BMP4 augments the survival of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells under hypoxia and hypoglycemia conditions by promoting the glycolysis pathway.

ABSTRACT: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the leading causes of cancer death worldwide although its pathogenic mechanism remains to be fully understood. Unlike normal cells, most cancer cells rely on aerobic glycolysis and are more adaptable to the microenvironment of hypoxia and hypoglycemia. Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4 (BMP4) plays important roles in regulating proliferation, differentiation, invasion and migration of HCC cells. We have recently shown that BMP4 plays an important role in regulating glucose metabolism although the effect of BMP4 on glucose metabolic reprogramming of HCC is poorly understood. In this study, we found that BMP4 was highly expressed in HCC tumor tissues, as well as HCC cell lines that were tolerant to hypoxia and hypoglycemia. Mechanistically, we demonstrated

SUBMITTER: Zhong J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7994163 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature