title: VEGF is essential for the growth and migration of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells.
abstract: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) plays a crucial role in tumor angiogenesis. VEGF induces new vessel formation and tumor growth by inducing mitogenesis and chemotaxis of normal endothelial cells and increasing vascular permeability. However, little is known about VEGF function in the proliferation, survival or migration of hepatocellular carcinoma cells (HCC). In the present study, we have found that VEGF receptors are expressed in HCC line BEL7402 and human HCC specimens. Importantly, VEGF receptor expression correlates with the development of the carcinoma. By using a comprehensive approaches including TUNEL assay, transwell and wound healing assays, migration and invasion assays, adhesion assay, western blot and quantitative RT-PCR, we have shown that knockdown of VEGF165 expression by shRNA inhibits the proliferation, migration, survival and adhesion ability of BEL7402. Knockdown of VEGF165 decreased the expression of NF-κB p65 and PKCα while increased the expression of p53 signaling molecules, suggesting that VEGF functions in HCC proliferation and migration are mediated by P65, PKCα and/or p53.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology and Institute of Clinical Medicine, Renmin Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, 442000, Hubei, China.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jia-Ning
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jun-Ming
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Xia
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Kong
authors.forename: Jian-Ye
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Fei
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Ling-Yun
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Yong-Zhang
authors.initials: YZ
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.forename: Shu-Fen
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Chang-Hai
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Tuo
authors.forename: Hong-Li
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Shi-You
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology*; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002465:Cell Movement; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002470:Cell Survival; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology*; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D051571:Protein Kinase C-alpha / Q000378:metabolism; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000378:metabolism; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000378:metabolism; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor; D051571:Protein Kinase C-alpha