Abstract:
Objective To study the role of ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme E2O (UBE2O) in the proliferation, cell cycle, migration, and invasion of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells.
Methods CCK-8 assay and flow cytometry were used to detect the effects of UBE2O on A549 cell proliferation, cell cycle, and apoptosis by inhibiting UBE2O gene expression through lentivirus-mediated shRNA targeting in the human NSCLC cell line A549. Transwell assay was used to examine the effect of UBE2O downregulation on the migration and invasion of A549 cells. Western blot was used to detect the expression of E-cadherin and N-cadherin, which are epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers and the main proteins of the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway.
Results The mRNA and protein expression levels of UBE2O in A549 cells were downregulated (P < 0.01). CCK-8 assay showed that UBE2O silencing inhibited the proliferation of A549 cells (P < 0.001). Transwell assay showed that UBE2O knockdown inhibited the migration and invasion of A549 cells (P < 0.001). Western blot showed that UBE2O downregulation increased E-cadherin expression and decreased p-PI3K and p-Akt expression in A549 cells.
Conclusions UBE2O overexpression promotes the invasion and migration of NSCLC cells by inducing EMT and activating the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway.