EPRS1 correlates with malignant progression in hepatocellular carcinoma

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Molecular Biology
• Biochemistry

Background:

• Glutamyl-prolyl-tRNA synthetase 1 (EPRS1) is implicated in cancer development.
• Its specific role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To elucidate the carcinogenic function, underlying mechanisms, and clinical relevance of EPRS1 in human HCC.
• To assess EPRS1 as a potential therapeutic target for HCC.

Main Methods:

• Utilized TCGA and GEO databases for expression and prognostic analysis.
• Performed cell-based assays (CCK-8, Transwell, hepatosphere) to evaluate EPRS1 function.
• Employed immunohistochemistry, proteomics, cBioportal, and MEXEPRSS for mechanistic and variation analysis.

Main Results:

• EPRS1 mRNA and protein levels were significantly elevated in HCC.
• Higher EPRS1 expression correlated with reduced patient survival.
• EPRS1 promoted HCC cell proliferation, stemness, and migration by upregulating LAMC1 and CCNB1.

Conclusions:

• Enhanced EPRS1 expression drives HCC development by increasing oncogene expression in the tumor microenvironment.
• EPRS1 presents a promising therapeutic target for HCC treatment.