Abstract: Objective To investigate the effect of kinesin family member 20A (KIF20A) gene on the radiosensitivity of hepatocellular carcinoma cells Huh7 and its possible mechanism. Methods RT-qPCR was used to detect the expression levels of KIF20A mRNA in Huh7 after irradiation with different doses (0, 2, 4, 6, 8 Gy). The Huh7 cell line with silenced expression of KIF20A was constructed by lentivirus transduction. The efficiency of RNA silencing on KIF20A was verified byRT-qPCR and Western blotting, cell survival was detected by cell counting kit 8 ( CCK-8) and colony formation assay, apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry, cell invasion and migration were detected by transwell assay and wound-healing assay, and the expression levels of PI3K / AKT signaling pathway-related proteins were detected by Western blotting. Results The mRNA expression level of KIF20A in Huh7 cells was increased with the treatment of increased X-ray dose ( P < 0. 05). KIF20A knockdown significantly inhibited the expression levels of KIF20A mRNA and protein in Huh7 cells (P< 0. 05). With the treatment of increased radiation dose, the cell survival rate decreased gradually (P< 0. 05), the survival rate of Huh7 cells with KIF20A silencing was further decreased (P< 0. 05). The colony formation rate of Huh7 cells with KIF20A silencing was significantly decreased (P< 0. 05), the invasion and migration ability were significantly inhibited (P < 0. 05), the apoptosis rate was significantly increased (P < 0. 05), the level of PI3K in cells was down-regulated (P < 0. 05 ) and the level of AKT phosphorylation was decreased ( P < 0. 05 ). Conclusion Silencing KIF20A can enhance the radiosensitivity of Huh7 liver cancer cells, and its mechanism may be related to the PI3K / AKT signaling pathway.

Key words: KIF20A, PI3K / AKT signaling pathway, liver cancer cells, radiosensitivity