Overexpression of FYN suppresses the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition through down-regulating PI3K/AKT pathway in lung adenocarcinoma

Surg Oncol. 2020 Jun:33:108-117. doi: 10.1016/j.suronc.2020.02.002. Epub 2020 Feb 6.

Abstract

Background: Tyrosine-protein kinase Fyn (FYN) plays a crucial role in Src family, which participates in the signal transduction of brain nerves and the development and activation of T lymphocytes in physiological conditions. We probed into the roles and mechanisms of FYN in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD).

Methods: Cell activity, apoptosis, invasion, and migration were detected by CCK-8, FCM, transwell, and wound-healing assays, respectively. The angiogenesis capacity was evaluated by in vitro angiogenesis test. Relative mRNA and protein expressions were determined by qRT-PCR, Western blot, and immunohistochemistry assays, respectively. Insulin-like growth factors-I (IGF-I) was used as an agonist of PI3K/AKT pathway.

Results: We demonstrated that FYN expression correlated with LUAD prognosis and was down-regulated in LUAD tissues and LUAD cells. Overexpression of FYN suppressed the cell viability, together with invasion and migration abilities of A549 cells. FYN overexpression accelerated the cell apoptosis and reduced the angiogenesis capacity of A549 cells. Overexpression of FYN suppressed E-cadherin, Vimentin, Snail, and PI3K/AKT expressions in A549 cells. High expression level of FYN reduced the migration and invasion capacities of A549 cells via down-regulating the PI3K/AKT pathway.

Conclusion: Collectively, our findings reveal that overexpression of FYN inhibits the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) through down-regulating the PI3K/AKT pathway in A549 cells.

Keywords: A549; AKT; FYN; IGF-I; Lung adenocarcinoma; PI3K.

MeSH terms

  • A549 Cells
  • Adenocarcinoma of Lung / genetics*
  • Adenocarcinoma of Lung / metabolism
  • Adenocarcinoma of Lung / pathology
  • Antigens, CD / genetics
  • Antigens, CD / metabolism
  • Apoptosis / genetics
  • Cadherins / genetics
  • Cadherins / metabolism
  • Cell Movement
  • Cell Survival
  • Down-Regulation
  • Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition / genetics*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Lung Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Lung Neoplasms / pathology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / genetics
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / metabolism
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / metabolism
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fyn / genetics*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fyn / metabolism
  • Snail Family Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Snail Family Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Vimentin / genetics
  • Vimentin / metabolism

Substances

  • Antigens, CD
  • CDH1 protein, human
  • Cadherins
  • SNAI1 protein, human
  • Snail Family Transcription Factors
  • VIM protein, human
  • Vimentin
  • FYN protein, human
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fyn
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt