title: Knockdown of Legumain Suppresses Cervical Cancer Cell Migration and Invasion.
abstract: Cervical cancer is the second leading type of cancer in women living in less developed countries. The pathological and molecular mechanisms of cervical cancer are not comprehensively known. Though legumain has been found to be highly expressed in various types of solid tumors, its expression and biological function in cervical cancer remain unknown. In this study, we aimed to investigate legumain expression and functions in cervical cancer. We found that legumain was highly expressed in cervical cancer cells. When knocked down, legumain expression in HeLa and SiHa cells significantly reduced its migration and invasion abilities compared with control cells. Furthermore, legumain silencing suppressed the activation of matrix metalloproteases (MMP2 and MMP3) in cervical cancer cells. This study indicates that legumain might play an important role in cervical cancer cell migration and invasion. Legumain might be a potential therapeutic target for cervical cancer therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Affiliated Hospital of Shenyang Medical Center, Shenyang, China.
authors.forename: Fei
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Meng
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D002465:Cell Movement; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D055785:Gene Knockdown Techniques; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D019278:Matrix Metalloproteinase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D000099240:Asparaginyl Endopeptidase
chemical_list: D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D019278:Matrix Metalloproteinase 3; D000099240:Asparaginyl Endopeptidase; C511768:MMP3 protein, human; C522361:MMP2 protein, human