Egr-1 promotes cell proliferation and invasion by increasing β-catenin expression in gastric cancer.
BACKGROUND
Abnormal expression of early growth response gene 1 (Egr-1) and β-catenin may play a crucial role in the development and progression of human cancer. However, little is known about the expression and underlying molecular mechanisms in which Egr-1 and β-catenin are involved in the development and progression of gastric cancer.


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to elucidate the potential relationship between Egr-1 and β-catenin expression in gastric cancer, which contributes to finding new molecular carcinogenesis as a potential therapeutic target for gastric cancer.


METHODS
In a sample of 102 cases of human gastric cancer, the expression of Egr-1 and β-catenin was detected using immunohistochemistry. Egr-1 gene was transfected into gastric cancer SGC7901 cells and its role in proliferation and cell invasion was detected by MTT assay, flow cytometry, wound-healing and transwell invasion assay. Western blot analysis was used to study the expression of β-catenin and cyclin D1 proteins.


RESULTS
Upregulated Egr-1 and β-catenin protein expression were strongly correlated with cancer progression and depth of invasion in gastric cancer. β-catenin, present mainly in cytoplasmic and nucleus of gastric cancer cells, was also positively correlated with Egr-1 expression in gastric cancer. Furthermore, the overexpression of Egr-1 upregulated β-catenin expression level, promoted cell proliferation, increased cell population in S-phase and enhanced gastric cancer cell migration and invasion in vitro.


CONCLUSIONS
Egr-1 might contribute to gastric cancer proliferation and invasion through activation of the β-catenin signaling pathway.
Department of Cardiology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 639 Zhizaoju Road, Shanghai, 200011, China.
Ting
T
Sun
Hua
H
Tian
Yu-Guang
YG
Feng
Ya-Qin
YQ
Zhu
Wei-Qian
WQ
Zhang
D000368:Aged; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000502:physiology; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D018450:Disease Progression; D051766:Early Growth Response Protein 1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D014162:Transfection; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D051176:beta Catenin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
C495270:CTNNB1 protein, human; C497325:EGR1 protein, human; D051766:Early Growth Response Protein 1; D051176:beta Catenin