Role of Rab GTPases in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Figures & data

Figure 1 Rab GTPases cycle. i) GDI binding with GDP-bound Rab proteins mediates the dissociation of membrane-bound Rab GTPases from membranes to the cytosol. ii) GEFs facilitate the conversion to active GTP-bound Rab proteins, whereas the transition to inactive GDP-bound Rab proteins is coordinated by GAPs through catalyzing GTP hydrolysis. iii) GTP-bound Rab proteins interact with multiple effectors to execute specific functions.

Figure 2 Rab GTPases can affect cell proliferation, apoptosis, invasion, metastasis, exosomes and autophagy by mediating membrane transport. Hepatitis B or C virus can interact with Rab GTPases. Some noncoding RNAs can regulate Rab GTPases expression in HCC.

Table 1 Rab GTPases Functions and Prognostic Implications in HCC

Gene Name	Function	Prognostic Implication
Rab5a	Promoting cell growth, differentiation, apoptosis and angiogenesis	Tumour promoter factor
Rab10	Regulating cell survival and proliferation	Tumour promoter factor
Rab11a	Promoting migration and invasion	Tumour promoter factor
Rab17	Inhibiting migration and invasion and promoting G1 arrest	Tumour suppressor factor
Rab18	Enhancing hepatocarcinogenesis and cell proliferation	Tumour promoter factor
Rab25	Promoting migration and invasion	Tumour promoter factor
Rab27a	Inhibiting migration and invasion	Tumour suppressor factor
Rab31	Promoting migration and invasion	Tumour promoter factor
Rab40b	Promoting migration and invasion	Tumour promoter factor
Rab43	Inhibiting cell proliferation and EMT	Tumour suppressor factor

Table 2 Rab GTPases-Associated Noncoding RNAs in HCC

Gene Name	Non-Coding RNA	Pathway	Function in HCC	Reference
Rab5a	MiR-101-3p	NA	Cell growth and migration	[^Citation66]
Rab1(Rab1a)	MiR-223 Circ-UGGT2 MiR-5226B-5P	mTOR	Cell proliferation, migration, invasion and apoptosis	[^Citation67,Citation72]
Rab1b	MiR-541	NA	Positive modulator of autophagy	[^Citation68]
Rab18	MiR-I45-5P	NA	Promote proliferation and migration and inhibit the apoptosis	[^Citation69]
Rab23	MiR-429	EMT	Promotes cell growth and invasion and represses apoptosis	[^Citation70]
Rab24	MiR-615-5p	Rab-RAS	Retarding cell cycling processes and accelerating apoptosis	[^Citation71]
Rab35	Long non-coding RNA HOTAIP	mTOR	Promotes exosome secretion	[^Citation73]

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