miR-140-3p inhibits viability,invasion and migration of non-small-cell lung cancer A549 cells by targeting PD-L1

AIM: To explore the target relationship between microRNA-140-3p (miR-140-3p) and programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) and their effect on the viability, migration and invasion of non-small-cell lung cancer A549 cells.METHODS: RT-qPCR was used to detect the miR-140-3p expression in HLF-1, A549 and H1299 cells, and then the A549 cells with the most significant difference were selected as the subsequent research object. TargetScan software and dual-luciferase reporter assay were performed to predict and confirm the target relationship between miR-140-3p and PD-L1. RT-qPCR and Western blot were used to determine the effects of miR-140-3p mimic and inhibitor on PD-L1 expression level. MTT assay was used to detect the viability of A549 cells. Transwell assay was performed to detect the migration and invasion abilities of the A549 cells.RESULTS: miR-140-3p was significantly down-regulated in the A549 cells and H1299 cells (P<0.05). Transfection with miR-140-3p mimic decreased the expression of PD-L1 and inhibited the viability, migration and invasion of the A549 cells. Transfection with pcDNA3.0-PD-L1 reversed the inhibitory effect of miR-140-3p on the viability, migration and invasion of the A549 cells.CONCLUSION: miR-140-3p inhibits the viability, migration and invasion of A549 cells by targeting PD-L1.     

Inhibitory Effects of AURKB Gene on Apoptosis and Cancer Cell Growth in HCT 116 Cells

[Objectives]To explore the inhibitory effect of AURKB gene in apoptosis and cancer cell growth in HCT 116 cells.[Methods]The in vitro cytology studies were carr...     

Effect of beclin-1 gene silencing on TuAKe-injured gastric cancer SGC-7901 cells

AIM: To observe the effect of beclin-1 silencing by the technique of RNA interference on the injury of human gastric cancer SGC-7901 cell by Sheliugu extract (the extract from tuber of Amorphophallus konjac, TuAKe). METHODS: To knock down the expression of beclin-1 gene, SGC-7901 cells were transfected with lentiviral vector carrying beclin-1-shRNA. The beclin-1 gene knock-down and non-knock-down SGC-7901 cells were treated with TuAKe. The cell viability was analyzed by CKK-8 assay. The percentages of apoptotic cells were detected by flow cytometry. The expression of beclin-1 and LC3 was detected by Western blot. RESULTS: The beclin-1 gene silencing decreased the protein expression of beclin-1 and increased the protein expression of LC3 in the SGC-7901 cells, leading to the decrease in cell viability and the increase in apoptotic rate (P<0.05). TuAKe increased the protein expression of beclin-1 and LC3 in the SGC-7901 cells, and decreased the protein expression of LC3 in the SGC-7901 cells with beclin-1 gene silencing, thus inhibiting the cell viability and increasing the apoptotic rate (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Beclin-1 gene silencing inhibits the activation of beclin-1-related signaling pathway in gastric cancer SGC-7901 cells, and aggravates the injury of cell viability induced by TuAKe.     

MicroRNA-145 inhibits epithelial-mesenchymal transition in human renal cancer A-498 cells by ADAM28

AIM: To investigate the inhibitory effect of microRNA-145 (miR-145) on epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in renal cancer A-498 cells. METHODS: The A-498 cells were transfected with miR-145 mimics (M145) and mimic negative control(MNC), which served as M145 group and MNC group, respectively. Mock control (MC) group was set up using untreated A-498 cells. The expression level of miR-145 in each group was detected by RT-qPCR. Transwell assay was used to detect the invasion ability of the cells. The protein expression of vimentin, E-cadherin and ADAM28 was determined by Western blot. Bioinformatic method was used to predict the target genes of miR-145. Antagonistic effect of ADAM28 over-expression on the inhibition of EMT by miR-145 was detected by Western blot. The relationship between miR-145 and ADAM28 was analyzed by dual-luciferase reporter assay. RESULTS: The expression level of miR-145 in M145 group was significantly up-regulated than that in MC group (P<0.05). The number of invasive cells in M145 group was 12.78±3.37, which was significantly lower than that in MC group (P<0.05). ADAM28 may be the target gene of miR-145. Compared with MC group, the protein expression of vimentin and ADAM28 in M145 group was significantly decreased (P<0.05), while the protein expression of E-cadherin was significantly increased (P<0.05).After ADAM28 over-expression, the protein expression of vimentin in the A-498 cells of M145 group was significantly increased (P<0.05), and the protein expression of E-cadherin was significantly decreased (P<0.05). The results of dual-lucife-irasei reporter assay showed that ADAM28 was a downstream target gene of miR-145. CONCLUSION: miR-145 may inhibit the expression of EMT-related proteins through the downstream target gene ADAM28 and inhibit the EMT process of renal cancer A-498 cells.     

Effect of proline-spirooxindole on viability and apoptosis of non-small-cell lung cancer A549 cells

AIM:To investigate the effect of proline-spirooxindole on the viability and apoptosis of human non-small-cell lung cancer A549 cells. METHODS:The effect of proline-spirooxindole on the viability of A549 cells was determined by CCK-8 assay. The apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry. The effects of proline-spirooxindole on the expression of PARP and p53 and the phosphorylation of mTOR were determined by Western blot. RESULTS:After A549 cells were treated with proline-spirooxindole (25, 50 and 100 mg/L), the cell viability was decreased (P<0.01) compared with DMSO control group. The apoptotic rate was increased compared with DMSO control group (P<0.01). The protein expression of p53 was up-regulated, the increased apoptotic protein cleaved PARP was observed, and the phosphorylation of mTOR was inhibited (P<0.01). CONCLUSION:Proline-spirooxindole inhibits the viability of A549 cells and induces apoptosis, which may be related to the phosphorylation of mTOR.     

Cepharanthine induces autophagy via PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway in ovarian cancer SKOV3 cells

AIM: To investigate the autophagy of human ovarian cancer SKOV3 cells induced by cepharanthine and to explore its mechanism. METHODS: The effect of cepharanthine on the viability of ovarian cancer SKOV3 cells was measured by CCK-8 assay. The SKOV3 cells were treated with cepharanthine, and then the formation of autophagosome was observed with acridine orange staining under fluorescence microscope. The protein levels of LC3, AKT, p-AKT, mTOR, p-mTOR and GAPDH in the SKOV3 cells treated with cepharanthine were determined by Western blot.RESULTS: Cepharanthine significantly inhibited the viability of ovarian cancer SKOV3 cells in a dose-dependent manner (P<0.05). The number of the intracellular acidic autophagosomes with bright red fluorescence was significantly increased after cepharanthine treatment in the SKOV3 cells. The expression of LC3-Ⅱ in SKOV3 cells was significantly enhanced after cepharanthine treatment. Furthermore, treatment with cepharanthine in the SKOV3 cells also resulted in a significant down-regulation of phosphorylated form of AKT and mTOR (P<0.01), while the total protein level was not changed. Combination of cepharanthine and 3-methyladenine resulted in a substantial decrease in the cell viability compared with using cepharanthine alone.CONCLUSION: Cepharanthine significantly inhibits the growth of human ovarian cancer SKOV3 cells and induces the autophagy, which may be correlated with down-regulation of PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway.     

Shikonin reverses HGF-induced resistance to gefitinib in lung cancer cells HCC827

AIM: To investigate the effect of shikonin on reversing hepatocyte growth factor(HGF)-induced resistance to gefitinib in lung cancer HCC827 cells, and to explore its possible mechanisms.METHODS: The gefitinib-resistant HCC827 cells induced by HGF were treated with shikonin and gefitinibthe alone or in combination. The inhibition rates of cell viability were determined by MTT assay. The invasive ability of HCC827 cells with HGF-induced resistance to gefitinib was determined by Transwell assay. The protein levels of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and related signaling pathway in the HCC827 cells were detected by Western blot.RESULTS: The results of MTT assay showed that the cell activity of HCC827 cells was significantly inhibited by shikonin in a dose dependent manner. The IC₅₀ of shikonin in HCC827 cells was 3.06 μmol/L. And the IC₅₀ of gefitinib in HCC827 cells was 0.51 μmol/L. Under the condition of combined treatment with shikonin and gefitinib in the presence of HGF (20 μg/L), the IC₅₀ of gefitinib was 7.36 μmol/L, significantly lower than that treated with gefitinib alone (P<0.01), so did the result of the cell migration (P<0.01). HGF induced EMT, while shikonin reversed this effect. The protein expression level of p-AKT was significantly up-regulated by HGF, while markedly down-regulated treatment with shikonin and gefitinib compared with gefitinib alone (P<0.01).CONCLUSION: Shikonin reverses HGF-induced resistance to gefitinib in lung cancer HCC827 cells, and the mechanism may be likely related to the preventon of EMT and the inhibition of HGF-induced activation of p-AKT signaling pathway.     

