Expression of pyrroline-5-carpoxylate reductase-1 in colon cancer and its role in tumor cell proliferation, migration and invasion

Abstract

Objective To investigate the expression of pyrroline-5-carpoxylate reductase-1 (PYCR1) in colon cancer and the effect of PYCR1 silencing on the proliferation, migration and invasion of colon cancer cells in vitro. Methods We examined the expression of PYCR1 in clinical specimens of colorectal tissues and adjacent tissues and in 4 colorectal cell lines using RT-qPCR, immunohischemistry or Western blotting. Two colorectal cancer cell lines HCT116 and SW480 were transfected with a recombinant plasmid carrying short hairpin RNA (shRNA) targeting PYCR1, and the changes in the cell proliferation, migration and invasion were detected using CCK8 assay, colony formation assay and Transwell assay. The expression levels of the proteins associated with epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) were also examined in the transfected cells using Western blotting. Results PYCR1 was highly expressed in colorectal tissues. PYCR1 silencing mediated by the specific shRNA in the 2 colorectal cancer cell lines significantly suppressed the cell proliferation and lowered the migration and invasion abilities of the cells (P < 0.05), resulting in also an increased expression of E-cadherin (P < 0.05) but lowered expression of N-cadherin, vimentin, β-catenin and c-Myc (P < 0.05). Conclusion PYCR1 is highly expressed in colorectal tissues. Knocking down PYCR1 significantly inhibits the proliferation, migration and invasion of colorectal cancer cells in vitro.

Keywords

• pyrroline-5-carpoxylate reductase-1
• colorectal cancer
• proliferation
• migration
• invasion