Analysis of differentially expressed genes in bile acid-treated liver cancer cells

Abstract

Liver cancer is one of the tumors of digestive system. Bile acids are derivatives of choline acids and play a regulatory role in tumors. However, the gene expression profiles in liver cancer cells after bile acid treatment remain unclear. Human hepatoma cell line SMMC7721 was herein cultured. mRNA expression profile was detected by mRNA suppression subtractive hybridization. SMMC7721 cells were divided into 3 groups: control group, DLC1 (deleted in hepatocellular carcinoma 1) group and DLC1 siRNA group. The expression of DLC1, cell proliferation, cell apoptosis and cell invasion were detected by Transwell chamber method. The expressions of VEGF, MMP-2 and DLC1 were detected by Western blot. After bile acid treatment, DLC1, B-cell receptor-associated protein 31 (BCAP31), extension factor 1-α1 (eEF1a1), cell division cycle 20 (CDC20), WD repeat containing protein 6 (WDR6), extension factor Tu and mitochondria (TUFM) were the most significantly increased genes. DLC1 gene was selected with most significant changes. Overexpression of DLC1 significantly decreased expression of VEGF, MMP-2, and ephrin type-A receptor 2 (EphA2) (P <0.05). Transfection of DLC1 siRNA significantly down-regulated DLC1, promoting cell proliferation, decreasing Caspase3 activity, and increasing cell invasion, expression of VEGF, MMP-2 and EphA2 (P <0.05). Bile acid can cause differential gene expressions in liver cancer cells with DLC1 changes being most significant. DLC1 can influence the invasion and of proliferation hepatoma cells by regulating the expression of VEGF, MMP-2 and EphA2.