Fig 2: Depletion of KDM5A repressed FXYD3-PI3K-AKT axis to suppress the proliferative, migrative, invasive and angiogenic capacities of HCC cells by up-regulating miR-433. A, KDM5A, FXYD3, p-p85, p85, p-AKT and AKT detected by Western blot after restoration FXYD3 in KDM5A silenced Hep3B and MHCC97H cells. B, quantification of (A) related protein levels. C, after restoration FXYD3 in KDM5A silenced Hep3B and MHCC97H cells, miR-433 expression levels were determined by RT-qPCR. D, after KDM5A depleted cells treated with IGF-1, KDM5A, FXYD3, p-p85, p85, p-AKT and AKT detected by Western blot. E, quantification of (D) related protein levels. F, the effect of FXYD3 restoration on migrative capacity of KDM5A silenced Hep3B and MHCC97H cells determined by scratch assay. G, the effect of FXYD3 restoration on invasive capacity of KDM5A silenced Hep3B and eMHCC97H cells determined by transwell assay. H, the effect of FXYD3 restoration on proliferative capacity of KDM5A silenced Hep3B and MHCC97H cells determined by EDU assay. I, the effect of FXYD3 restoration on angiogenesis of KDM5A silenced Hep3B and MHCC97H cells determined by pseudo-tube formation assay. *P < .05; **P < .01, compared to si-NC + oe-NC. #P < .05; ##P <.01, compared to si-KDM5A + oe-NC. Data were shown as the mean ± standard deviation. Statistical comparisons were performed by Tukey's test-corrected one-way ANOVA when more than two groups were compared. The experiment was repeated 3 times

Fig 3: KDM5A regulates miR-433-FXYD3-PI3K-AKT axis to promote HCC tumorigenesis. A, Representative images of xenograft tumours after subcutaneous injection for 30 days. B, volume of xenograft tumours after subcutaneous injection at different time points. C, weights of xenograft tumours after subcutaneous injection for 30 days. D, expression of miR-433 in mice xenografted with tumours determined by RT-qPCR. E, protein levels of KDM5A, FXYD3, p-p85/p85 and p-AKT/AKT in xenograft tumours detected by Western blot, N = 5. F, expression of miR-433 in biopsy specimens determined by FISH. G, quantification of FISH, N = 33. H, Pearson's correlation analysis of correlation between miR-433 and angiogenesis (microvessel density) in clinical samples. I, Kaplan-Meier survival analysis of correlation between miR-433 and overall survival rates, N = 33. J, protein levels of KDM5A, FXYD3, p-p85, p85, p-AKT and AKT in clinical samples detected by Western blot, N = 33. *P < .05; **P < .01, compared to Normal tissues. Data were shown as the mean ± standard deviation. Statistical comparisons were performed by Tukey's test-corrected one-way ANOVA when more than two groups were compared. The experiment was repeated 3 times

Fig 4: Depletion of KDM5A suppressed the proliferative, migrative, invasive and angiogenic capacities of HCC cells. A, silencing efficiency of independent KDM5A siRNAs in Hep3B and MHCC97H cells determined with RT-qPCR. B, VEGF expression in the supernatant of Hep3B and MHCC97H cells measured by ELISA. C, effect of KDM5A silencing on the migrative capacities of Hep3B and MHCC97H cells determined by scratch assay. D, effect of KDM5A silencing on the cell viability of Hep3B and MHCC97H cells determined by MTS. E, effect of KDM5A silencing on the invasion capacities of Hep3B and MHCC97H cells determined by transwell assay. F, effect of KDM5A silencing on proliferation determined by EDU assay. G, CD31 expression levels in HCC biopsy specimens determined by IHC. H, the effect of media from KDM5A silenced Hep3B and MHCC97H cells on the angiogenesis of HUVECs determined by pseudo-tube formation assay. *P < .05; **P < .01, compared to si-NC. Data were shown as the mean ± standard deviation. Statistical comparisons were performed by Tukey's test-corrected one-way ANOVA when more than two groups were compared. The experiment was repeated 3 times

Fig 5: A diagram illustrating the molecular pathway of KDM5A in HCC. Notes: KDM5A suppresses miR-433 expression at a transcriptional level to promote the FXYD3-PI3K/AKT axis, which further accelerates the angiogenesis of HCC