Functions Of Periostin In The Inflammation-Associated Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Periostin expression in many tumor tissues is significantly elevated and periostin can promote the development of tumors.It has been reported that periostin promote liver inflammation and fibrosis,but its function in the formation of liver cancer especially inflammation-associated hepatocellular carcinoma remains unclear.In this study,we found that periostin expression is up-regulated in HCC tissues of mice treated with DEN/CCl4,and knockout of periostin significantly reduce liver inflammation,fibrosis and tumorgenesis in mice treated by DEN/CCl4.We further found that periostin is expressed in hepatic stellate cells and tumor cells in mouse HCC tissues,and periostin deficiency can significantly reduce the nuclear location of YAP and and the expression of its downstream target genes CTGF and CYR61 in HCC tissues of mice treated with DEN/CCl4.Periostin treatment and overexpression can promote the nucleation of YAP and the expression of CTGF and CYR61 in HCC cells.These results suggest that periostin may promote the development of liver cancer in mice by promoting liver inflammation and fibrosis and that YAP signaling pathway may play a key role in periostin-related liver cancer.This study will help further clarify the function of periostin in the development of liver cancer and reveal how periostin can promotes the development of liver cancer in mice by changing the microenvironment of liver tissue.