Knockdown of E2F8 Suppresses Cell Proliferation in Colon Cancer Cells by Modulating the NF-κB Pathway.

OBJECTIVE

E2F8, one of the E2F transcription factor family members, has been demonstrated to be involved in the development and progression of several human cancers; however, the physiological and functional roles of E2F8 in colorectal cancer are not fully elucidated.

METHODS

experiments were performed using multiple human colon cancer cells lines and generating cell knockdown E2F8 using viral vectors. The expression of mRNA and proteins were measured by quantitative reverse transcription PCR and western blotting.

RESULTS

Our results suggest that E2F8 expression is induced in several colon cancer cell lines. The forced downregulation of E2F8 expression inhibits the growth of colon cancer cells. Our findings indicate that knocking down E2F8 can suppress nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) activation. We further determine that knocking down E2F8 decreased the expression of cell cycle regulators.

CONCLUSIONS

These results demonstrate that E2F8 modulates the growth of human colon cancer cells through promoting the NF-κB pathway.