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PlGF knockdown induced apoptosis through Wnt signaling pathway in gastric cancer stem cells

Hassan Akrami1,2, Kiumars Mehdizadeh2, Behrouz Moradi2

  • 1Medical Biology Research Center, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran.

Journal of Cellular Biochemistry
|September 12, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Placental growth factor (PlGF) knockdown significantly impacts gastric cancer stem cells (GCSCs). This study demonstrates PlGF knockdown induces apoptosis through the Wnt signaling pathway in GCSCs, offering new therapeutic insights.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Gastric cancer remains a global health challenge due to complex factors like signaling pathway crosstalk and gastric cancer stem cells (GCSCs).
  • The tumorigenic potential of placental growth factor (PlGF) in gastric cancer is not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effect of PlGF knockdown on apoptosis and Wnt signaling pathway genes in GCSCs.
  • To evaluate PlGF's role in the viability and apoptosis of GCSCs derived from AGS and MKN-45 cell lines.

Main Methods:

  • Isolation of GCSCs from MKN-45 and AGS cell lines.
  • PlGF knockdown using PlGF-specific small interfering RNA (siRNA).
  • Assessment of cell viability, Wnt signaling pathway gene expression via real-time RT-PCR, and apoptosis using DNA laddering.

Main Results:

  • PlGF knockdown significantly affected cell viability in GCSCs.
  • Downregulation of PlGF altered the expression of genes in the Wnt signaling pathway and apoptosis-related genes.
  • DNA laddering confirmed apoptosis and DNA fragmentation following PlGF knockdown.

Conclusions:

  • PlGF knockdown, achieved with specific siRNA, demonstrates a significant impact on GCSC viability and gene expression.
  • The findings suggest that PlGF knockdown may induce apoptosis in GCSCs, potentially mediated by the Wnt signaling pathway.
Keywords:
Wnt signaling pathwayapoptosiscancer stem cell (CSC)gastric cancergene expressionplacental growth factor (PlGF)

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