Over-expression of TM4SF1 improves cell metastasis and growth by activating ERK1/2 signaling pathway in human prostate cancer.

PURPOSE

To explore the effects of Transmembrane-4-L-six-family-1 (TM4SF1) in prostate cancer (PCa), and the related underlying mechanisms.

METHODS

PCa tissues were obtained from 78 patients. PCa cell lines DU145 and RWPE-2 were purchased from American Type Culture Collection (ATCC). Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blot were conducted to analyze the expression of TM4SF1 in PCa tissues and DU145 cells. Plasmid containing over-expressed TM4SF1 was achieved by plasmid transfection. Transwell assay and wound-healing assay were designed to examine the invasion and migration of DU145 cells, whereas colony formation assay and 5-Ethynyl-2'- deoxyuridine (EdU) staining assay were performed to study the proliferation ability of DU145 cells.

RESULTS

TM4SF1 was found over-expressed in PCa tissues and DU145 cells. Over-expression of TM4SF1 significantly activated the extracellular regulated protein kinases (ERK)1/2 signaling pathway, increased the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) expression, and enhanced the invasion, migration and proliferation of DU145 cells. Further studies revealed that suppression of ERK1/2 signaling pathway nearly resisted the positive effects on DU145 cells induced by TM4SF1 over-expression.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study demonstrated that TM4SF1 enhanced the invasion, migration and proliferation of DU145 cells by activating ERK1/2 signaling pathway.