Growth hormone modulates the expression of the β-galactoside-binding protein galectin-1 in the liver

BACIGALUPO ML; CARABIAS P; SOTELO AI ; CICCONI N; BARTKE A; MIQUET JG ; PIAZZA VG; OTERO S; TRONCOSO MF

Ginebra

Congreso; HCC SUMMIT, European Association for the Study of the Liver; 2017

European Association for the Study of the Liver

Introduction: Growth hormone (GH) expression is associated with poor survival ofhepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients. Transgenic mice overexpressing GH (GHTg) of 2-4 months old display a preneoplastic pathology similar to that present in humans at high risk of developing hepatic cancer, and old animals (11-14 months) frequently develop liver tumors. Galectin-1 (Gal1) is overexpressed in HCC patients, and is associated with low survival and poor prognosis. We reported that Gal1 overexpression in human HCC cells promotes tumor growth and metastasis in nude mice. Recently, a novel role of Gal1in liver lipid accumulation after an hepatectomy was described.Aims: In this study we analyzed Gal1 expression in response to GH using in vivo and in vitro models.Material and Methods: Gal1 expression was analyzed by immunoblotting, real timePCR and immunohistochemistry in the liver of GHTg mice (contain the bovine GHgene fused to control sequences of the rat phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase gene), and Swiss-Webster 3 week (w) old mice treated with GH (6 µg GH/ g body weight/ day) by implantation of osmotic pumps (continuous treatment) or by two daily injections (intermittent treatment) during 5 w. Human HCC HepG2 cells were treated with GH (1µg/ml) with or without the translation inhibitor cicloheximide (Cx, 10µM). Cells were scrapped and processed for immunoblotting at the indicated time.Results: Gal1 mRNA and protein expression levels were drastically upregulated in the liver of GHTg mice of 2 w (♀,♂n=8 p