HNRNPH1 Is a Novel Regulator Of Cellular Proliferation and Disease Progression in Chronic Myeloid Leukemia

RNA binding proteins act as essential modulators in cancers by regulating biological cellular processes. Heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein H1 (HNRNPH1), as a key member of the heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoproteins family, is frequently upregulated in multiple cancer cells and involved in tumorigenesis. However, the function of HNRNPH1 in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) remains unclear. In the present study, we revealed that HNRNPH1 expression level was upregulated in CML patients and cell lines. Moreover, the higher level of HNRNPH1 was correlated with disease progression of CML. In vivo and in vitro experiments showed that knockdown of HNRNPH1 inhibited cell proliferation and promoted cell apoptosis in CML cells. Importantly, knockdown of HNRNPH1 in CML cells enhanced sensitivity to imatinib. Mechanically, HNRNPH1 could bind to the mRNA of PTPN6 and negatively regulated its expression. PTPN6 mediated the regulation between HNRNPH1 and PI3K/AKT activation. Furthermore, the HNRNPH1-PTPN6-PI3K/AKT axis played a critical role in CML tumorigenesis and development. The present study first investigated the deregulated HNRNPH1-PTPN6-PI3K/AKT axis moderated cell growth and apoptosis in CML cells, whereby targeting this pathway may be a therapeutic CML treatment.

Automated summary

In this study, it was found that HNRNPH1 is upregulated in CML and correlated with disease progression. Knockdown of HNRNPH1 in CML cells inhibited cell proliferation, promoted apoptosis, and increased sensitivity to imatinib. The HNRNPH1-PTPN6-PI3K/AKT axis plays a critical role in CML tumorigenesis and targeting this pathway may represent a therapeutic approach for CML treatment.