TFF3 mediated induction of VEGF via hypoxia in human gastric cancer SGC-7901 cells

Mol Biol Rep. 2012 Apr;39(4):4127-34. doi: 10.1007/s11033-011-1195-2. Epub 2011 Jul 17.

Abstract

Increasing evidence indicates that in gastric epithelial cells, induction of TFF3 by hypoxia is mediated by HIF-1. Since VEGF is one of the most important angiogenic factors on cancer progression, we have started to investigate the possible link among HIF-1α, VEGF, and TFF3 in gastric cancer cells. We induced the hypoxic condition in SGC-7901cells using hypoxia-mimetic agent of CoCI2. SGC7901 cells were transfected with pcPUR + U6 plasmid carrying RNAi targeted to human TFF3 and selected puromycin-resistant pools to establish the stable knockdown of TFF3 cells. Our results showed the induction of HIF-1a via hypoxia and consequences of increased expressions of the TFF3 and VEGF in gastric cancer SGC-7901 cells. Overexpression of TFF3 upregulated the mRNA expressions of VEGF and HIF-1a induced by hypoxia, and stable knockdown of TFF3 impaired the mRNA upregulations of VEGF and HIF-1a induced by hypoxia. Furthermore, knockdown of TFF3 reduced the VEGF protein secretion: as VEGF secretion was increased time dependent manner in response to the hypoxia induction in TFF3-WT cells; however, VEGF production was significantly decreased in TFF3-KD cells (621 ± 89 vs. 264 ± 73 at 6 h and 969 ± 97 vs. 508 ± 69 at 12 h, P < 0.05). Our data demonstrated the TFF3 mediated regulation of VEGF expression induced by hypoxia, and implicated that TFF3 might be applied as a potential anti-angiogenic target for treatment of gastric cancer.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cell Hypoxia / genetics
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic*
  • Gene Knockdown Techniques
  • Humans
  • Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit / genetics
  • Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit / metabolism
  • Peptides / genetics
  • Peptides / metabolism*
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Stomach Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Trefoil Factor-3
  • Up-Regulation / genetics
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / genetics*
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / metabolism

Substances

  • Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit
  • Peptides
  • RNA, Messenger
  • TFF3 protein, human
  • Trefoil Factor-3
  • VEGFA protein, human
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A