ASIC1α up-regulates MMP-2/9 expression to enhance mobility and proliferation of liver cancer cells via the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway

A major challenge in the treatment of liver cancer is that a large proportion of patients fail to achieve long-term disease control, with death from liver cancer cell migration and invasion. Acid-sensitive ion channel 1α (ASIC1α) is involved in the migration, invasion, and proliferation of liver cancer cells. Therefore, we explored the mechanism of ASIC1α-mediated liver cancer cell migration and invasion. We determined the levels of ASIC1α by western blotting and immunofluorescence in HepG2 and SK-Hep1 cells cultured in various acidic conditions. In addition, wound healing assay, transwell invasion assay, and MTT assay were conducted to assess the migration, invasion, and proliferation abilities of liver cancer cells. Western blotting was conducted to determine the levels of MMP2, MMP9, ASIC1α, p-PI3Kp85, t-PI3Kp85, p-AKT(Ser473), t-AKT, p-mTOR (Ser2448), t-mTOR. We first found that the levels of ASIC1α in the HepG2 and SK-Hep1 cells in acidic conditions (pH 6.5) were significantly increased. Inhibition and knockdown of ASIC1α down-regulated MMP-2/9 expression and inhibited the migration, invasion, and proliferation of HepG2 and SK-Hep1 cells; overexpression of ASIC1α had the opposite effect. We further demonstrated that ASIC1α up-regulates MMP-2/9 via activation of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway, thereby promoting migration, invasion, and proliferation of liver cancer cells. Overexpression of MMP-2/9 and activation of AKT reversed these effects on liver cancer cells caused by inhibition of ASIC1α. We conclude that ASIC1α can regulate migration, invasion, and proliferation of liver cancer cells through the MMP-2/9/PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway. These observations may provide a new reference for liver cancer chemotherapy. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12885-022-09874-w.