# RNA-binding protein HuR in liver pathophysiology and carcinogenesis

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS MEDICAL CENTER · 2020 · $360,388

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common cancers worldwide and has one of the worst 1-
year survival rates of any cancer. There is a major need for understanding of the molecular mechanisms
leading to HCC and developing novel strategies for effective prevention and treatment. HCC arises exclusively
on the background of chronic liver injury and inflammation. Thus, targeting key genes that regulate both
inflammation and oncogenic pathways in HCC appears to be an attractive therapeutic approach. RNA-binding
protein Hu Antigen R (HuR) is one such candidate that controls the translation of multiple genes involved in
inflammation and oncogenic signaling pathways through binding to the adenine- and uridine-rich elements
located on 3'-untranslated region (UTR). Abnormal increase and cytoplasmic distribution of HuR has been
linked to carcinogenesis in many types of cancers. However, little is known about the regulation and in vivo
function of HuR in liver pathophysiology and carcinogenesis, largely due to the embryonic lethality of whole
body HuR-null mice. Our previous studies have demonstrated that small heterodimer partner (Shp, Nr0b2), a
nuclear receptor highly expressed in normal hepatocytes, is a tumor suppressor in HCC. We recently identified
that HuR is activated in Shp-deficient hepatocytes and is transported to macrophages via exosomes,
stimulating macrophage pro-inflammatory activation. The objective of this application is to characterize the role
and molecular mechanism by which HuR regulates liver inflammation and hepatocarcinogenesis, and further
test interventions to specifically target HuR for HCC prevention and treatment. Our central hypothesis is that
the activation of HuR in hepatocytes promotes multiple oncogenic pathway activation as well as the exosome-
stimulated liver inflammation that enhances liver carcinogenesis, while HuR inhibitor suppresses both liver
inflammation and oncogenic pathways activation, leading to inhibition on HCC. In order to accomplish our
goals, we propose the following specific aims: Aim 1. Characterize the molecular mechanisms that lead to HuR
activation during hepatocarcinogenesis. Aim 2. Determine the function impact and downstream signaling of
HuR in driving liver inflammation and carcinogenesis using hepatocyte-specific gene knockout mouse model.
Aim 3. Evaluate the anti-tumor efficiency of a novel HuR inhibitor in HCC models. Our study will provide a
foundation for understanding the role of HuR in liver pathophysiology and carcinogenesis. If the proposed aims
are accomplished, the possibility of targeting HuR for HCC prevention and treatment will emerge, making this
project of high clinical significance and translational value.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9971527
- **Project number:** 5R01DK119131-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS MEDICAL CENTER
- **Principal Investigator:** Yuxia Zhang
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $360,388
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-07-03 → 2024-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9971527

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9971527, RNA-binding protein HuR in liver pathophysiology and carcinogenesis (5R01DK119131-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9971527. Licensed CC0.

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