Objective: To investigate the effect of downregulation of N-cadherin expression on cell proliferation, cell cycle, cell apoptosis and cell migration in tongue squamous cell carcinoma cell line Tca8113 cells.
Methods: N-cadherin siRNA was transfected into tongue squamous cell carcinoma cell line Tca8113 cells and Tca8113 cells were divided into three groups: untreated group, control siRNA group and N-cadherin siRNA group. The cells were harvested 48 h after transfection with N-cadherin siRNA. Cell proliferation of Tca8113 cells was examined by cell counting kit (CCK)-8 after transfection with N-cadherin, and the effects of downregulation of N-cadherin on cell cycle and cell apoptosis of Tca8113 cells were investigated by flow cytometry. The effect of downregulation of N-cadherin expression on cell migration of Tca8113 cells was observed by Boyden chamber experiment, and further expression changes of gene-related cell proliferation, cell cycle and cell migration were detected by Western blotting.
Results: N-cadherin siRNA downregulated the N-cadherin expression and significantly inhibited cell proliferation of Tca8113 cells (P < 0.05). The results of cell cycle revealed that the percentage of G(0)/G(1) phase in N-cadherin group [(65.41 ± 0.92)%] was significantly higher than that in untreated group [(41.59 ± 1.43)%] or control siRNA group [(43.70 ± 2.08)%], and there was significant difference among the three groups (F = 216.839, P = 0.000). The percentage of cell apoptosis in N-cadherin group [(25.66 ± 1.36)%] was significantly higher than that in untreated group [(2.38 ± 0.14)%] or control siRNA group [(2.81 ± 0.12)%], and there was significant difference among the three groups (F = 850.364, P = 0.000). The cell number migrated into memebrane in N-cadherin group was significantly lower than that in untreated group and control siRNA group, and there was significant difference among the three groups (F = 140.858, P = 0.000). Further, compared with untreated group and control siRNA group, the expressions of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9 proteins were significantly downregulated and expression of p21 protein was significantly upregulated (P < 0.05).
Conclusions: N-cadherin may play a role in occurrence and development of tongue squamous cell carcinoma.