FGF4在肺癌细胞体内和体外中表达差异的研究

FGF4已经被证明是癌基因,它涉及肿瘤的生长和转移,为了解FGF4的表达与肿瘤微环境的关系。我们利用FGF4抗体通过免疫组化对一名肺癌患者癌旁,癌组织,癌组织小鼠移植瘤,二次移植瘤以及原代培养的细胞爬片进行FGF4检测,探究其表达差异。通过对比癌组织与对照组（癌旁组织）,FGF4在癌巢中高表达;同样,移植瘤与二次移植瘤的癌巢中与癌旁组织比较,FGF4表达相对较高;但是将癌组织进行原代培养后,免疫组化检测细胞爬片FGF4,发现仅有5%±0.21%的肿瘤细胞表达FGF4,对照蛋白Cytokine作为肿瘤标记物,则在100%的肿瘤细胞中表达。研究提示免疫组化检测到FGF4在体内和体外表达不同,提示肿瘤细胞FGF4的表达与肿瘤微环境调控密切相关,肿瘤微环境对肿瘤细胞的FGF4的调控有着重要作用。     

F-box domain is involved in regulating the proliferation of MCF-7 cells by FBXO39 protein

AIM: To investigate the effect of F-box domain on the regulation of MCF-7 cell proliferation by FBXO39 protein. METHODS: The effect of F-box domain on the localization of FBXO39 protein in the MCF-7 cells was investigated. MCF-7 cell cDNA library was used as the template resource. The full-length cDNA sequence of FBXO39 was amplified by PCR method and subcloned into eukaryotic expression vector pEGFP-C2. The pEGFP-FBXO39ΔF (F-box domain deletion mutation) plasmid was successfully constructed with the template resource of pEGFP-FBXO39 plasmid. The recombinant plasmids were transfected into the MCF-7 cells, and then the expression of FBXO39 and FBXO39ΔF were determined by Western blot. The cellular localization of FBXO39 and FBXO39ΔF were observed by confocal microscopy. The localization of endogenous FBXO39 in the MCF-7 cells was detected by immunofluorescence staining. In addition, MTT and EdU assays were used to measure the cell proliferation, flow cytometry was used to measure the cell cycle distribution, and immunohistochemical staining was used to observe the expression of FBXO39 in the breast cancer and para-carcinoma tissues. RESULTS: The eukaryotic expression vector pEGFP-FBXO39 and pEGFP-FBXO39ΔF were constructed successfully. F-box domain had no effect on the cell localization of FBXO39. FBXO39 promoted MCF-7 cell proliferation but FBXO39ΔF did not. FBXO39 was highly expressed in the breast cancer tissues. CONCLUSION: F-box domain had no effect on the cellular localization of FBXO39 protein. However, it plays an important role in the biological function of FBXO39. FBXO39 may be related to breast cancer tumorigenesis.     

EZH2-mediated regulation of NF-κB target gene expression in gastric cancer

AIM: To explore the mechanism by which over-expression of enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) in a panel of gastric cancer cell lines is involved in tumorigenesis of gastric cancer. METHODS: Real-time PCR and Western blot were employed to examine the mRNA and protein levels of EZH2, respectively. MTS assay, cell migration and soft agar assay were performed to investigate the role of EZH2 in the regulation of stomach cancer behaviors. The effect of EZH2 on NF-κB target gene expression was determined by Luciferase reporter and real-time PCR. Co-immunoprecipitation was used to analyze the interaction of EZH2 and p65 in HEK293T cells. RESULTS: The expression levels of EZH2 were significantly increased in the gastric cancer cells compared with normal gastric epithelial cells. Pharmacological inhibition by DZNep or knockdown of EZH2 significantly compromised AGS and SNU-16 cell activity, cell migration and anchorage-independent cell growth. Moreover, siRNA knockdown of EZH2 impaired NF-κB downstream targets, such as IL-8, CXCL5 and CCL20. In addition, the interaction of EZH2 and p65 was detected. CONCLUSION: EZH2 mediates the growth of gastric cancer cells through the regulation of NF-κB downstream gene expression.