TREM1 is essential for maintaining stemness of liver cancer stem-like cells in hepatocellular carcinoma.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary liver cancer and a leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. While the Triggering Receptor Expressed on Myeloid Cells 1 (TREM1) is well-known for its role in amplifying inflammation within the tumor microenvironment (TME), its tumor-intrinsic role remains poorly defined. Liver cancer stem-like cells (LCSLCs), charecerized by expression of CD133 and EpCAM, are critical for HCC initiation, metastasis, recurrence, and therapy resistance.

Methods

We used flow cytometry to assess TREM1 expression in LCSLCs and employed CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing to knock out TREM1 in HCC cell lines. Functional assays, including proliferation, migration, apoptosis, clonogenicity, and spheroid formation, were performed.

SUBMITTER: Sreekumar A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12267286 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature