The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Competing interests disclosure

The authors have no competing interests or relevant affiliations with any organization or entity with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Writing disclosure

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Additional information

Funding

The study was supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Guangxi (2020GXNSFDA238002) and Key Laboratory of Early Prevention and Treatment for Regional High Frequency Tumor (Guangxi Medical University), Ministry of Education (GKE2019-01). The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.