title: The Rho GTPase RhoE exerts tumor-suppressing effects in human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma via negatively regulating epidermal growth factor receptor.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to investigate the expression pattern, functions, and possible mechanisms of RhoE/Rnd3, a novel member of the Rho GTPases family, in human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) cells by using molecular and cell-based experiments.
  
  
  METHODS
  Quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting were carried out to determine the mRNA and protein expression of RhoE in ESCC cell lines, respectively. Both 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5diphenyltetrazoliumbromide (MTT) and flow cytometry were applied to evaluate the effects of RhoE overexpression on ESCC cell growth and apoptosis. Furthermore, Western blotting was used to test the expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and phosphorylated-extracellular signal-regulated kinase (p-ERK) in ESCC cells after RhoE was forced and expressed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  RhoE was downregulated in human ESCC tissues. Overexpression of RhoE inhibited cell growth as assessed by MTT assay and induced apoptosis. Importantly, we proved that RhoE could negatively regulate the protein expression of EGFR and p-ERK, suggesting that RhoE might inhibit ESCC progression through the EGFR/ERK pathway.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data supported that RhoE could inhibit cell proliferation and promote apoptosis. Moreover, these tumor-suppressing effects might be acted through the negative regulation of EGFR/ERK signaling.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Henan University Huaihe Hospital, Kaifeng, Henan 475000, China.
authors.forename: Haojie
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Henan University Huaihe Hospital, Kaifeng, Henan 475000, China.
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Henan University Huaihe Hospital, Kaifeng, Henan 475000, China.
authors.forename: Bing
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Henan University Huaihe Hospital, Kaifeng, Henan 475000, China.
authors.forename: Fei
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Henan University Huaihe Hospital, Kaifeng, Henan 475000, China.
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Henan University Huaihe Hospital, Kaifeng, Henan 475000, China.
authors.forename: Jianbo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Che
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Henan University Huaihe Hospital, Kaifeng, Henan 475000, China.
authors.forename: Xiaohui
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Henan University Huaihe Hospital, Kaifeng, Henan 475000, China.
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Henan University Huaihe Hospital, Kaifeng, Henan 475000, China.
authors.forename: Gongning
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Shi
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000235:genetics; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D015536:Down-Regulation; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000378:metabolism*; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D000077277:Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D015398:Signal Transduction; D020741:rho GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases; C508705:RND3 protein, human; D020741:rho GTP-Binding Proteins