KLK4 silencing inhibits the growth of oral squamous cell carcinoma through Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.
Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a malignancy that largely impacts the quality of people's daily life. Kallikrein-related peptidase 4 (KLK4) is highly expressed in OSCC; however, its roles in OSCC cells are unclear. In the present study, the effect of KLK4 silencing on the growth of OSCC cells was investigated. Our study showed that the proliferation and colony formation of OSCC cells was inhibited by KLK4 silencing and their cell cycle was arrested. Additionally, apoptosis of OSCC cells was enhanced by KLK4 silencing, with increased protein levels of cleaved PARP, cleaved caspase-3, Bax and decreased levels of Bcl-2. KLK4 silencing inhibited the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, as evidence by decreased protein levels of Wnt1, β-catenin, reduced GSK-3β phosphorylation as well as decreased levels of cyclinD1 and c-myc proteins. We further showed that Wnt/β-catenin activator reversed the effects of KLK4 silencing on the proliferation and apoptosis of OSCC cells. We concluded that KLK4 silencing inhibited the growth of OSCC cells through Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, suggesting that KLK4 may become a promising therapeutic target for the treatment of OSCC.
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Stomatology, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, People's Republic of China.
Zhi
Z
Cui
Department of Orthodontics, School of Stomatology, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, People's Republic of China.
Ye
Y
Cui
Department of Prosthodontics, School of Stomatology, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, People's Republic of China.
Shuting
S
Yang
Department of Orthodontics, School of Stomatology, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, People's Republic of China.
Gan
G
Luo
Department of Orthodontics, School of Stomatology, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, People's Republic of China.
Yang
Y
Wang
Department of Orthodontics, School of Stomatology, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, People's Republic of China.
Yixin
Y
Lou
Department of Orthodontics, School of Stomatology, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, People's Republic of China.
Xinhua
X
Sun
D017209:Apoptosis; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D019938:Cyclin D1 / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007610:Kallikreins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D016271:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / Q000378:metabolism; D034622:RNA Interference; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000235:genetics; D060449:Wnt Signaling Pathway
C530104:CCND1 protein, human; C489427:MYC protein, human; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen; D016271:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D019938:Cyclin D1; D007610:Kallikreins; C120801:kallikrein 4
Wnt/β-catenin; apoptosis; cell cycle; kallikrein-related peptidase 4; oral squamous cell carcinoma; proliferation