Original Article
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World J Gastroenterol. Feb 28, 2012; 18(8): 754-766
Published online Feb 28, 2012. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v18.i8.754
Effects of resistin-like molecule β over-expression on gastric cancer cells in vitro
Li-Duan Zheng, Chun-Lei Yang, Teng Qi, Meng Qi, Ling Tong, Qiang-Song Tong
Li-Duan Zheng, Ling Tong, Department of Pathology, Union Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, Hubei Province, China
Chun-Lei Yang, Teng Qi, Meng Qi, Qiang-Song Tong, Department of Surgery, Union Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, Hubei Province, China
Author contributions: Tong QS designed the study and drafted the manuscript; Zheng LD, Yang CL, Qi T, Qi M and Tong L performed the research; Zheng LD and Yang CL were also involved in drafting the manuscript and performed statistical analysis.
Supported by The National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 30200284, No. 30600278, No. 30772359, No. 81071997 and No. 81072073; Program for New Century Excellent Talents from Universities, No. NCET-06-0641; Scientific Research Fund for the Returned Overseas Chinese Scholars, No. 2008-889; Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities, No. 2010JC025
Correspondence to: Dr. Qiang-Song Tong, Professor, Department of Surgery, Union Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, Hubei Province, China. qs_tong@hotmail.com
Telephone: +86-27-63776478 Fax: +86-27-85726411
Received: October 1, 2011
Revised: January 5, 2012
Accepted: January 18, 2012
Published online: February 28, 2012
Abstract

AIM: To investigate the effects of resistin-like molecule β (RELMβ) over-expression on the invasion, metastasis and angiogenesis of gastric cancer cells.

METHODS: Human RELMβ encoding expression vector was constructed and transfected into the RELMβ lowly-expressed gastric cancer cell lines SGC-7901 and MKN-45. Gene expression was measured by Western blotting, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and real-time quantitative PCR. Cell proliferation was measured by 2-(4,5-dimethyltriazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide colorimetry, colony formation and 5-ethynyl-20-deoxyuridine incorporation assays. The in vitro migration, invasion and metastasis of cancer cells were measured by cell adhesion assay, scratch assay and matrigel invasion assay. The angiogenic capabilities of cancer cells were measured by tube formation of endothelial cells.

RESULTS: Transfection of RELMβ vector into SGC-7901 and MKN-45 cells resulted in over-expression of RELMβ, which did not influence the cellular proliferation. However, over-expression of RELMβ suppressed the in vitro adhesion, invasion and metastasis of cancer cells, accompanied by decreased expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and MMP-9. Moreover, transfection of RELMβ attenuated the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and in vitro angiogenic capabilities of cancer cells.

CONCLUSION: Over-expression of RELMβ abolishes the invasion, metastasis and angiogenesis of gastric cancer cells in vitro, suggesting its potentials as a novel therapeutic target for gastric cancer.

Keywords: Resistin-like molecule β, Gastric cancer, Invasion, Metastasis, Angio-genesis