Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 19, 2026

An Immunofluorescent Method for Characterization of Barrett’s Esophagus Cells
Published on: July 20, 2014
Egr-1 promotes cell proliferation and invasion by increasing β-catenin expression in gastric cancer
Ting Sun1, Hua Tian, Yu-Guang Feng
1Department of Cardiology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 639 Zhizaoju Road, Shanghai, 200011, China.
Background:
Abnormal expression of early growth response gene 1 (Egr-1) and β-catenin may play a crucial role in the development and progression of human cancer. However, little is known about the expression and underlying molecular mechanisms in which Egr-1 and β-catenin are involved in the development and progression of gastric cancer.
Aims:
The purpose of this study was to elucidate the potential relationship between Egr-1 and β-catenin expression in gastric cancer, which contributes to finding new molecular carcinogenesis as a potential therapeutic target for gastric cancer.
Methods:
In a sample of 102 cases of human gastric cancer, the expression of Egr-1 and β-catenin was detected using immunohistochemistry. Egr-1 gene was transfected into gastric cancer SGC7901 cells and its role in proliferation and cell invasion was detected by MTT assay, flow cytometry, wound-healing and transwell invasion assay. Western blot analysis was used to study the expression of β-catenin and cyclin D1 proteins.
Results:
Upregulated Egr-1 and β-catenin protein expression were strongly correlated with cancer progression and depth of invasion in gastric cancer. β-catenin, present mainly in cytoplasmic and nucleus of gastric cancer cells, was also positively correlated with Egr-1 expression in gastric cancer. Furthermore, the overexpression of Egr-1 upregulated β-catenin expression level, promoted cell proliferation, increased cell population in S-phase and enhanced gastric cancer cell migration and invasion in vitro.
Conclusions:
Egr-1 might contribute to gastric cancer proliferation and invasion through activation of the β-catenin signaling pathway.
Related Concept Videos
Canonical Wnt Signaling Pathway
Mitogens and the Cell Cycle
Catenins
Catenins in Cell Junctions
Catenins bind to cell adhesion molecules such as cadherins and link them to different cytoskeletal proteins depending on the type of cell junction. At the adherens...
TGF - β Signaling Pathway
Role Of Notch Signalling In Intestinal Stem Cell Renewal
Direct cell-to-cell contact is needed for the activation of Notch signaling. The signal is initiated when a notch ligand binds to a receptor on an adjacent cell, also...
Small GTPases - Ras and Rho
Three regulatory proteins control their activity:
