Study of metastasis-related genes in esophageal carcinoma

1.基质金属蛋白酶7(MMP7)的研究1)体外侵袭实验发现，MMP7在KY150细胞中的表达很弱。Northern印迹分析表明，该基因在转染体中的表达增加。侵袭实验表明，侵袭细胞在转染体中的出现频率明显高于亲本细胞(56%比10%)。2)为了确定抗MMP7抗体的作用，我们在培养基中加入了该抗体。结果表明，该抗体对KY150细胞的侵袭能力有明显的抑制作用(56%×16%)。这些结果支持MMP7是影响食管鳞癌侵袭能力的主要蛋白酶之一的假说。2.整合素α6的研究整合素α6在食管鳞癌组织中的表达显著高于正常组织。通过Northern印迹分析和免疫组织化学分析确定这一点。整合素α6高表达的肿瘤具有较深侵袭性和较差的预后。我们正在研究整合素Beta1和Beta4的表达水平。我们还在研究整合素表达与基质金属蛋白酶(MMP7)表达的相关性，因为某些MMPs可能受到与整合素相关的信号转导的调控。

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.