Overexpression of PCBP2 contributes to poor prognosis and enhanced cell growth in human hepatocellular carcinoma

Abstract

Poly(C)‑binding protein 2 (PCBP2) is a member of the PCBP family, and plays an important role in post‑transcriptional and translational regulation of various signaling molecules through direct binding to single‑stranded poly(C) motifs. PCBP2 has been reported to play a critical role in the development of multiple human tumors. However, whether PCBP2 participates in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development remains largely elusive. Herein, we showed that PCBP2 was upregulated in human HCC tissues and cell lines. Overexpression of PCBP2 predicted significantly worsened prognosis in HCC patients, suggesting that PCBP2 may serve as a prognostic marker of HCC. In addition, we found that depletion of PCBP2 inhibited HCC cell proliferation, accompanying the increase in the cyclin‑dependent kinase inhibitor p27 level. Moreover, we found that high expression of PCBP2 may contribute to sorafenib resistance in HCC cells, involving dysregulated expression of Bax and Bcl‑2 proteins. In conclusion, our results suggest that PCBP2 may serve as a prognostic marker and potential therapeutic target of HCC.

In silico identification of EP400 and TIA1 as critical transcription factors involved in human hepatocellular carcinoma relapse

“…The Steelblue module contained only two TFs. Although these two TFs, poly(rC) binding protein 2 (55) and eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4B (56), have been reported to participate in HCC development, the present study did not detect differences in their expression between the tumor and adjacent normal tissues. Subsequently, the present study focused on the Tan module, which eigengene levels were also associated with primary tumor grade (Spearman correlation, r=−0.61; padj=4×10 −5 ) and α-fetoprotein (AFP) (Pearson correlation, r=−0.41; padj=9×10 −3 ; Fig.…”

Gliosarcoma Is Driven by Alterations in PI3K/Akt, RAS/MAPK Pathways and Characterized by Collagen Gene Expression Signature

“…PCBP2 , Poly(C) binding protein 2, plays an important role in post transcriptional and translational regulation of various signaling molecules through direct binding to single stranded poly(C) motifs. PCBP2 has been reported to play a critical role in the development of multiple human tumors [26,27]. Several transcripts were annotated to less known mRNA sequences described in ensembl database, without any functional importance assigned up to date.…”

Heterogeneous Nuclear Ribonucleoproteins Involved in the Functioning of Telomeres in Malignant Cells

“…PCBP3 and PCBP4 are cytoplasmic proteins, and this is usually the reason given for not considering them in connection with hnRNPs. It should be noted that all Poly(rC)-binding proteins are grouped into a special protein family [98,99].…”

“…KH domains have been found in different proteins associated with transcriptional and translational regulation, including RNA splicing [97,99,100,101]. Some structural and functional data show that multiple KH domains act in a combinatorial fashion to both enable the recognition of longer RNA motifs and remodel the RNA structure [100].…”

“…Some structural and functional data show that multiple KH domains act in a combinatorial fashion to both enable the recognition of longer RNA motifs and remodel the RNA structure [100]. Recently, Zhang et al (2016) [99] reported that the overexpression of hnRNP-E2 (PCBP2) contributes to a poor prognosis and enhanced cell growth of human hepatocellular carcinoma. Thus, the biological importance of KH domains in hnRNPs is apparent.…”