Notch2 regulates proliferation, invasion and migration of tongue squamous cell carcinoma stem cells

Ge Zhen-qiong; Yan En-li; Sun Xue-rong; Ren Xue-mei; Xiao Hai

doi:10.3969/j.issn.2095-4344.2016.45.010

Abstract：BACKGROUND:Previous studies have found that the expression of Notch2 is up-regulated in tongue squamous cel carcinoma (TSCC) stem cel s, but the effect of Notch2 on TSCC remains unclear. <br> OBJECTIVE:To explore the effect of Notch2 on the proliferation, invasion and migration of TSCC stem cel s (ALDHbr). <br> METHODS:ALDHbr cel s were enriched and separated by fluorescence-activated cel sorting technique from Tca8113 cel s cultured in using serum-free medium, and Notch2 expression in ordinary TSCC cel s (ALDHlow) and ALDHbr cel s was detected by western blot. The ALDHbr cel s transfected with Notch2 shRNA (sh-Notch2) by liposome served as experimental group, and ALDHbr cel s transfected with sh-control were as control group. The effects of Notch2 on the proliferation, invasion and migration of ALDHbr cel s were detected by cel counting kit-8 kit and Transwel assay, respectively. In addition, the expression levels of Ki67, matrix metal oproteinases 2 and 9 protein in Notch2-silenced ALDHbr cel s and control cel s were detected by western blot. <br> RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The expression level of Notch2 in ALDHbr cel s was significantly higher than that in ALDHlow cel s (P<0.05). The ALDHbr cel proliferation ability and Ki67 protein expression in the experimental group were obviously lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). The ALDHbr cel invasion and migration abilities in the experimental group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). The expression levels of matrix metal oproteinases 2 and 9 protein in the experimental group were obviously lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). Al these results show that Notch2 can promote the proliferation, invasion and migration of ALDHbr cel s, which suggests that Notch2 plays an important role in the occurrence and development of TSCC, and it may be a potential molecular target for the treatment of TSCC.