ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the expression of methionine sulfoxide reductase (MsrA) in colorectal cancer stem cells and its association with the tumorigenesis and progression of colorectal cancer.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The CD133⁺/CD44⁺/ESA⁺ subpopulation of colorectal cancer cell line SW480 was obtained by magnetic activated cell sorting (MACS). The expression of MsrA, VEGF, MMP-13 and CXCR4 in the cancer cells, cancer stem cells and normal colon mucosa cells were detected using RT-PCR. The proliferation of colorectal cancer stem cells was evaluated with MTT assay.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The expression of MsrA was significantly higher in cancer stem cells than in the cancer cells and normal mucosa cells. Overexpression of MsrA inhibited the proliferation of colorectal cancer stem cells and down-regulated the expression of VEGF, MMP-13 and CXCR4.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>MsrA suppresses the tumorigenesis and progression of colorectal cancer cells possibly by inhibiting cell proliferation and down-regulating VEGF, MMP-13 and CXCR4.</p>