SNRPG Serves As a Novel Predictor of Prognosis and Tumor Development for Hepatocellular Carcinoma by Activating Wnt/β-catenin Signaling

Abstract Background Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most prevalent malignancies with poor prognosis and high mortality. The study aimed to identify crucial genes associated with HCC prognosis and treat responses, as well as the underlying mechanisms. Methods mRNA and protein levels in tumor cells and tissues were detected by immunohistochemistry (IHC), qRT-PCR, and western blot. CCK-8 assay was used to assess the proliferation of HCC cells and Cell cycle status was analyzed by flow cytometer. The protein interaction between SNRPB and SNRPG was verified using Co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP). The effects of SNRPB and SNRPG expression on tumor response to XAV939 and immune checkpoint blocking (ICB) therapies were deduced through the analysis of TIDE and genomic of the GDSC dataset. Results SNRPB and SNRPG were significantly up-regulated in HCC tissues than that in adjacent non-tumor tissues. HCC patients with higher expressions of SNRPB and SNRPG had poor prognoses and lower survival rates. SNRPG knockdown resulted in an obvious decrease in proliferation and EMT of HCC cells and cell cycle arrest in the G2 phase, as well as reduced protein expressions of components and targets of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. SNRPG overexpression simultaneously with shSNRPB recovered proliferation inhibition caused by SNRPB knockdown. Importantly, the double-genes prognostic signature formed by SNRPB and SNRPG had a good prognostic value for HCC patients and was negatively associated with the responses to chemo drug XAV939 and immune checkpoint blocking (ICB) therapies. Conclusion SNRPG was a potential interactive tumor-promoting factor and may guide clinical chemotherapy and immunotherapy for HCC.