目的:探讨斯钙素2(STC2)对人肝癌细胞HepG2增殖、迁移以及上皮-间充质转化(EMT)进程的影响。方法:Western blot法检测不同肝癌细胞株及正常肝细胞株的STC2蛋白表达情况;集落形成实验分析STC2对HepG2细胞增殖的影响,同时进一步采用实时荧光定量PCR及Western blot法检测STC2对cyclin D1等增殖相关基因的表达变化;Transwell实验分析STC2对肝癌细胞HepG2迁移能力的影响,采用实时荧光定量PCR和Western blot法检测过表达和沉默STC2的细胞中EMT分子标志物vimentin和E-cadherin的表达情况。结果:与正常肝细胞系相比,STC2蛋白在肝癌细胞中高表达。集落形成实验结果说明STC2促进HepG2细胞的增殖,同时STC2可以显著影响cyclin D1等增殖相关基因的表达。Transwell实验结果说明STC2增强HepG2细胞的迁移能力,同时显著影响肝癌细胞的EMT过程。结论:STC2能够促进肝癌细胞系HepG2的增殖并且影响增殖相关基因的表达,进一步研究表明STC2能够影响肝癌细胞的EMT过程,促进肝癌细胞的迁移。
AIM: To explore the effects of stanniocalcin 2 (STC2) on the proliferation, migration and the process of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells. METHODS: The expression levels of STC2 in the hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines and normal liver cells were assessed by Western blot. Colony formation assay was used to test the effect of STC2 on the proliferation of HepG2 cells. The effects of STC2 on the expression of proliferation-related molecules at mRNA and protein levels were determined by RT-qPCR and Western blot.The effect of STC2 on the migration ability was measured by Transwell assay. The mRNA and protein levels of vimentin and E-cadherin in 5TC2-overexpressing and -silencing cell lines were detected by RT-qPCR and Western blot. RESULTS : Compared with the normal liver cell line, the protein expression of STC2 was up-regulated in the hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines. The results of colony formation assay indicated that STC2 promoted the proliferation of HepG2 cells. STC2 signif-icantly regulated the proliferation-related gene expression, such as cyclin Dl. The results of Transwell assay showed that STC2 enhanced the migration ability of the HepG2 cells and influenced the EMT process. CONCLUSION : STC2 promotes the proliferation of HepG2 cells and affects the expression of proliferation-related genes. STC2 influences the process of EMT and promotes the migration of HepG2 cells.