Study of metastasis-related genes in esophageal carcinoma

1.基质金属蛋白酶7（MMP 7）的研究1）利用人肺鳞癌细胞株KY 150及其转染MMP cDNA的细胞株进行体外侵袭实验，结果显示：亲代KY 150细胞中MMP 7的表达很弱;另一方面，通过北方印迹分析，其在转染子中的表达增加。侵袭实验表明，转染细胞中的侵袭细胞数明显多于亲本细胞（56%比10%）。2）为了检测抗MMP 7抗体的作用，我们将抗MMP 7抗体加入到培养液中。结果表明，KY 150转染细胞的侵袭能力被抗体显著抑制（56%*16%），这一结果支持了MMP 7是影响食管鳞癌侵袭能力的主要蛋白酶之一的假设。2.整合素α 6的研究整合素α 6在食管癌组织中的表达显著高于正常组织。这通过北方印迹分析和免疫组织化学分析来确定。整合素α 6高表达的肿瘤是那些浸润较深和预后较差的肿瘤。我们正在研究整合素β 1和β 4的表达水平。我们还在研究整合素表达与基质金属蛋白酶7（MMP 7）表达之间的相关性，因为某些MMP可能受到整合素相关信号转导的调节。

1.Study of matrix metalloproteinase 7 (MMP7)1) We performed in vitro invasion assay using squamous carcinoma cell line KY150 and its transfectant with MMP cDNA.The expression of MMP7 in parent KY150 cell was very weak. On the other hand, its expression in transfectant was increasing and determined by Northern blot analysis. The invasion assay demonstrated that the invading cells were much frequently seen in transfectants than in parent cells (56% vs 10%).2) To determine the effect of anti-MMP7 antibody, we added the antibody into the culture medium. Consequently the invading ability of KY150 transfectants was dramatically inhibited by the antibody (56%*16%).These findings support the hypothesis that MMP7 is one of the major proteinases which influence the invading ability of esophageal squamous cell carcinomas.2.Study of integrin alpha6The expression of integrin alpha6 was dramatically increased in tumor tissues rather than normal tissues of the esophagus. This was determined by Northern blot analysis and immunohistochemical analysis. The tumors showing high degree of integrin alpha6 expression were those having deeper invasion and worse prognosis. we are studying the expression level of integrin beta1 and beta4. We are also studying the correlation between integrin expression and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP7) expression because some kind of MMPs may be regulated by signal transduction relating to the integrin.