Original Article
Copyright ©2013 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Oct 7, 2013; 19(37): 6170-6177
Published online Oct 7, 2013. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v19.i37.6170
Alteration in gene expression profile and oncogenicity of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma by RIZ1 upregulation
Shang-Wen Dong, Dong Li, Cong Xu, Pei Sun, Yuan-Guo Wang, Peng Zhang
Shang-Wen Dong, Dong Li, Cong Xu, Yuan-Guo Wang, Peng Zhang, Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300052, China
Pei Sun, Tianjin Institute of Endocrinology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China
Author contributions: Dong SW and Zhang P designed research; Li D, Xu C and Wang YG performed research; Sun P instructed the experiment; Li D and Xu C analyzed data; and Dong SW wrote the paper.
Supported by The National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 81201945; Science Foundation of Tianjin Medical University, No. 2011KY08; Doctoral Program of Higher Education Research Fund, No. 20091202110009; and Natural Science Foundation of Tianjin, China, No. 10JCYBJC11300
Correspondence to: Peng Zhang, Professor, Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin Medical University, No. 22, Qixiangtai Road, Heping District, Tianjin 300070, China. zhang_peng6036@yeah.net
Telephone: +86-22-60814720 Fax: +86-22-60814722
Received: June 13, 2013
Revised: July 23, 2013
Accepted: August 5, 2013
Published online: October 7, 2013
Processing time: 126 Days and 19.6 Hours
Abstract

AIM: To investigate the effect of retinoblastoma protein-interacting zinc finger gene 1 (RIZ1) upregulation in gene expression profile and oncogenicity of human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) cell line TE13.

METHODS: TE13 cells were transfected with pcDNA3.1(+)/RIZ1 and pcDNA3.1(+). Changes in gene expression profile were screened and the microarray results were confirmed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Nude mice were inoculated with TE13 cells to establish ESCC xenografts. After two weeks, the inoculated mice were randomly divided into three groups. Tumors were injected with normal saline, transfection reagent pcDNA3.1(+) and transfection reagent pcDNA3.1(+)/RIZ1, respectively. Tumor development was quantified, and changes in gene expression of RIZ1 transfected tumors were detected by RT-PCR and Western blotting.

RESULTS: DNA microarray data showed that RIZ1 transfection induced widespread changes in gene expression profile of cell line TE13, with 960 genes upregulated and 1163 downregulated. Treatment of tumor xenografts with RIZ1 recombinant plasmid significantly inhibited tumor growth, decreased tumor size, and increased expression of RIZ1 mRNA compared to control groups. The changes in gene expression profile were also observed in vivo after RIZ1 transfection. Most of the differentially expressed genes were associated with cell development, supervision of viral replication, lymphocyte costimulatory and immune system development in esophageal cells. RIZ1 gene may be involved in multiple cancer pathways, such as cytokine receptor interaction and transforming growth factor beta signaling.

CONCLUSION: The development and progression of esophageal cancer are related to the inactivation of RIZ1. Virus infection may also be an important factor.

Keywords: Retinoblastoma protein-interacting zinc finger gene 1; Microarray; Nude mice; Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cells

Core tip: Retinoblastoma protein-interacting zinc finger gene 1 (RIZ1) transfection induced widespread changes in gene expression profile of cell line TE13, with 960 genes upregulated and 1163 downregulated. Most of the differentially expressed genes are associated with cell development, supervision of viral replication, lymphocyte costimulatory, and immune system development in esophageal cells. RIZ1 gene may be involved in multiple cancer pathways, such as cytokine receptor interaction and transforming growth factor beta signaling. Virus infection may also be an important factor in the development of esophageal cancer.