ABSTRACT
Mitochondria are dynamic organelles that continuously divide and fuse. In recent years, in addition to the studies related to mitochondrial metabolism, the unique dynamics of mitochondria have gradually attracted researchers' attention. A growing body of research has revealed that mitochondrial dynamics are related to the biological behavior of tumor cells. Mitochondrial fission proteins (mitochondrial fission protein 1, FIS1) mediate the assembly of mitochondrial fission complexes and participate in the execution of mitochondrial fission. They are important proteins in the process of mitochondrial fusion and fission. However, few studies have revealed the expression and role of FIS1 in human cervical cancer. In this study, the expression level of FIS1 in human cervical cancer tissues and paracancer tissues were compared. The results showed that the level of FIS1 mRNA in human cervical cancer tissues was significantly lower than that in paracancer tissues (P<0. 01). Further KEGG pathway and GO Term-BP pathway analysis showed that the differential genes are mainly related to mitochondrial biological functions. Subsequently, HeLa cells with overexpressed FIS1 were investigated for their proliferation, migration, mitochondrial fission and ROS levels. The experimental results showed that FIS1 overexpression decreased HeLa cell proliferation and migration ability, enhanced mitochondrial fission and higher ROS levels. In conclusion, the expression of FIS1 in human cervical cancer cells was attenuated, while overexpression of FIS1 resulted in a series of abnormal biological functions in human cervical cancer cells. Further studies can be carried out to investigate the role of FIS1 in the treatment of human cervical cancer.
ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>This study was designed to investigate the expression and significance of NET-1 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and analyze the relationship between NET-1 gene expression and clinicopathologic factors in HCC.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>NET-1 gene protein expression was detected by Western blot, fluorescence immunocytochemistry, confocal laser scanning microscopy and immunohistochemistry in 8 cases of HCC tissues, human hepatoma cell line SMMC-7721, and paraffin-embeded sections from 130 cases of HCC.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>NET-1 gene protein expressed in 8 cases of HCC tissues by Western blot. The NET-1 gene protein positively located in the cytoplasm as irregular granules near Golgi apparatus in SMMC-7721cells, detected by fluorescent immunocytochemistry and observed by confocal laser scanning microscopy. The positive rate of NET-1 protein expression revealed by immunohistochemistry was 96.9% in HCC (126/130). NET-1 Protein expression in HCC was clearly correlative with HCC cytological variants, there were pronounced higher expressions in clear cell type, pleomorphic cell type, and sarcomatous change than that in hepatocytic type (P < 0.05). NET-1 Protein expression in HCC was positively correlative with the histopathologic grading, clinical stages and HCC with hepatitis and cirrhosis (P < 0.05), respectively, and negatively correlated with the presence of patches of necrosis (P < 0.05). But NET-1 protein expression was not associated with AFP level, tumor size and growth patterns, respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>NET-1 protein is expressed in cytoplasm of HCC cells as irregular granules near Golgi apparatus. NET-1 gene expression may promote the uncontrolled proliferation and abnormal differentiation in HCC cells.</p>