Clathrin Light Chain B Drives Hepatocellular Carcinoma Progression Through Dual Mechanisms: Small Extracellular Vesicle-Mediated Angiogenesis and the NF-κB-PCLAF Signaling Axis.

ABSTRACT: Clathrin light chain B (CLTB) is one of the three light chain subunits of the clathrin complex. This study aims to elucidate the role of CLTB in the pathogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and its clinical implications. Clinical and bioinformatic analyses reveal marked CLTB overexpression in HCC tissues. Genetic silencing of CLTB suppresses HCC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, whereas its overexpression exacerbates malignant phenotypes. Mechanistically, CLTB activates NF-κB signaling to upregulate PCNA clamp-associated factor (PCLAF), thereby promoting small extracellular vesicle (sEV) uptake. Given that clathrin-mediated endocytosis is the key mechanism for sEV uptake, this study further investigated the functional implications of CLTB-enriched sEVs in tumor vascular re

SUBMITTER: Sun X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12622436 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature