Expression Of Transcription Factor 21 (TCF21) And Its Effect On Invasion And Metastasis In Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

BackgroundTranscription factor 21(TCF21),a member of basic helix-loop-helix family,has been identified as a tumor suppressor widely.However,none of studies have reported its expression and clinical significance in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma(ESCC).ObjectiveTo investigate the expression and biological functions of TCF21 and explore its potential mechanism in ESCC,and to provide a novel basis for clinical therapeutics of ESCC.Methods1.Gene and protein expressions of TCF21 and its clinical significance in esophageal carcinomas and paracancerous tissues were detected by qPCR and immunohistochemistry.2.qPCR was used to screen low expression of TCF21 in ESCC cell lines which were then infected by lentivirus.Experimental groups were divided into lentivirus RNA overexpression of TCF21(LV-TCF21)groupand a negative control lentiviral vector(LV-NC)group.3.Fluorescence microscope was used to determine the transduction efficiencies of lentiviral,RT-PCR and western blot analysis were performed to verify the transfection efficiency of lentivirus.4.CCK-8 and cell proliferation assay were performed to investigate the effect of target gene on cell proliferation.5.Scratch assay and Transwell assay were used to detect the effect of target gene on migration and invasion.6.Western blot was used to explore the effect of target genes on epithelial mesenchymal transition related proteins.7.SPSS21.0 for statistical data analysis.Results1.TCF21 expressed differentially in both gene and protein levels in ESCC and adjacent tissues,and it was highly expressed in the paracancerous tissues.High expression of TCF21 indicated a better prognosis.2.TCF21 was successfully overexpressed in esophageal cancer cell lines TE10 and KYSE510.3.Compared with the LV-NC,overexpression of TCF21 significantly inhibited the proliferation,migration and invasion of tumor cells.4.Overexpression of TCF21 promoted the expression of KISS-1 and reversed the expression of epithelial mesenchymal transition(EMT)relatedproteins.ConclusionsThis experiment confirms that TCF21 is low expressed in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma,overexpression of TCF21 can inhibit the biological function of tumor cells,and preliminarily explain the potential mechanism of TCF21.Therefore,TCF21 may be used as a potential target for the treatment of esophageal cancer.