Inhibition of Vav3 could reverse the drug resistance of gastric cancer cells by downregulating JNK signaling pathway

Cancer Gene Ther. 2014 Dec;21(12):526-31. doi: 10.1038/cgt.2014.59. Epub 2014 Nov 28.

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the effect and mechanism of Vav3 on the multidrug resistance of gastric cancer. Fluorescence quantitative RT-PCR and western blot assay were used to detect Vav3 and drug resistance genes in gastric cancer tissues as well as gastric cell lines such as SGC7901, SGC7901/adriamycin (ADR) and GES-1. Besides, Vav3-specific small interfering RNA (Vav3-siRNA) was applied to inhibit Vav3 in SGC7901/ADR, and SRB assay was used to determine chemosensitivity. After that, drug resistance genes and proteins in MAPK and PI3K/AKT signaling pathway were detected after Vav3-siRNA transfection. The results showed that overexpressed Vav3 was found in gastric cancer tissues and SGC7901 and SGC7901/ADR cells. Activity of SGC7901/ADR cells transfected with Vav3-siRNA combined with 5-fluorouracil/oxaliplatin was much lower than that of control groups, and MDR1/P-gp, GST-π and Bcl-2, Bax genes were significantly downregulated in Vav3-siRNA transfection group. AKT, ERK and p38 total protein and their phosphorylation levels showed no significant change in Vav3-siRNA-transfected SGC7901/ADR cells, whereas the ratio of C-Jun phosphorylation levels to total C-Jun protein was significantly downregulated. The results suggested that Vav3 may play a role in drug resistance of gastric cancer by inhibiting drug resistance genes MDR1/P-gp, GST-π and Bcl-2 through regulating the JNK signaling pathway.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Down-Regulation
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm / genetics*
  • Female
  • Gene Expression
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Gene Knockdown Techniques
  • Gene Silencing
  • Humans
  • MAP Kinase Signaling System*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / metabolism
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-vav / genetics*
  • RNA Interference
  • RNA, Small Interfering / genetics
  • Stomach Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Stomach Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Stomach Neoplasms / pathology

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-vav
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • VAV3 protein, human
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt