Abstract: ObjectiveTo identify the relationship among glycogenes, N-glycans and hepatocarcinoma metastasis and drug resistance by studying the differential expressions of glycogenes and N-glycans in MHCC97-H and MHCC97-L human hepatocarcinoma cell lines, and to confirm the novel target of hepatocarcinoma metastasis and anti-tumor therapy. MethodsRealtime PCR was used to quantitatively analyze glycogenes and fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)lectin was used to analyze glycans characteristics. RNA interference approach was used to interfere the glycogenes, and the invasive ability in vitro and drug susceptibility of MHCC97-H cells were detected before and after interference. Modification of N-glycosylation (tunicamycin and PNGase F treatment) was done, and the invasiveness in vitro, tumorigenicity in vivo and drug susceptibility of MHCC97-H cells were detected before and after modification. ResultsThe expressions of glycogenes and glycans were different in MHCC97-H cells and MHCC97-L cells. The silence of MGAT5 in MHCC97-H cells inhibited invasion ability and increased sensitivity to 5-fluorouracil in vitro（t=7.312, P﹤0.05）. Modification of N-glycosylation decreased MHCC97-H cells invasion ability in vitro and tumorigenicity in vivo and increased sensitivity to 5-fluorouracil. ConclusionThe differential expressions of glycogens and N-glycans in human hepatocarcinoma cell lines correlate with tumor invasion and drug resistance, and they are expected to be novel targets of tumor chemotherapy.

Key words: Glycosyltransferases, Liver neoplasms, Neoplasm metastasis, Drug resistance