Zhao Jingzhu, Yun Xinwei, Ruan Xianhui, Chi Jiadong, Yu Yang, Li Yigong, Zheng Xiangqian, Gao Ming
Department of Thyroid and Neck Tumor, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin 300060, PR China,
Onco Targets Ther. 2019 Feb 18;12:1309-1318. doi: 10.2147/OTT.S184560. eCollection 2019.
NUCB2, a novel multifunctional protein containing several functional domains, was newly found to play important roles in many cancers, but its role in papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) is not well investigated. Therefore, our study was performed to explore the functions of NUCB2 in PTC.
NUCB2 protein level was analyzed by immunohistochemistry. Data analyses were made by performing chi-squared test. Quantitative reverse-transcription PCR, Western blot, colony formation, MTT, and transwell invasion assays were performed to test the expression levels and functions of NUCB2 in PTC.
In PTC tissues, NUCB2 protein expression level was positively correlated with extrathyroidal extension, TNM stage, and tumor size of PTC patients. In vitro experiments demonstrated that knockdown of NUCB2 using specific shRNA for NUCB2 significantly impaired cell proliferation and invasion of PTC cell lines. In vivo, silencing of NUCB2 inhibited the growth of tumors in mice.
These results suggested a novel function of NUCB2 in the process of proliferation and invasion in PTC. NUCB2 may be considered a potent prognostic factor in PTC.
NUCB2是一种新发现的含有多个功能域的多功能蛋白，在多种癌症中发挥重要作用，但其在甲状腺乳头状癌（PTC）中的作用尚未得到充分研究。因此，我们开展本研究以探索NUCB2在PTC中的功能。
采用免疫组织化学法分析NUCB2蛋白水平。通过卡方检验进行数据分析。进行定量逆转录PCR、蛋白质印迹法、集落形成实验、MTT实验和Transwell侵袭实验，以检测NUCB2在PTC中的表达水平和功能。
在PTC组织中，NUCB2蛋白表达水平与PTC患者的甲状腺外侵犯、TNM分期和肿瘤大小呈正相关。体外实验表明，使用针对NUCB2的特异性短发夹RNA（shRNA）敲低NUCB2可显著损害PTC细胞系的细胞增殖和侵袭能力。在体内，沉默NUCB2可抑制小鼠肿瘤生长。
这些结果提示NUCB2在PTC的增殖和侵袭过程中具有新功能。NUCB2可能被视为PTC的一个有力预后因素。
