VCP interaction with HMGB1 promotes hepatocellular carcinoma progression by activating the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway

BACKGROUND: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common pathological type of liver cancer. Valosin-containing protein (VCP) is a member of the AAA-ATPase family associated with multiple molecular functions and involved in tumor metastasis and prognosis. However, the role of VCP in HCC progression is still unclear. METHODS: We examined the expression of VCP in HCC using the RNA sequencing and microarray data from public databases and measured it in clinical samples and cell lines by western blot, and immunohistochemistry (IHC). We also evaluated the correlation between VCP and clinical features. The VCP-interacting proteins were identified by co-immunoprecipitation combined with mass spectrometry (CoIP/MS). The underlying molecular mechanisms were investigated using in vitro and in vivo models of HCC. RESULTS: We found that VCP expression is significantly increased in tumor tissues and is associated with advanced TNM stages and poorer prognosis in HCC patients. In vitro analyses revealed that VCP overexpression promoted HCC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion via PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway activation. Conversely, VCP knockdown resulted in the reverse phenotypes. In vivo studies indicated that up-regulated VCP expression accelerated tumor growth in a subcutaneous HCC model. The D1 domain of VCP and A box of HMGB1 were identified as the critical regions for their interaction, and D1 area was required for the tumor-promoting effects induced by VCP expression. VCP enhanced the protein stability of HMGB1 by decreasing its degradation via ubiquitin–proteasome process. Inhibition of HMGB1 markedly attenuated VCP-mediated HCC progression and downstream activation of PI3K/AKT/mTOR signals. CONCLUSION: Collectively, these findings demonstrate that VCP is a potential prognostic biomarker in HCC and exhibits oncogenic roles via PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway activation. HMGB1 played an essential role in VCP-mediated HCC progression, indicating that VCP and HMGB1 are potential therapeutic targets in human HCC. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12967-022-03416-5.