Bone Morphogenetic Protein 13 Has Protumorigenic Effects on Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells In Vitro.

ABSTRACT: Activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) play a key role in hepatic fibrosis and, thus, build the "soil" for hepatocarcinogenesis. Furthermore, HSCs are known to promote the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but the molecular mechanisms are only incompletely understood. Recently, we newly described the expression of bone morphogenetic protein 13 (BMP13) by HSCs in fibrotic liver tissue. In addition, BMP13 has mostly been studied in the context of cartilage and bone repair, but not in liver disease or cancer. Thus, we aimed to analyze the expression and function of BMP13 in HCC. Expression analyses revealed high BMP13-expression in activated human HSCs, but not in human HCC-cell-lines. Furthermore, analysis of human HCC tissues showed a significant correlation between BMP13 and

SUBMITTER: Kersten V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10342282 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature