NFATc1 is a tumor suppressor in hepatocellular carcinoma and induces tumor cell apoptosis by activating the FasL-mediated extrinsic signaling pathway.

ABSTRACT: Nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) is a family of transcription factors that have important functions in many tumors. However, the expression level and functional role of NFAT in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain unclear. In this study, we showed that NFATc1 expression was decreased in both HCC tissues and cell lines. Low expression of NFATc1 was correlated with larger tumor size, advanced tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) stage, high serum AFP level, and liver cirrhosis. Furthermore, patients with low NFATc1 expression exhibited poor prognosis. Ectopic expression of NFATc1 in HCC cells inhibited proliferation and colony formation, leading to G1 arrest and induction of apoptosis. In addition, we demonstrated that NFATc1 increased Fas ligand (FasL) expression by directly binding to it

SUBMITTER: Xu S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6143940 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature