Luciferase Reporter Cell Line - SK-HEP-1

Pinin is a multifunctional protein located in desmosomes and the nucleus that may promote the growth of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, whether this protein can induce epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and malignant progression in HCC remains unclear. This study found that pinin promotes EMT both in vitro and in vivo. Further mechanistic studies revealed that pinin increases the level of N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification of RNA through interaction with METTL3, thereby inducing snail1 expression. These findings suggest that pinin induces EMT by regulating m6A modification, and therefore may be a potential anti-cancer target for HCC therapy.

Here, to verify the effect of pinin on the malignant progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), researchers established an orthotopic HCC tumor model. SK-HEP-1-Luc cells or SK-HEP-1-Luc-Pin cells were suspended in 100 μL PBS and injected orally into the left lobe of the liver of BALB/c nude mice. In vivo small animal imaging techniques were used to study tumor growth and metastasis (Figures 1h-i). The results showed that, compared with the corresponding control group, tumors overexpressing pinin grew faster and had more lung metastases (Figures 1j-k).

Figure 1. Pinin induces EMT and malignant progression in HCC. (Qiao K, et al., 2021)