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Effects of siRNA-targeting BMP-2 on the abilities of migration and invasion of human liver cancer SMMC7721 cells and its mechanism

Cancer Gene Therapy volume 18, pages 20–25 (2011)Cite this article

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Abstract

To observe the effects of small interfering RNA (siRNA)-targeting bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-2 on the abilities of migration and invasion of human liver cancer SMMC7721 cells and its mechanism. Three siRNAs-targeting BMP-2 gene were synthesized. There were six groups including group I (non-transfected cells), group II (only liposome-transfected cells), group III (non-specific siRNA-transfected cells) and groups IV–VI (siRNA-A, siRNA-B and siRNA-C-targeting BMP-2 transfected cells, respectively). SMMC7721 cells were instantaneously transfected using lipofectamine method. The levels of mRNA and protein of BMP-2 in cells were determined with reverse transcription-PCR and western blotting. The abilities of migration and invasion of transfected cells were assessed using scratch test and in vitro invasion assay, respectively. The protein levels of p-ERK, p-JNK and p-p38 and the protein levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9 were evaluated with western blot 48 h after siRNA-B-targeting BMP-2 was transfected into liver cancer SMMC7721 cells. Expression of mRNA and protein of BMP-2 in groups IV–VI were significantly inhibited, especially in group V. Cell scratch width was significantly greater in group V than in group I and III (P<0.01). In vitro invasion assay suggested that the number of invasion of cells was significantly lower in group V than in group I and III (P<0.05). Western blot indicated that the level of p-ERK was significantly decreased (P<0.05), the levels of p-JHK and p-p38 were not significantly changed and the levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9 were significantly downregulated (P<0.05). siRNA-targeting BMP-2 can markedly inhibited the expression of BMP-2 in liver cancer SMMC7721 cells, and decrease the abilities of migration and invasion of liver cancer cells, especially siRNA-B. The inhibitory effects of siRNA-B-targeting BMP-2 on the abilities of migration and invasion of human liver cancer SMMC7721 cells may be caused by the downregulation of MMP-2 and MMP-9 through MAPK/ERK pathway, whereas is not related to MAPK/JNK and MAPK/p38 pathway.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Oncology, Second Affiliated Hospital, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China

    J-B Wu, H-Q Fu, L-Z Huang, A-W Liu & J-X Zhang

  2. Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Jiangxi Province, Nanchang, China

    J-B Wu, H-Q Fu, L-Z Huang, A-W Liu & J-X Zhang

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  1. J-B Wu
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Correspondence to J-B Wu.

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Wu, JB., Fu, HQ., Huang, LZ. et al. Effects of siRNA-targeting BMP-2 on the abilities of migration and invasion of human liver cancer SMMC7721 cells and its mechanism. Cancer Gene Ther 18, 20–25 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/cgt.2010.55

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/cgt.2010.55

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