CGREF1 facilitates the cell proliferation, migration and invasion of hepatocellular carcinoma cells via regulation of EIF3H/ Wnt/β-Catenin signaling axis.

Background: Although Cell growth regulator with EF-hand domain 1 (CGREF1) has been predicted to be upregulated in multiple cancer types, its definitive function role in carcinogenesis, particularly in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), remains poorly characterized.

Methods: Comprehensive bioinformatics analysis was initially conducted using the University of ALabama at Birmingham CANcer data analysis Portal (UALCAN) and Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA) databases to investigate CGREF1 mRNA expression patterns in HCC tissues and their clinical correlation with patient survival outcomes. Experimental validation was subsequently performed through real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), immunohistochemistry (IHC), and Western blot techniques. Functional characterization studies employing genetic knockdown and overexpression models in HCC cell lines demonstrated CGREF1's regulatory effects on malignant phenotypes, as evidenced by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, colony formation assay and Transwell migration and invasion assays. were adopted to investigate the role of CGREF1 in the proliferation, invasion, and migration of HCC cells. Mechanistic investigations integrating bioinformatics predictions with Western blot analysis revealed CGREF1 mediated-modulation of the Wnt/β-Catenin signaling axis, elucidating its molecular underpinnings in HCC progression.

Results: The results demonstrated that CGREF1 is highly expressed in HCC tissues, and HCC patients with elevated CGREF1 expression exhibited significantly shorter survival times. Upregulation of CGREF1 promoted the proliferation, migration, and invasion of HCC cells, whereas inhibition of CGREF1 expression suppressed these phenotypes. Mechanistically, CGREF1 activates the Wnt/β-Catenin signaling pathway through the upregulation of eukaryotic translation initiation factor 3 H subunit (EIF3H). Furthermore, partial inhibition of EIF3H attenuated the effects of CGREF1 overexpression on the proliferation, migration, and invasion of HCC cells.

Conclusion: CGREF1 is upregulated in HCC and acted as an oncogene through the CGREF1/EIF3H/Wnt/β-Catenin signaling axis. These findings suggest that CGREF1 may emerge as a potential therapeutic target for HCC.