Conclusions
We propose that glucose deprivation-induced HRP-3 up-regulation potentially plays a major role in protecting HCC cells against apoptosis caused by energy pressure.
Results
Expression level of HRP-3 protein was highly up-regulated both in primary rat hepatocytes and HCC cells as prolonging the stimulation of glucose deprivation. Both morphology and sub-G1 phase analyses indicated that stable knockdown of HRP-3 sensitized HCC cells to glucose deprivation-induced cell apoptosis. Furthermore, silence of HRP-3 prevented the de-phosphorylation of S6K1 induced by glucose deprivation, which was an essential molecular event for HCC cell survival in energy pressure. Conclusions: We propose that glucose deprivation-induced HRP-3 up-regulation potentially plays a major role in protecting HCC cells against apoptosis caused by energy pressure.