title: LGR5 promotes the proliferation of colorectal cancer cells via the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.
abstract: Leucine-rich repeat-containing G-protein coupled receptor 5 (LGR5) is an established cancer stem cell marker and is a target gene of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, a critical pathway in the process of tumor initiation and growth. In the present study, the mRNA expression levels of LGR5, adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) and β-catenin were detected in 20 colorectal cancer (CRC) tissues and matched healthy mucosa samples using reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction. HT-29 CRC cell line was treated with siRNA-Lgr5; the APC, β-catenin and LGR5 RNA expressions were detected and cell viability was measured using a CCK8 assay. The results revealed that LGR5 was significantly overexpressed in CRC tissue compared with healthy mucosa (P<0.05). Furthermore, knockdown of LGR5 by small interfering RNA decreased the expression of APC and β-catenin in HT29 colon cancer cells as well as inhibited the proliferation of HT29 cells. These findings demonstrated that LGR5 expression is critical for the promotion of neoplastic CRC cell proliferation, indicating that LGR5 may be a novel therapeutic target for CRC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Colorectal Surgery, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, P.R. China ; Department of Colorectal Surgery, Union Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350001, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Y U
authors.initials: YU
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Department of Colorectal Surgery, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Tingyu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Colorectal Surgery, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Qianqian
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.affiliation: Department of Colorectal Surgery, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Shuming
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zi
authors.affiliation: Department of Colorectal Surgery, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, P.R. China ; Shanghai Colorectal Cancer Research Centre, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Long
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.affiliation: Department of Colorectal Surgery, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Colorectal Surgery, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, P.R. China ; Shanghai Colorectal Cancer Research Centre, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Jinming
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
keywords: Wnt/β-catenin signaling; colorectal cancer; leucine-rich repeat-containing G-protein coupled receptor 5; small interfering RNA