Mitochondrial transfer plays an important role in various diseases, and many mitochondrial biological functions can be regulated by HMGB1. To explore the role of mitochondrial transfer in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and its relationship with HMGB1, field emission scanning electron microscopy, immunofluorescence, and flow cytometry were used to detect the mitochondrial transfer between HCC cells. We found that mitochondrial transfer between HCC cells was confirmed using tunnel nanotubes (TNTs). The transfer of mitochondria from the highly invasive HCC cells to the less invasive HCC cells could enhance the migration and invasion ability of the latter. The hypoxic conditions increased the mitochondrial transfer between HCC cells. Then the mechanism was identified using co-immunoprecipitation, luciferase reporter assay, and chromatin immunoprecipitation. We found that RHOT1, a mitochondrial transport protein, promoted mitochondrial transfer and the migration and metastasis of HCC cells during this process. Under hypoxia, HMGB1 further regulated RHOT1 expression by increasing the expression of NFYA and NFYC subunits of the NF-Y complex. RAC1, a protein associated with TNTs formation, promoted mitochondrial transfer and HCC development. Besides, HMGB1 regulated RAC1 aggregation to the cell membrane under hypoxia. Finally, the changes and significance of related molecules in clinical samples of HCC were analyzed using bioinformatics and tissue microarray analyses. We found that HCC patients with high HMGB1, RHOT1, or RAC1 expression exhibited a relatively shorter overall survival period. In conclusion, under hypoxic conditions, HMGB1 promoted mitochondrial transfer and migration and invasion of HCC cells by increasing the expression of mitochondrial transport protein RHOT1 and TNTs formation-related protein RAC1.
基金:
This study is funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant
no.82270559 and 82070572 to YF; 81974383 and 82273321 to WY).
第一作者单位:[1]Huazhong Univ Sci & Technol, Tongji Hosp, Tongji Med Coll, Dept Gastroenterol, Wuhan 430030, Peoples R China
通讯作者:
推荐引用方式(GB/T 7714):
Jing Mengjia,Xiong Xiaofeng,Mao Xin,et al.HMGB1 promotes mitochondrial transfer between hepatocellular carcinoma cells through RHOT1 and RAC1 under hypoxia[J].CELL DEATH & DISEASE.2024,15(2):doi:10.1038/s41419-024-06536-6.
APA:
Jing, Mengjia,Xiong, Xiaofeng,Mao, Xin,Song, Qianben,Zhang, Lumiao...&Yan, Wei.(2024).HMGB1 promotes mitochondrial transfer between hepatocellular carcinoma cells through RHOT1 and RAC1 under hypoxia.CELL DEATH & DISEASE,15,(2)
MLA:
Jing, Mengjia,et al."HMGB1 promotes mitochondrial transfer between hepatocellular carcinoma cells through RHOT1 and RAC1 under hypoxia".CELL DEATH & DISEASE 15..2(2024)