Introduction: Interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase 1 (IRAK1) was shown to contribute to a variety of cancer-related processes. However, the function of IRAK1 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) pathogenesis has not been investigated in detail.
Methods: IRAK1 expression in HCC was examined by immunohistochemistry, qRT-PCR, and Western blot assays. In addition, Huh7 and Hep3B cells were transfected with IRAK1 siRNAs and/or a NOD-like receptor family pyrindomain containing 3 (NLRP3) plasmid. Western blot, EdU staining, and Transwell assays were performed to determine changes of apoptosis, proliferation, migration, and invasion in HCC cells. Moreover, changes in the expression of proteins involved in the MAPKs/NLRP3/IL-1β pathway were confirmed by Western blotting.
Results: IRAK1 was found to be highly upregulated in HCC tissues and cells. Knockdown of IRAK1 signaling prevented the proliferation, invasion, migration, epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) of HCC cells. Mechanistically, we found that activation of the MAPKs/NLRP3/IL-1β pathway could be markedly suppressed by IRAK1 knockdown in HCC cells. Furthermore, our data showed that NLRP3 could partially reverse the reduced aggressive biological behaviors of HCC cells which were caused by RAK1 knockdown.
Conclusion: Knockdown of IRAK1  prevented HCC progression by inhibiting the ability of NLRP3 to block the MAPKs/IL-1β pathway, suggesting that approach as a strategy for treating HCC.
Keywords: hepatocellular carcinoma, interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase 1, NOD-like receptor family pyrindomain containing 3, epithelial–mesenchymal transition