Hydrogen sulfide promotes the stemness of liver cancer stem cells through the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway

Abstract

Abstract Background LCSCs is a key factor in the occurrence and development of HCC. Hydrogen sulphide (H2S) is the third gas signalling molecule after carbon monoxide (CO) and nitrogen monoxide (NO). Exogenous H2S has been shown to inhibit the progression of HCC by increasing apoptosis and autophagy. However, whether H2S can affect LCSCs in HCC microenvironment still remains poorly understand. Methods In vitro, Flow cytometry (FCM), imaging quantitive flow cytometry, RNA-sequencing, and Tumor sphere-forming assay were carried out in the HCC cells and LCSCs to investigate the effect of H2S on biological functions and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Data was analyzed using unpaired Student's t-test and nonlinear regression. P < 0.05 was considered to indicate a statistically significant difference. Results Based on the FCM, we found that exogenous H2S were able to induce HCC cells apoptosis and promote stemness in HCC cells. RNA-sequencing, imaging quantitive flow cytometry showed that 23 genes was regulated in NaHS group, and NaHS can activate the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in HCC cell lines. Treatment with the Wnt/β-catenin signaling inhibitor ICRT3 alleviated the NaHS-induced stemness increase in HepG2 and Hep3B cells. Furthermore, the tumor sphere-forming assay show that the number of sphere-forming cells was significantly increased in NaHS treated group and was inhibited significantly in ICRT3 treated group. Conclusion Exogenous H2S increased the expression of CD133, CD44 and β-catenin and promoted the stemness in LCSCs by activating the Wnt/β-catenin signalling, which strongly clarify the relationship between Exogenous H2S and LCSC stemness and may provide theoretical guidance and potential therapeutic approaches for liver cancer.