[Role of focal adhesion kinase in the hypoxia-induced invasion of SMMC-7721 cells].
OBJECTIVE
To study focal adhesion kinase (FAK) expression in hypoxia-stressed SMMC-7721 cells and the role of FAK expression in the hypoxia-induced invasion of SMMC-7721 cells.


METHODS
SMMC-7721 cells were cultured in 21% O2 or 1% O2. FAK expression was determined by Western blot. The siRNA expression vector pshRNA-FAK targeting to FAK and the control vector pGensil-2 were transfected into SMMC-7721 cells. The hypoxia-induced migration and invasion ability of SMMC-7721 cells transfected with pshRNA-FAK were analyzed. In normoxia, invasion of SMMC-7721 cells transfected with pcDNA3-FAK was analyzed.


RESULTS
The expression of FAK was increased significantly in SMMC-7721 cells 24 h after hypoxia stress (P<0.01). The level of FAK protein was decreased by 74.6%+/-5.1% after the pshRNA-FAK transfection in normoxia and hypoxia. The migration and invasion of SMMC-7721 cells was increased in 1% O2 (P<0.01). However, the migration and invasion of SMMC-7721 cells transfected with pshRNA-FAK was decreased in 1% O2 (P<0.05). Overexpression of FAK significantly stimulated the invasion of SMMC-7721 cells.


CONCLUSIONS
Up-regulation of FAK may play an important role in the invasion of SMMC-7721 cells induced by hypoxia.
Yan
Wei
W
Department of Gastroenterology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China.
Tian
De-an
DA
Fu
Yu
Y
Liao
Jia-zhi
JZ
Xia
Li-min
LM
Luo
Min
M
Zhu
Qian
Q
D015153:Blotting, Western; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002465:Cell Movement; D051416:Focal Adhesion Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D010957:Plasmids / Q000235:genetics; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000235:genetics*; D014162:Transfection
D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D051416:Focal Adhesion Protein-Tyrosine Kinases