Implication of human endogenous retrovirus W family envelope in hepatocellular carcinoma promotes MEK/ERK-mediated metastatic invasiveness and doxorubicin resistance

Human endogenous retrovirus (HERVs), originating from exogenous retroviral infections of germ cells millions of years ago, have the potential for human diseases. Syncytin-1, an envelope protein encoded by the HERV W family, participates in the contexts of schizophrenia, multiple sclerosis, diabetes, and several types of cancers. Nevertheless, there is no report on the expression pattern and potential mechanism of Syncytin-1 in HCC. Here we found Syncytin-1 expression was up-regulated in HCC compared to adjacent non-tumorous tissues, especially in advanced HCC. Syncytin-1 was an independent risk factor to predict vascular invasion, metastasis, larger tumor size, and poor prognosis in HCC patients. Further analysis discovered that Syncytin-1 overexpression positively associated with HCC patients with serum HBsAg positive. Functional experiments in vitro and in vivo demonstrated that Syncytin-1 enhanced cell proliferation, metastasis, and tumorigenicity in HCC. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis suggested that the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MEK)/extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) pathway was involved in HCC. Our clinical data indicated that the levels of phosphorylation MEK1/2 and ERK1/2 were increased in HCC comparing with adjacent non-tumorous tissues. It showed the linear correlation between Syncytin-1 expression and upregulated MEK1/2 and ERK1/2 phosphorylation levels in HCC. Furthermore, Syncytin-1 activated MEK/ERK pathway in HCC cells. In-depth research showed that the inflammation-activated MEK/ERK pathway was essential in Syncytin-1 promoted hepatocarcinogenesis. Syncytin-1 suppressed doxorubicin-induced apoptosis via MEK/ERK cascade. In conclusion, Syncytin-1 promoted HCC progression and doxorubicin resistance via the inflammation-activated MEK/ERK pathway. Our findings revealed that Syncytin-1 was a potential prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for HCC.