Construction of shRNA targeting AGR2 gene and effect of AGR2 on biological function of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells

AIM: To construct the shRNA targeting anterior gradient protein 2 (AGR2) gene for exploring the effect of AGR2 on the biological behavior of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) cells.METHODS: The expression of AGR2 at mRNA and protein levels in NPC cell lines 6-10B and 5-8F was detected by real-time PCR and Western blot. The pSR-GFP/Neo-AGR2-shRNA expression vector targeting AGR2 was constructed. Based on the interference targeting AGR2, the cell migration and motility were determined by Transwell migration and motility assays.RESULTS: The expression of AGR2 was increased in NPC cell line 5-8F compared with NPC cell line 6-10B (P<0.05). When the AGR2 expression in 5-8F cells was interfered, the cell migration, invasion and tumorigenicity were weakened.CONCLUSION: The expression of AGR2 is up-regulated in NPC cell line 5-8F. pSR-GFP/Neo-CLU-shRNA successfully inhibits the expression of AGR2 in NPC cell line 5-8F. AGR2 inhibits the migration, invasion and tumorigenicity of 5-8F cells in vivo.