EFFECT OF KNOCKDOWN BARD1 EXPRESSION ON THE PROLIFERATION, INVASION AND MIGRATION OF HEPATOCELLULAR CARCINOMA CELLS AND ITS POSSIBLE MECHANISM

Objective: To investigate the effect of reduced BRCA1-related RING domain 1 (BARD1) expression on the proliferation, invasion, and migration of hepatocellular carcinoma cells and its possible mechanism. Methods: The expression levels of BARD1 in liver cancer and normal adjacent tissues were determined by immunohistochemistry. Liver cancer cell line SMMC7721 was selected for culture, siRNA was selected to silence the BARD1 gene in SMMC7721 cells (BARD1 silencing group), and non-related sequence sirna-nc was selected to transfection SMMC7721 cells as the negative control group (control group). The effect of the BARD1 knockdown on the proliferation of hepatocellular carcinoma cells was observed through cell cloning. Teanswell cell assay was used to determine the changes of cell invasion and migration. Finally, a western blot was used to determine the expression of Akt, mTOR and MMP-9 in each group. Results: The expression of BARD1 in hepatocellular carcinoma was significantly higher than that that of paracancer. Compared with the control group, the proliferation, migration and invasion abilities of the BARD1 silencing group were significantly lower (P<0.01). Compared with the control group, the expression levels of BARD1, Akt, mTOR and MMP-9 in the BARD1 silencing group were significantly lower (P<0.05). Conclusion: BARD1 knockdown may inhibit the proliferation, invasion, and migration of HCC cells by inhibiting the activation of the Akt/mTOR signaling pathway.