CXCL5/NF-κB Pathway as a Therapeutic Target in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Treatment

BACKGROUND: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common malignant cancer worldwide. CXCL5 has a role in inhibiting cell viability and metastasis in many tumors. In the present study, we investigated the role of CXCL5 in HCC and explored the underlying mechanism. Material and Methods. RT-qPCR and western blot were performed to evaluate the mRNA and protein levels of CXCL5. CCK-8 and transwell assay were applied to measure the proliferative and invasive abilities. Meanwhile, the Kaplan–Meier method was used to assess the survival of HCC patients. RESULTS: CXCL5 was upregulated in HCC tissues, which predicted a shorter overall survival in HCC. CXCL5 was a target gene of miR-577, and its expression was mediated by miR-577 in HCC. Knockdown of CXCL5 suppressed HuH-7 cell proliferation, invasion, and EMT and inhibited the NF-κB signaling pathway in cells. Moreover, knockdown of CXCL5 inhibited the xenograft growth of HuH-7 cells. CONCLUSION: Overexpression of CXCL5 predicts poor prognosis in HCC patients. Knockdown of CXCL5 inhibits cell proliferation and invasion through the NF-κB signaling pathway in HCC. The newly identified role of the CXCL5/miR-577/NF-κB axis provides novel insights into the targeted therapy of HCC.