Molecular targets of low-molecular-weight heat shock proteins in hepatocellular carcinoma cell proliferation

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25460989
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Gastroenterology
• Research Institution: Gifu University
• Principal Investigator: KOZAWA Osamu 岐阜大学, 医学(系)研究科(研究院), 教授 (90225417)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): OOSAWA Yosuke 岐阜大学, 大学院医学系研究科, 講師 (60447787) ; NISHIWAKI Rie (MATSUSHIMA Rie) 岐阜大学, 大学院医学系研究科, 助教 (90734202)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 肝細胞がん / 増殖 / ストレス蛋白質 / 低分子量 / HSP20 / ホスファチジルイノシトール3-キナーゼ / Bax

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Heat shock protein (HSP) 20, one of the low-molecular-weight HSPs, is recognized to play various functions, such as vasorelaxation. However, its exact roles in cancer proliferation remain to be clarified. While HSP20 is constitutively expressed in various tissues including the liver, we have previously reported that HSP20 overexpression in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells represses the cell proliferation. In this study, we investigated the molecular targets of HSP20 in HCC proliferation. Our results strongly suggest that HSP20 interacts with phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase or Bax in HCC cells, resulting in the suppression of cell proliferation.

Free Research Field

医歯薬学