NEK2 has an established involvement in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) but the roles of NEK2 and its interacting proteins in HCC have not been systematically explored. This study examined NEK2 and its interacting proteins in HCC based on multiple databases. NEK2 mRNA was highly expressed in HCC tissues compared with normal liver tissues. The survival of HCC patients with high NEK2 mRNA expression was shorter than those with low expression. MAD1L1, CEP250, MAPK1, NDC80, PPP1CA, PPP1R2 and NEK11 were the interacting proteins of NEK2. Among them, NDC80 and CEP250 were the key interacting proteins of NEK2. Mitotic prometaphase may be the key pathway that NEK2 and its interacting proteins contributed to HCC pathogenesis. NEK2, NDC80 and CEP250 mRNAs were highly expressed in HCC tissues compared with normal liver tissues. The mRNA levels of NEK2 were positively correlated with those of NDC80 or CEP250. Univariate regression showed that NEK2, NDC80 and CEP250 mRNA expressions were significantly associated with HCC patients’ survival. Multivariate regression showed that NDC80 mRNA expression was an independent predictor for HCC patients’ survival. Methylations and genetic alterations of NEK2, NDC80 and CEP250 were observed in HCC samples. The alterations of NEK2, NDC80 and CEP250 genes were co-occurrence. Patients with high mRNA expression and genetic alterations of NEK2, NDC80 and CEP250 had poor prognosis. NEK2 and its interacting proteins NDC80 and CEP250 play important roles in HCC development and progression and thus may be potentially used as biomarkers and therapeutic targets of HCC.

中文翻译：

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NEK2及其与NDC80和CEP250在肝细胞癌中的参与


NEK2 已确定与肝细胞癌 (HCC) 相关，但 NEK2 及其相互作用蛋白在 HCC 中的作用尚未得到系统探索。这项研究基于多个数据库检查了 HCC 中的 NEK2 及其相互作用蛋白。与正常肝组织相比，NEK2 mRNA 在 HCC 组织中高表达。 NEK2 mRNA高表达的HCC患者生存期短于低表达的患者。 MAD1L1、CEP250、MAPK1、NDC80、PPP1CA、PPP1R2 和 NEK11 是 NEK2 的相互作用蛋白。其中，NDC80和CEP250是NEK2的关键相互作用蛋白。有丝分裂前期可能是NEK2及其相互作用蛋白参与HCC发病的关键途径。与正常肝组织相比，NEK2、NDC80 和 CEP250 mRNA 在 HCC 组织中高表达。 NEK2的mRNA水平与NDC80或CEP250的mRNA水平呈正相关。单变量回归显示NEK2、NDC80和CEP250 mRNA表达与HCC患者的生存显着相关。多变量回归显示 NDC80 mRNA 表达是 HCC 患者生存的独立预测因子。在 HCC 样本中观察到 NEK2、NDC80 和 CEP250 的甲基化和基因改变。 NEK2、NDC80和CEP250基因的改变是同时发生的。 mRNA 高表达和 NEK2、NDC80 和 CEP250 基因改变的患者预后较差。 NEK2及其相互作用蛋白NDC80和CEP250在HCC的发生和进展中发挥着重要作用，因此可能被用作HCC的生物标志物和治疗靶点。