TPM4 aggravates the malignant progression of hepatocellular carcinoma through negatively regulating SUSD2
Authors: M-H Chen
Z-G Sheng
Journal: European review for medical and pharmacological sciences (2020)
Discipline: PHARMACOLOGY & TOXICOLOGY
Keywords: TPM4; hepatocellular carcinoma; SUSD2; metastasis; prognosis
Affiliations: Department of Gastroenterology, Weinan Central Hospital, Weinan, China. .

Abstract:  Objective: The aim of this study was to elucidate the role of TPM4 in the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and to explore the potential underlying mechanism by interacting with SUSD2. Patients and methods: TPM4 expression levels in 41 HCC tissues and paracancerous tissues were detected by quantitative Real Time-Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR). The relationship between TPM4 level with the pathological indexes and overall survival of HCC patients was analyzed. TPM4 overexpression and knockdown models were constructed in Bel-7402 and Hep3B cells, respectively. Subsequently, Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) and transwell assay were conducted to assess the effects of TPM4 on the proliferative and migratory abilities of HCC cells. Dual-Luciferase reporter gene assay was performed to verify the binding relationship between TPM4 and SUSD2. In addition, the xenograft model was conducted in HCC-bearing mice administrated with Hep3B cells in vivo. Finally, the effect of TPM4 on the growth of HCC was explored. Results: TPM4 was significantly upregulated in HCC tissues and cell lines. Higher rates of lymphatic and distant metastasis, as well as worse prognosis, were observed in HCC patients with higher expression level of TPM4. The overexpression of TPM4 significantly enhanced the viability and migration abilities of Bel-7402 cells. However, opposite results were observed after the knockdown of TPM4 in Hep3B cells. SUSD2 was verified to be the target of TPM4 and was negatively regulated by TPM4. SUSD2 was lowly expressed in HCC tissues and cell lines. Meanwhile, SUSD2 was considered to be responsible for TPM4-regulated progression of HCC. In mice administrated with Hep3B, the cells transfected with sh-TPM4, the tumor volume and weight of HCC were markedly reduced when compared with the controls. Conclusions: TPM4 level is correlated with high rates of lymphatic and distant metastasis, as well as poor prognosis of HCC patients. By negatively targeting SUSD2, TPM4 aggravates the progression of HCC by accelerating the proliferative and migratory abilities of HCC cells. 

Retracted: No

PubPeer comments:
 The manipulation of the microscopy data in Figure 7 is enough to forget this paper. ![file] , 
 **Retracted** February 3, 2023 u201cWe, the Editors and Publisher of the journal Artificial Cells, Nanomedicine, and Biotechnology, have retracted the following article: Ateeque Ur Rehman, Muhammad Hassan, Sadia Bano, Khizir Farooq, Aun Raza Muhammad Naeem Anjum (2021) In vitro and in vivo biocompatibility study of polyacrylate TiO2@Ag coated nanoparticles for the radiation dose enhancement. Artificial Cells, Nanomedicine, and Biotechnology, 49(1), 185u2013193, DOI: 10.1080 21691401.2021.1889574 Since publication, concerns were raised about the methods and some images in this article. Specifically, some images in Figure 7 have been duplicated and rotated. When approached for an explanation, the authors were unable to provide a satisfactory explanation for this. The corresponding author has been informed of our decision to retract. We have been informed in our decision-making by our policy on publishing ethics and integrity and the COPE guidelines on retractions. The retracted article will remain online to maintain the scholarly record, but it will be digitally watermarked on each page as u201cRetractedu201d. u201c ,