title: Silencing alpha-fetoprotein inhibits VEGF and MMP-2/9 production in human hepatocellular carcinoma cell.
abstract: Alpha-fetoprotein not only serves as a diagnostic marker for liver cancer, but also posses a variety of biological functions. However, the role of Alpha-fetoprotein on tumor angiogenesis and cell invasion remains incompletely understood. In this study, we aimed to evaluate if Alpha-fetoprotein can regulate the major angiogenic factors and matrix metalloproteinases in human liver cancer cells. Alpha-fetoprotein silencing was achieved by Stealth RNAi. Expression of Alpha-fetoprotein was examined by a full-automatic electrochemistry luminescence immunity analyzer. Expression of VEGF, VEGFR-2, MMP-9, and MMP-2 was examined by Western blot and immunocytochemistry. Apoptosis was detected by TUNEL assay. Angiogenesis was detected by in vitro angiogenesis assay kit. Silencing of Alpha-fetoprotein led to an increased apoptosis, which was associated with a decreased expression of vascular endothelial growth factor, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2, matrix metalloproteinases-2/9. These results suggest that Alpha-fetoprotein may play a regulatory role on angiogenesis and cell invasion during liver cancer development.
authors.affiliation: The Second Hospital of Lanzhou University, Key Laboratory of Digestive System Tumors, Gansu Province, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, China ; Special Minimally Invasive Surgery, the First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery Institute of Gansu Province, Clinical Medical College Cancer Center of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China.
authors.forename: Wenbo
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Meng
authors.affiliation: The Second Department of General Surgery, the First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery Institute of Gansu Province, Clinical Medical College Cancer Center of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China.
authors.forename: Xun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: The Second Department of General Surgery, the First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery Institute of Gansu Province, Clinical Medical College Cancer Center of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China.
authors.forename: Zhongtian
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Bai
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, United States of America.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Division of Epidemiology, School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Jinqiu
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.affiliation: The Second Hospital of Lanzhou University, Key Laboratory of Digestive System Tumors, Gansu Province, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, China.
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: The Second Department of General Surgery, the First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery Institute of Gansu Province, Clinical Medical College Cancer Center of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.affiliation: The Second Department of General Surgery, the First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery Institute of Gansu Province, Clinical Medical College Cancer Center of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China.
authors.forename: Wence
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: The Second Department of General Surgery, the First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery Institute of Gansu Province, Clinical Medical College Cancer Center of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China.
authors.forename: Kexiang
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: The Second Department of General Surgery, the First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery Institute of Gansu Province, Clinical Medical College Cancer Center of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China.
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: The Second Hospital of Lanzhou University, Key Laboratory of Digestive System Tumors, Gansu Province, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, China.
authors.forename: Yumin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000235:genetics; D015153:Blotting, Western; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000235:genetics; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D061307:Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D034622:RNA Interference; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins; C000588866:KDR protein, human; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9