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2000
Volume 28, Issue 8
  • ISSN: 1386-2073
  • E-ISSN: 1875-5402
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Abstract

Objectives

This study aimed to explore the key oncogenic factor of metabolic-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods

We utilized four differential GEO datasets (GSE164760, GSE139602, GSE197112, and GSE49541) to identify the key oncogenic factor for MASH-related HCC. The differential genes were analyzed using the GEO2R algorithm online. The GEPIA online website was used to explore the expression of selected four genes (SPP1, GNMT, CLDN11, and THBS2). The genetic alterations in genes were estimated by the cBioPortal website. The Kaplan-Meier Plotter online database was applied to explore the prognostic value of SPP1. Univariate and multivariate Cox analyses were carried out to further confirm the prognostic value of SPP1. The GO and KEGG enrichment analysis exported associated pathways with SPP1 expression. The positively or negatively related immune cells and immune checkpoint expressions were identified through Pearson correlation analysis. The lipogenesis-associated proteins were detected using western blotting and fluorescence. The high-fat diet (HFD) mouse model was constructed, and liver samples were collected.

Results

SPP1, GNMT, CLDN11, and THBS2 were determined in the transformation process of MASH to liver fibrosis. SPP1 and GNMT were upregulated in the HCC tumor tissue. SPP1, in particular, had the potential to be the prognostic factor through Cox analysis. Remarkably, SPP1 was highly expressed in HCC compared to normal tissues in three independent datasets (GSE121248, GSE14520, and GSE45267). SPP1 is mainly involved in the amplification and deep deletion mutations. SPP1 was found to be strongly correlated with ANXA2 expression, and ANXA2 was also highly expressed in HCC with significant prognostic performance. Moreover, SPP1 was found to participate in the carcinogenic mechanism and correlate with immune cells and immune checkpoint expression. SPP1 knockdown suppressed the SREBP1 and FASN expressions and increased the SIRT1 expression . Moreover, the HFD model validated the upregulation of SPP1 in the fatty liver .

Conclusion

SPP1 may be the key oncogenic factor for the transformation of MASH to HCC, and it could be a potential immunotherapeutic target in HCC.

© 2025 The Author(s).
© 2025 The Author(s). Published by Bentham Science Publishers. This is an open access article published under CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode
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2025-05-01
2025-11-02

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Identifying the Crucial Biomarker of MASH-Related HCC
Comb Chem High Throughput Screen 28, 1372 (2025); https://doi.org/10.2174/0113862073287250240424073108
/content/journals/cchts/10.2174/0113862073287250240424073108
/content/journals/cchts/10.2174/0113862073287250240424073108
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  • Article Type:     Research Article
Keyword(s): hepatocellular carcinoma; immune; immune checkpoints; metabolic associated steatohepatitis; SPP1

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