Role of Pyruvate Kinase M2 and Its Potential Pathogenic Mechanisms in Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignant tumors with a high degree of malignancy and poor prognosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2) in patients with HCC and the potential pathogenic mechanisms. Methods: The expression level of PKM2 in HCC was detected by reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and western blotting among healthy volunteers, patients with HCC and cell lines of hepatocellular carcinoma. With over expression and knock down methods, the effects of PKM2 in hepatocellular carcinoma cell were detected in the aspects of proliferation, cell cycle, apoptosis and colony formation. Results: The expression levels of PKM2 in patients with HCC and hepatic carcinoma cell lines were higher than the healthy tissues and normal liver cells. PKM2 can enhance the cell proliferation and resistance to apoptosis in the HCC. Meanwhile, PKM2 can block cell cycles into the G0/G1 and S phase. Furthermore, PKM2 can enhance the ability of HCC colony formation. Conclusions: Through RNA interference technology, it was found that PKM2 could promote the growth and metastasis, anti-apoptosis of hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines. These functions of PKM2 may contribute to the interactions between STAT3 phosphorylation and apoptosis-related factors.