Elevated TEFM expression promotes growth and metastasis through activation of ROS/ERK signaling in hepatocellular carcinoma

TEFM (transcription elongation factor of mitochondria) has been identified as a novel nuclear-encoded transcription elongation factor in the transcription of mitochondrial genome. Our bioinformatics analysis of TCGA data revealed an aberrant over-expression of TEFM in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We analyzed its biological effects and clinical significance in this malignancy. TEFM expression was analyzed by quantitative real-time PCR, western blot, and immunohistochemistry analysis in HCC tissues and cell lines. The effects of TEFM on HCC cell growth and metastasis were determined by cell proliferation, colony formation, flow cytometric cell cycle and apoptosis, migration, and invasion assays. TEFM expression was significantly increased in HCC tissues mainly caused by down-regulation of miR-194-5p. Its increased expression is correlated with poor prognosis of HCC patients. TEFM promoted HCC growth and metastasis both in vitro and in vivo by promoting G1–S cell transition, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and suppressing cell apoptosis. Mechanistically, TEFM exerts its tumor growth and metastasis promoting effects at least partly through increasing ROS production and subsequently by activation of ERK signaling. Our study suggests that TEFM functions as a vital oncogene in promoting growth and metastasis in HCC and may contribute to the targeted therapy of HCC.