Deciphering the Influence of AP1M2 in Modulating Hepatocellular Carcinoma Growth and Mobility through JNK/ErK Signaling Pathway control

Background: HCC is the most common digestive system malignancy, with unclear pathogenesis and low survival rates. AP1M2 is associated with tumor progression, but its role and molecular mechanisms in HCC remain poorly understood and require further investigation. Methods: We utilized the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and Expression Analysis Interactive Hub (XENA) databases to assess AP1M2 mRNA expression levels in HCC patients. Additionally, we employed the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database to identify pathways associated with both AP1M2 and HCC development. To evaluate the effect of AP1M2 on hepatocellular Carcinoma cell proliferation and migration, we employed various techniques including EdU, CCK8, Colony formation assay, and Transwell assays. Furthermore, Western blot analysis was conducted to examine the signaling pathways influenced by AP1M2. Results: AP1M2 expression was significantly increased at the mRNA level in HCC tissues(P < 0.001). Importantly, overall survival (OS) analysis confirmed the association between higher AP1M2 expression and a poorer prognosis in HCC patients compared to those with lower AP1M2 expression (P < 0.019).Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that AP1M2 was an independent prognostic factor and a valid predictor for HCC patients. Furthermore, GSEA results indicated differential enrichment of lipid, bile acid, metal metabolism, and coagulation processes in HCC samples demonstrating a high AP1M2 expression phenotype. In vitro experiments supported these findings by demonstrating that AP1M2 promotes HCC cell proliferation and migration, while activating the JNK/ERK pathway. Conclusion: Our findings indicate that AP1M2 expression may serve as a potential molecular marker indicating a poor prognosis for HCC patients. Furthermore, we have demonstrated that AP1M2 significantly influences HCC cell proliferation and migration, with the JNK/ERK signaling pathway playing a key role in AP1M2-mediated regulation in the context of HCC.