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Down-regulation of gut-enriched Kruppel-like factor expression in esophageal cancer
Nan Wang1, Zhi-Hua Liu, Fang Ding
1National Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Cancer Institute, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100021, China.
Aim:
Esophageal carcinoma is one of the most common malignant tumors in China. But the molecular mechanisms of esophageal carcinoma remains unclear. Gut-enriched Kruppel-like factor (GKLF) is a newly identified transcription factor which is expressed abandantly in the epithelial cells of the gastrointestinal tract and deregulation of GKLF was linked to several types of cancer. It is of interest to study the expression and role of GKLF in esophageal carcinoma.
Methods:
Semi-quantitative RT-PCR was used to compare GKLF expression in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma to normal mucosa of the same patients. The serum deprivation inducibility of GKLF was observed in an esophageal squamous cancer cell line by comparison to the primary culture of human fibroblast. The effect of antisense GKLF transfection on the proliferation and adhesion of esophageal squamous cancer cell line was also observed.
Results:
The level of GKLF transcript is lower in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma compared to paired normal-appearing mucosa in 14 of 17 of the tumors analyzed. The serum deprivation inducibility of GKLF was greatly decreased in an esophageal squamous cancer cell line compared to the primary culture of human fibroblast. Decreased expression of GKLF in the esophageal cancer cell by antisense GKLF transfection increased its proliferation rate compared with that of vector transfected cell control (P<0.05). Transfection of antisense GKLF decreased its adhesion ability (P<0.05).
Conclusion:
The findings of this study demonstrate the down-regulation of GKLF in esophageal squamous cancer, and suggest that deregulation of GKLF may play a role in initiation and/or progression as well as the metastasis of esophageal squamous cancer.
Insights
Gut-enriched Kruppel-like factor (GKLF) is down-regulated in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, suggesting its role in cancer progression and metastasis. This study investigated GKLF
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- Esophageal carcinoma is a prevalent malignancy in China with unclear molecular mechanisms.
- Gut-enriched Kruppel-like factor (GKLF) is a transcription factor found in gastrointestinal epithelial cells.
- GKLF deregulation is implicated in various cancers, warranting investigation in esophageal carcinoma.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the expression and role of Gut-enriched Kruppel-like factor (GKLF) in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.
- To determine if GKLF expression is altered in cancerous esophageal tissue compared to normal tissue.
- To assess the impact of GKLF on esophageal cancer cell proliferation and adhesion.
Main Methods:
- Semi-quantitative RT-PCR was employed to compare GKLF transcript levels in tumor and normal esophageal tissues.
- GKLF inducibility under serum deprivation was assessed in an esophageal squamous cancer cell line versus human fibroblasts.
- Antisense GKLF transfection was used to evaluate effects on cancer cell proliferation and adhesion.
Main Results:
- GKLF transcript levels were lower in 14 out of 17 esophageal squamous cell carcinomas compared to adjacent normal mucosa.
- Serum deprivation-induced GKLF expression was significantly reduced in the esophageal cancer cell line.
- Antisense GKLF transfection led to increased proliferation and decreased adhesion of esophageal cancer cells (P<0.05).
Conclusions:
- Down-regulation of GKLF is observed in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.
- Deregulation of GKLF may contribute to the initiation, progression, and metastasis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.