Prkch, encoding protein kinase C eta, is a member of the PKC family. It has the potential to regulate cell proliferation and differentiation, and is involved in various biological processes [1]. Genetic models can be valuable for studying its functions in different physiological and pathological conditions.

In acute myeloid leukemia (AML), Prkch deletion in mice led to impaired hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) function. High Prkch expression in AML patients correlated with TP53 and RUNX1 mutations, high-risk cytogenetic features, and poor overall survival, though Prkch deletion in an Flt3-ITD/Runx1 mutant mouse AML model did not extend survival [3]. In glioma, overexpression of Prkch promoted tumorigenesis, and its expression level was an independent prognostic factor for poor prognosis and shorter survival in glioma patients. Down-regulation of Prkch significantly inhibited the progression of glioma stem cells [1]. In osteoarthritis, knockdown of circ-Prkch alleviated IL-1β-treated chondrocyte cell phenotypic changes by promoting cell proliferation and migration, as well as inhibiting apoptosis and inflammatory response [2]. Also, silencing of circ-Prkch protected against lipopolysaccharide-evoked chondrocyte damage and extracellular matrix loss [4].

In conclusion, Prkch is crucial for normal HSC function. Its abnormal expression is associated with the development and prognosis of diseases like AML and glioma. Research on Prkch using gene knockout or knockdown models has provided insights into its role in these diseases, potentially guiding the development of targeted therapies.

References:

1. Pang, Fangning, He, Wei, Liu, Xuantong, Li, Mingyang, Xu, Jin. 2022. Overexpression of PRKCH promotes tumorigenesis in patients with glioma and influences glioma stem cell properties. In Pathology, research and practice, 240, 154236. doi:10.1016/j.prp.2022.154236. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36434855/

2. Liu, Zhongxing, Cao, Jian, Zhang, Limin, Zhou, Peng, Zhang, Sidi. 2022. Knockdown of circ-PRKCH alleviates IL-1β-treated chondrocyte cell phenotypic changes through modulating miR-502-5p/ADAMTS5 axis. In Autoimmunity, 55, 179-191. doi:10.1080/08916934.2022.2027918. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35352613/

3. Porter, Shaina N, Magee, Jeffrey A. 2017. PRKCH regulates hematopoietic stem cell function and predicts poor prognosis in acute myeloid leukemia. In Experimental hematology, 53, 43-47. doi:10.1016/j.exphem.2017.05.006. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28596089/

4. Zhao, Jie, Li, Tingting, Luo, Wenming. . Silencing of circ-PRKCH protects against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-evoked chondrocyte damage and extracellular matrix loss by the miR-140-3p/ADAM10 axis. In General physiology and biophysics, 40, 89-101. doi:10.4149/gpb_2021001. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33880996/