High expression of VRK1 is related to poor prognosis in glioma.

Vaccinia-related kinase 1 (VRK1) is a member of the vaccinia-related kinase (VRK) family of serine/threonine protein kinases, which phosphorylates several transcription factors and has been postulated to be involved in regulation of cell proliferation. However, it remains unclear whether aberrant expression of VRK1 is related to the development of glioma. In this study, we aimed to investigate the clinical significance of VRK1 expression in human glioma and its biological function in glioma cells. Western blot and immunohistochemical analysis revealed that VRK1 was highly expressed in glioma tissues and cell lines. In addition, the expression level of VRK1 was positively correlated with glioma pathological grade, as well as Ki-67 expression. Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that patients with high VRK1 expression was associated with a poorer prognosis. To determine whether VRK1 could regulate the proliferation of glioma cells, we transfected glioma cells with interfering RNA target VRK1, then investigated cell proliferation with cell counting kit (CCK) -8, flow cytometry assays and colony formation analyses. Our results indicated that knockdown of VRK1 would inhibit the proliferation of glioma cells. Besides, reduced expression of VRK1 could induce the apoptosis of glioma cells. On the basis of these findings, we suggested that VRK1 might be a promising prognostic biomarker of glioma.

Ben Z ，Gong L ，Qiu Y 《-》

High VRK1 expression contributes to cell proliferation and survival in hepatocellular carcinoma.

VRK1 is a member of the vaccinia-related kinase (VRK) family of serine/threonine protein kinases, which is known to play multiple roles in cellular proliferation, cell cycle regulation and carcinogenesis. However, the expression and physiological significance of VRK1 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain unclear. In this study, we aimed to investigate the potential role of VRK1 in the development and progression of HCC. Western blot and immunohistochemical analysis revealed that VRK1 was highly expressed in HCC tissues and cell lines, compared with adjacent nontumorous tissues and LO2 normal hepatocytes. Meanwhile, clinicopathological analysis showed that VRK1 was significantly associated with AJCC stage, Ki-67 and a poor prognosis in HCC specimens. Univariate and multivariate analysis showed that VRK1 could serve as an independent prognostic indicator of HCC patients' survival. Furthermore, we found that VRK1 was lowly expressed in serum-starved Huh7 cells, and was progressively increased after serum-refeeding. Finally, flow cytometry, CCK-8 and colony formation assay indicated that the depletion of VRK1 could retard cell cycle progression and reduce cells proliferation in HCC cells. On the basis of these findings, we conclude that VRK1 may be a candidate prognostic biomarker as well as a potential therapeutical target of HCC.

Huang W ，Cui X ，Chen Y ，Shao M ，Shao X ，Shen Y ，Liu Q ，Wu M ，Liu J ，Ni W ，Lu C ，Wan C ... -  《-》

Vaccinia-related kinase 1 promotes hepatocellular carcinoma by controlling the levels of cell cycle regulators associated with G1/S transition.

Lee N ，Kwon JH ，Kim YB ，Kim SH ，Park SJ ，Xu W ，Jung HY ，Kim KT ，Wang HJ ，Choi KY ... -  《Oncotarget》

Comprehensively prognostic and immunological analysis of VRK Serine/Threonine Kinase 1 in pan-cancer and identification in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Chen D ，Zhou W ，Chen J ，Wang J ... -  《Aging-US》

VRK1 signaling pathway in the context of the proliferation phenotype in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Santos CR ，Rodríguez-Pinilla M ，Vega FM ，Rodríguez-Peralto JL ，Blanco S ，Sevilla A ，Valbuena A ，Hernández T ，van Wijnen AJ ，Li F ，de Alava E ，Sánchez-Céspedes M ，Lazo PA ... -  《-》