Growth differentiation factor 15 promotes cell viability, invasion, migration, and angiogenesis in human liver carcinoma cell line HepG2.
OBJECTIVE
This study was aimed to explore the role of growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).


METHODS
Human liver carcinoma cell line HepG2 was used and transfected with vector and/or short hairpin RNA (shRNA) against GDF15. Then, the transfection efficiency was ascertained by real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot. Cell viability was measured by 3-(4, 5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT). Cell invasion and migration were measured by Transwell assay and Scratch assay. In addition, human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) tube formation assay was performed to analysis the angiogenesis. Further, the protein expressions of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related factors were measured by Western blot.


RESULTS
We found that GDF15 overexpression significantly facilitated cell viability, cell invasion, migration, and angiogenesis (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The protein expressions of N-Cadherin, Vimentin and Twist1 were up-regulated by GDF15 overexpression, while E-Cadherin was down-regulated. Reciprocally, using a GDF15-shRNA strategy, we observed that GDF15 downregulation inhibited both basal and GDF15-induced cell viability, migration, invasion and angiogenesis in HepG2 cells.


CONCLUSIONS
GDF15 could promote cell viability, invasion, migration, and angiogenesis of HepG2 cells. GDF15 overexpression might be a potential risk factor of HCC.
The Second Department of General Surgery, Cangzhou Central Hospital, No. 16 Xinhua West Road, 061000 Cangzhou, Hebei, China. Electronic address: wangliang11030@126.com.
Liang
L
Wang
The Second Department of General Surgery, Cangzhou Central Hospital, No. 16 Xinhua West Road, 061000 Cangzhou, Hebei, China.
Yagang
Y
Liu
The Second Department of General Surgery, Cangzhou Central Hospital, No. 16 Xinhua West Road, 061000 Cangzhou, Hebei, China.
Wei
W
Li
The Second Department of General Surgery, Cangzhou Central Hospital, No. 16 Xinhua West Road, 061000 Cangzhou, Hebei, China.
Zhe
Z
Song
D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000473:pathology*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002470:Cell Survival; D055436:Growth Differentiation Factor 15 / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic
C526140:GDF15 protein, human; D055436:Growth Differentiation Factor 15