[Inhibitory effects of antisense Snail on invasion and migration of ovarian carcinoma cells].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the inhibitory effects of Snail--a zinc finger transcription factor, anti-sense plasmid on the invasion of ovary carcinoma cell lines in vitro.


METHODS
Four human ovarian carcinoma cell lines ES-2, OVCAR3, HO8910, HO8910PM were analyzed for the expression of Snail and E-cadherin mRNA by RT-PCR. Then anti-Snail plasmid transfection was introduced into HO8910 cells using lipofectin 2000 reagent to investigate the inverse correlation between E-cadherin and Snail expression, and the inhibitory effects of anti-sense Snail were also detected by Transwell motility assay and Matrigel invasion assay.


RESULTS
The results demonstrated the presence of Snail mRNA in ES-2, HO8910, HO8910PM detected by RT-PCR. By contrast, E-cadherin mRNA was only detected in OVCAR3 by RT-PCR. The inverse relationships were further observed by transient transfection of anti-sense Snail into HO8910 cells, which showed the down-regulated expression of Snail and the re-expression of E-cadherin. The Snail mRNA levels were 0.897 +/- 0.005, 0.865 +/- 0.010, 0.338 +/- 0.014 after 0, 24, 48 h of transfection and that of E-cadherin were 0, 0.130 +/- 0.001, 0.217 +/- 0.005 respectively, the difference was significant between different time points (P < 0.05). Besides the reverse correlation of E-cadherin and Snail, we also found that the mRNA level of fibronectin, a mensenchymal marker, was apparently down-regulated after stable transfection of antisense Snail compared to the control cells [0.191 +/- 0.010 vs 0.582 +/- 0.010 (P < 0.01)]. The motility activity and the invasion activity of anti-sense Snail transfectant cells were significantly decreased compared with those of control cells [48 +/- 2 vs 396 +/- 29 (P < 0.01); 35 +/- 10 vs 219 +/- 72 (P < 0.05) respectively].


CONCLUSIONS
The data indicate a reverse correlation of E-cadherin and Snail expression exists in ovary carcinoma cells. Snail is possibly a potential target for cancer gene therapy blocking invasion and metastasis in human ovary carcinoma.
Jin
Hong-yan
HY
Department of Gynecology, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200011, China.
Feng
You-ji
YJ
D015820:Cadherins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002465:Cell Movement; D016373:DNA, Antisense / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015536:Down-Regulation; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000071250:Snail Family Transcription Factors; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*
D015820:Cadherins; D016373:DNA, Antisense; D000071250:Snail Family Transcription Factors; D014157:Transcription Factors