Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40579121›Full record

ArticleGut2026

Nuclear Pirin promotes HCC by acting as a key inflammation-facilitating factor.

Huanhuan Ma, Tingyan Cao, Fengqiong Zhang, Dachao Sun, Lili Chen, Yao Lin, Shuqing Lai, Bin Jiang, Yanming Zhou, Jun You and 7 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Gut, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

17 authors.

Huanhuan Ma *State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Xiang'an Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8029-6814
Tingyan Cao *State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Xiang'an Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China.
Fengqiong Zhang *State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Xiang'an Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China.
Dachao SunState Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Xiang'an Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China.
Lili ChenState Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Xiang'an Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China.
Yao LinState Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Xiang'an Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China.
Shuqing LaiState Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Xiang'an Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China.
Bin JiangState Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Xiang'an Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China.
Yanming ZhouDepartment of Gastrointestinal Oncology Surgery, Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China.
Jun YouDepartment of Gastrointestinal Oncology Surgery, Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China.
Xiyao LiuDepartment of Gastrointestinal Oncology Surgery, Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China.
Yue WangState Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Xiang'an Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China.
Furong LinState Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Xiang'an Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China.
Yuxin LiuState Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Xiang'an Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China.
Jinyang WangState Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Xiang'an Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China.
Weiling HeState Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Xiang'an Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China liqinxi@xmu.edu.cn wlhe@xah.xmu.edu.cn.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4061-7382
Qinxi LiState Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Xiang'an Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China liqinxi@xmu.edu.cn wlhe@xah.xmu.edu.cn.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7275-4595

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundChronic inflammation and elevated reactive oxygen species are key contributors to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression.

objectiveThis study aims to investigate the role of the oxidative stress sensor protein Pirin (PIR) as a critical mediator of inflammation in HCC progression.

designWe investigated PIR's role in HCC tumourigenesis through RNA interference, genetic knockout and pharmaceutical inhibition in HCC cell lines and various mouse models. Furthermore, we used transcriptomics, quantitative reverse transcription PCR, western blot, immunofluorescence staining and immunohistochemistry analysis to elucidate the molecular details.

resultsThis study reveals a novel redox-dependent mechanism governing PIR's nuclear shuttling, contributing to liver inflammation and HCC progression. We identified a positive feedback axis where nuclear PIR amplifies inflammatory responses, leading to hepatitis and HCC advancement. Cytokines in this loop are regulated by PIR-enhanced v-rel reticuloendotheliosis viral oncogene homolog A (RELA) transcription, promoting PIR's nuclear translocation, increasing proinflammatory cytokine levels, and disrupting redox balance. We confirmed that liver parenchymal cells produce autocrine cytokines supporting their growth and malignancy. Notably, PIR's redox-mediated nuclear shift can be inhibited by N-acetyl cysteine or PIR inhibitors, reducing HCC promotion in mice.

conclusionWe elucidate a novel redox-dependent regulatory mechanism governing the nuclear localisation of PIR and its role in promoting liver inflammation and HCC progression. Our findings underscore the significance of cellular redox status in regulating PIR's activity and highlight the potential of targeting this pathway with antioxidants to mitigate HCC progression.

Indexed as

Carcinoma, HepatocellularLiver NeoplasmsAnimalsCell Line, TumorCell NucleusCytokinesDisease ProgressionHumansInflammationMiceOxidation-ReductionOxidative StressCytokinesHEPATOCELLULAR CARCINOMAINFLAMMATIONREACTIVE OXYGEN SPECIES

Identifiers

PMID40579121
PMCPMC13151453

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.