The CLEC3B inhibits cellular proliferation and metastasis of cholangiocarcinoma through Wnt/β-catenin pathway

Sep 21, 2026

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Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a highly aggressive biliary malignancy. C-type lectin family member 3b (CLEC3B) is a Ca2+-binding transmembrane protein with diverse roles in cancer, and its function in CCA remains unclear. Using TCGA and clinical cohorts, CLEC3B expression, patient survival association, and prognosis relevance were evaluated. Cellular assays in QBC939 and HUCCT1, along with xenograft models and pathway analyses, tested CLEC3B effects on proliferation, apoptosis, migration, invasion, and Wnt/β-catenin signaling.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages18

Reading Time45 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Introduction

Cholangiocarcinoma background and clinical challenges

C-type lectins and CLEC3B prior evidence

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusions

Data availability / Ethics (if present)

Submitted 27 June 2024 Accepted 18 October 2024 Published 13 November 2024 Corresponding authors Bingzi Dong, dong[bingzi@hotmail.com](bingzi@hotmail.com)[ ](bingzi@hotmail.com)Chengzhan Zhu, [zhuchengz@qduhospital.cn](zhuchengz@qduhospital.cn) Academic editor Tokuko Haraguchi Additional Information and Declarations can be found on page 14 DOI 10.7717/peerj.18497 Copyright 2024 Wu et al. Distributed under Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 OPEN ACCESS The CLEC3B inhibits cellular proliferation and metastasis of cholangiocarcinoma through Wnt/􀀌-catenin pathway Shengze Wu1 ,* , Guangfeng Wang1 ,* , Yuwei Xie1 , Tingting Wu2 , Fangqian Du1 , Chen Jin2 , Bingzi Dong3 ,4 and Chengzhan Zhu1 ,4 1 Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China 2 Department of Pediatric Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China 3 Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China 4 Shandong Key Laboratory of Digital Medicine and Computer Assisted Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China * These authors contributed equally to this work. ABSTRACT Purpose. Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a cancer of the biliary system, including intrahepatic and extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, and is highly aggressive. C-type lectins family member 3b (CLEC3B) is a Ca2+ binding transmembrane protein with different biological functions in a variety of cancers. The objective of this study was to explore the biological function ofCLEC3B in CCA. Methods. The CLEC3B gene was identified using the TCGA database and survival analysis of the cholangiocarcinoma clinical cohort. The expression CLEC3B cholangiocarcinoma and correlation with prognosis was investigated in our patient cohort. The effects of CLEC3B on proliferation, apoptosis, migration and invasion were verified in QBC939 and HUCCT1 cells. The effect of CLEC3B on the tumor formation was proved by xenograft tumor model in nude mice. The signaling pathway ofCLEC3B in regulating CCA progression was further analyzed RNA sequencing and western blot. Results. CLEC3B was decreased in the cholangiocarcinoma in the database. ThemRNA and protein expression level ofCLEC3B were significantly lower and correlated with poor overall survival in cholangiocarcinoma of our patient cohort. In vitro experiments proved that overexpression ofCLEC3B can inhibit proliferation, migration and invasion in bile duct cancer cells. The CLEC3B was correlated with epithelial􀀕 mesenchymal transition and apoptosis. The calcium could promote the biological function ofCLEC3B. The vivo study indicated that CLEC3B inhibited tumor formation. RNA sequencing indicating CLEC3B may transduce signal through e Wnt/􀀌-catenin signaling pathway. Conclusions. The CLEC3B inhibits cellular proliferation and migration of cholangiocarcinoma through the Wnt/􀀌-catenin pathway. Subjects Cell Biology, Genomics, Molecular Biology, Gastroenterology and Hepatology Keywords CLEC3B, Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA), Proliferation, Migration, Calcium How to cite this article Wu S, Wang G, Xie Y, Wu T, Du F, Jin C, Dong B, Zhu C. 2024. The CLEC3B inhibits cellular proliferation and metastasis of cholangiocarcinoma through Wnt/􀀌-catenin pathway. PeerJ 12:e18497 [http://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18497](http://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18497) INTRODUCTION Cholangiocarcinoma, as a highly heterogeneous biliary malignancy, originates from biliary epithelial cells. It can occur anywhere in the biliary tract system. The incidence of cholangiocarcinoma is currently on the rise worldwide, accounting for about 15% of primary liver cancers and 3% of gastrointestinal malignancies (Banales et al., 2020). Surgical resection is the main treatment method for cholangiocarcinoma while the resection rate is low. The postoperative relapse rate is high and the respon

FAQs

What biological function of CLEC3B is studied in cholangiocarcinoma?

The study investigates how CLEC3B influences cellular proliferation and metastasis-related behaviors, including migration and invasion, in cholangiocarcinoma.

How is CLEC3B expression and its clinical relevance analyzed?

CLEC3B is assessed using TCGA and survival analysis in a clinical cholangiocarcinoma cohort, and its expression level is correlated with overall survival.

Through which pathway does CLEC3B affect cholangiocarcinoma progression?

The findings indicate that CLEC3B modulates CCA progression through the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, consistent with RNA sequencing and western blot analyses.

Sep 21, 2026

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