蛋白酶激活受体2激动剂对食管癌EC109细胞侵袭转移的促进作用

Effects of silenced PAR-2 on cell proliferation, invasion and metastasis of esophageal cancer

The present study aimed to investigate the effect of protease-activated receptor 2 (PAR-2) on cell proliferation, invasion and metastasis in the esophageal EC109 cell line. Two short hairpin RNA (shRNA) expression plasmids were constructed based on the PAR-2 mRNA sequence in humans, and they were transfected into the EC109 esophageal cancer cell line, and the stable interference cell line (shRNA-PAR-2 EC109) was obtained by puromycin selection. Following transfection of PAR-2 shRNA-1, PAR-2 expression was significantly downregulated in mRNA level and protein level in EC109 cells (P<0.05). The proliferation of EC109 cells transfected with PAR-2 shRNA was significantly lower than the negative control group (P<0.05). At 24, 48 and 72 h, the ratio of proliferation inhibition was 15.92, 24.89 and 32.28%, respectively. Compared with the control group, S-phase arrest was observed in cells transfected with shRNA-PAR-2. The ratio of cells in the S phase was 32.79±4.06, 26.54±1.37 and 33.45±2.46% at 24, 48 and 72 h, respectively. For invasion, the number of invasive cells was significantly lower in shRNA-PAR2-2 cells compared with the control group (P<0.05). For metastasis assay, the number of invasive cells was significantly lower in shRNA-PAR2-2 cells compared with the control group (P<0.01). In the present study, the PAR-2 shRNA plasmid was constructed successfully, which can significantly downregulate PAR-2 expression in EC109 cells. Subsequent to silencing of PAR-2, the proliferation of EC109 cells was inhibited and the capabilities of invasion and migration were reduced. It is indicated that PAR-2 may be a potential target in esophageal cancer.

Clinical effect of alanyl-glutamine in patients with esophageal carcinoma after surgery

AIM: To analyze the clinical effect of alanyl-glutamine in patients with esophageal cancer after surgery.

METHODS: Eighty patients with esophageal cancer who underwent surgical treatment at our hospital from January 2010 to December 2011 were randomly and equally divided into either an observation group or a control group. The control group was given conventional treatment, and the treatment group was treated with alanyl-glutamine and received strengthened nursing measures.

RESULTS: Compared with pre-treatment values, serum levels of albumin and prealbumin were significantly reduced one day after treatment in both the observation group and control group (all P < 0.05). Serum levels of albumin and prealbumin were significantly higher 8 d after treatment in the observation group than in the control group (both P < 0.05). Compared to preoperative data, nitrogen balance was improved 8 d after the treatment in both groups, and the improvement was more significant in the observation group (P < 0.05). The incidence of complications was significantly lower in the observation group than in the control group (2.5% vs 12.5%, χ² = 7.28, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: Alanyl-glutamine shows a good clinical effect in patients with esophageal carcinoma after surgery. Strengthened nursing measures can effectively improve the overall effect.

SiRNA-mediated silencing of the CXCR4 gene down-regulates MMP-9 expression in EC-9706 cells

AIM: To investigate the effect of small interfering RNA (siRNA)-mediated blockade of CXCR4 signaling on the expression of MMP-9 in human esophageal carcinoma cell line EC9706 and to provide an experimental foundation for further elucidating the role of CXCR4 in metastasis and invasion of esophageal carcinoma (ESCC).

METHODS: Two siRNAs targeting the CXCR4 gene and one fluorescence-labeled negative control siRNA were chemically synthesized and transfected into EC9706 cells, Non-transfected EC9706 cells were used as blank controls. The transfection efficiency was evaluated by fluorescence microscopy. Both CXCR4 and MMP-9 mRNA and protein levels were detected by semiquantitative RT-PCR and Western blot 48 h after transfection. Boyden chamber assay was used to evaluate the invasion capability of cells in vitro and MTT assay was used to evaluate cell growth.

RESULTS: The two siRNAs targeting the CXCR4 gene efficiently suppressed the expression of CXCR4 in EC9706 cells at both mRNA and protein levels compared to negative and blank controls (all P < 0.05). The expression of MMP-9 mRNA and protein in EC9706 cells transfected with the two siRNAs targeting the CXCR4 gene was also suppressed significantly compared to the two control groups (all P < 0.05). Boyden chamber assay results showed that the number of cells that have passed through the membrane were decreased in EC-9706 cells transfected with two CXCR4-specific siRNAs compared to the two control groups (both P < 0.05). Transfection of CXCR4-specific siRNAs greatly decreased the growth of EC9-706 cells compared to control cells (both P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: CXCR4 may play a role in the metastasis and invasion of ESCC possibly by controlling the expression of MMP-9. CXCR4 may be a potentially valuable therapeutic target for ESCC.