Unraveling the role of prohibitin-1, a novel ligand of galectin-1 in hepatocellular carcinoma cell viability

OTERO, S; BACIGALUPO, ML; CARABIAS, P; ELOLA, MT; CARLOTA WOLFENSTEIN-TODEL; PASQUINI, J; ESPELT M.V; TRONCOSO, MF

Congreso; SAIC-SAFIS; 2017

Galectin-1 (Gal1) is a glycan-binding protein overexpressed in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We demonstrated that Gal1 upregulation in human HCC cells induces cellproliferation, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, tumor growth and metastasis. The biological effects of Gal1 can occur due the interaction with its ligands. By proteomics we have identified prohibitin-1 (PHB1) as a new Gal1 ligand in HCC cells. PHB1 has multiple functions depending on its subcellular localization. Its role in cancer is mixed and controversial. It was found downregulated in most human HCC tissues analyzed but in other HCC samples its overexpression was observed. Liver-specific PHB1 knockout (KO) mice develop HCC spontaneously suggesting that PHB1 functions as tumor suppressor. But when PHB1 is highly expressed, it can also promote HCC cell migration, showing its involvement in tumor progression.