Sulfatase 2 up-regulates glypican 3, promotes fibroblast growth factor signaling, and decreases survival in hepatocellular carcinoma

Jin Ping Lai, Dalbir S. Sandhu, Chunrong Yu, Tao Han, Catherine D. Moser, Kenard K. Jackson, Ruben Bonilla Guerrero, Ileana Aderca, Hajime Isomoto, Megan M. Garrity-Park, Hongzhi Zou, Abdirashid M. Shire, David M. Nagorney, Schuyler O. Sanderson, Alex A. Adjei, Ju Seog Lee, Snorri S. Thorgeirsson, Lewis R. Roberts

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

150 Scopus citations

Abstract

It has been shown that the heparin-degrading endosulfatase, sulfatase 1 (SULF1), functions as a liver tumor suppressor, but the role of the related sulfatase, sulfatase 2 (SULF2), in liver carcinogenesis remains to be elucidated. We investigated the effect of SULF2 on liver tumorigenesis. Expression of SULF2 was increased in 79 (57%) of 139 hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) and 8 (73%) of 11 HCC cell lines. Forced expression of SULF2 increased HCC cell growth and migration, whereas knockdown of SULF2 using short hairpin RNA targeting SULF2 abrogated HCC cell proliferation and migration in vitro. Because SULF1 and SULF2 desulfate heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) and the HSPG glypican 3 (GPC3) is up-regulated in HCC, we investigated the effects of SULF2 on GPC3 expression and the association of SULF2 with GPC3. SULF2-mediated cell growth was associated with increased binding of fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2), phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase and AKT, and expression of GPC3. Knockdown of GPC3 attenuated FGF2 binding in SULF2-expressing HCC cells. The effects of SULF2 on up-regulation of GPC3 and tumor growth were confirmed in nude mouse xenografts. Moreover, HCC patients with increased SULF2 expression in resected HCC tissues had a worse prognosis and a higher rate of recurrence after surgery. Conclusion: In contrast to the tumor suppressor effect of SULF1, SULF2 has an oncogenic effect in HCC mediated in part through up-regulation of FGF signaling and GPC3 expression.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1211-1222
Number of pages12
JournalHepatology
Volume47
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 2008

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Hepatology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Sulfatase 2 up-regulates glypican 3, promotes fibroblast growth factor signaling, and decreases survival in hepatocellular carcinoma'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this