Effect of cholesterol on proliferation, invasion and migration of human colon cancer cells

CHEN Xin; WU Long; ZHANG Yiqiao; CHEN Neng; XU Ximing

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1002-266X.2017.18.001

Abstract：Objective To observe the effect of cholesterol on the proliferation, invasion and migration of human colon cancer cells and to discuss the possible mechanism.Methods The human colon cancer cells HT-29 in the logarithmic growth phase were divided into 6 groups: group A without any treatment, group B which was added with cholesterol for 48 h (final concentration: 1 μmol/L), group C/D and E/F which were transfected by negative siRNA-HiperFect complexes and Acyl coenzyme A cholesterol acyltransferase 1 (ACAT1) gene siRNA-HiperFect complexes using Lipofectamine 2000, respectively.After 48 h, the cells in the groups D and F received the same treatment of group B.CFSE staining assay was used to evaluate the proliferation of cells.Transwell assay was used to evaluate the migration and invasion of cells.The expression of ACAT1 gene was detected by real-time PCR.Results The cell proliferation rate, the cell invasion and migration numbers in the group B and D were higher than those of the other groups (all P<0.05), and no statistically significant difference was found between any two of groups A, C, E and F.The relative expression of ACAT1 mRNA in the groups A, B, C, D, E and F was 0.96±0.02, 1.48±0.05, 0.94±0.02, 1.44±0.02, 0.54±0.36 and 0.63±0.05, the relative expression of ACAT1 mRNA in the groups B and D was higher than that of the other groups (all P<0.05), the relative expression of ACAT1 mRNA in the groups E and F was lower than that of the other groups (all P<0.05), and no statistically significant difference was found between group A/C, B/D and E/F.Conclusion Cholesterol can improve the proliferation, migration and invasion of human colon cancer cells by promoting ACAT1 gene expression.