ABSTRACT
Objective:To explore the effect of knockdown of the homeobox gene paired-box 6 ( Pax6) on the biological behavior and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of human lens epithelial cells (LECs). Methods:The SRA01/04 human LECs were divided into small interfering RNA-Pax6 (siRNA-Pax6) group transfected with siRNA-Pax6 and siRNA negative control (siRNA-NC) group transfected with disordered siRNA.Cell survival rate was detected by cell counting kit-8 method at 24, 48 and 72 hours after transfection.Cell cycle distribution and apoptosis were analyzed by flow cytometry at 48 hours after transfection.Migratory capability of cells was examined by cell scratch test at 24 hours after transfection.The mRNA relative expression levels of Pax6, α-crystallin A (CRYAA), α-crystallin B (CRYAB), Sox2, α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and E-cadherin were detected by quantitative real-time PCR at 48 hours after transfection.The relative expression of Pax6 protein was detected by Western blot at 48 hours after transfection.Results:There was a significant difference in cell survival rates at different time points between the two groups ( Fgroup=4.776, P<0.05; Ftime=13.535, P<0.05). The cell survival rate of siRNA-Pax6 group was obviously lower than that of siRNA-NC group at 48 and 72 hours after transfection, and the differences were statistically significant (both at P<0.05). Compared with siRNA-NC group, the proportion of cells in G 0/G 1 phase was significantly increased and the proportion of cells in S phase was significantly reduced in siRNA-Pax6 group ( t=9.971, -5.063; both at P<0.05). The cell migration rate of siRNA-Pax6 group was (19.73±6.07)%, which was lower than (70.56±2.97)% of siRNA-NC group, showing a statistically significant difference ( t=-7.245, P<0.05). The relative expressions of Sox2 mRNA and α-SMA mRNA were lower, and the relative expression of E-cadherin mRNA was higher in siRNA-Pax6 group than siRNA-NC group, with statistically significant differences between them ( t=-23.254, -5.294, 6.062; all at P<0.01). The relative expression of CRYAA mRNA and CRYAB mRNA was significantly higher in siRNA-Pax6 group than siRNA-NC group, and the differences were statistically significant ( t=5.521, 8.270; both at P<0.01). The relative expressions of Pax6 mRNA and protein in siRNA-Pax6 group were 0.27±0.01 and 0.24±0.05, respectively, which were both lower than 1.00±0.05 and 1.14±0.10 in siRNA-NC group, showing statistically significant differences ( t=-14.456, -4.458; both at P<0.001). Conclusions:Silence of Pax6 can suppress the proliferation and EMT of human LECs and enhance the expression of crystallin.
ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the role of methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MeCP2) in the regulation and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of human lens epithelial cells (LECs) and its possible mechanism.Methods Human LEC lines (SRA01/04) were divided into MeCP2-mimic group,MeCP2-NC group and small interferening RNA-MeCP2 (si-MeCP2) group,and MeCP2 analog plasmid,blank plasmid and MeCP2 si-RNA plasmid was used respectively to transfect the cells.The expression of MeCP2 mRNA in the cells was detected by using real-time PCR 24 hours after transfection.At 48 hours after transfection,the migration rate of the cells was evaluated by scratching test,and the expression of Wnt3a protein in the cells was detected by immunofluorescence stainning.The relative expressions of β-catenin,E-cadherin,Vimentin,matrix metallo proteinase (MMP)-9,MMP-7 and secreted frizzled-related protein 5 (SFRP5) proteins in the cells were detected by Western blot.Results After 24 hours of transfection,the relative expression of MeCP2 mRNA in the cells was significantly different among the MeCP2-mimic group,MeCP2-NC group and si-MeCP2 group (F =4 773.00,P＜0.00 1).The migrating rate of the cells in the MeCP2-mimic group,MeCP2-NC group and si-MeCP2 group was (57.45±5.20)％,(32.71± 10.02)％ and (17.77±9.22)％,respectively,showing a significant difference among the three groups (F=124.00,P＜0.001),and the migrating rate of the cells in the si-MeCP2 group was significantly lower than that of the MeCP2-mimic group or MeCP2-NC group (both at P＜0.001).The relative expressing intensity (absorbance) of Wnt3a in the cells of the MeCP2-mimic group,MeCP2-NC group and si-MeCP2 group was 75.92 ± 6.10,52.03 ± 5.22 and 28.75 ± 3.39,respectively,with a significant difference among three the groups (F=221.30,P＜0.001),and the relative expressing intensity (absorbance) of Wnt3a in the cells was significantly lower in the si-MeCP2-mimic group than that of the MeCP2-NC group and MeCP2-mimic group (both at P＜0.001).The relative expressing level of E-cadherin protein was significantly elevated and the expressions of β-catenin,Vimentin,MMP-9 and MMP-7 were significantly reduced in the si-MeCP2 group compared with the MeCP2-mimnic group and MeCP2-NC group (all at P＜O.01).The relative expressing level of SFRP5 protein in the MeCP2-mimic group,MeCP2-NC group and si-MeCP2 group was 27.19± 0.03,47.54±0.05 and 74.93±0.05,respectively,showing a statistical difference among the three groups (F =183.49,P＜0.001),and the relative expressing level of SFRP5 in the si-MeCP2 group was significantly higher than that in the MeCP2-mimic group and MeCP2-NC group (both at P＜0.001).Conclusions MeCP2C can promote EMT of human LECs by down-regulating the expression of SFRP5 and therefore activating the Wnt3a/β-catenin signal pathway.
ABSTRACT
Objective@#To investigate the role of methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MeCP2) in the regulation and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of human lens epithelial cells (LECs) and its possible mechanism.@*Methods@#Human LEC lines (SRA01/04) were divided into MeCP2-mimic group, MeCP2-NC group and small interferening RNA-MeCP2 (si-MeCP2) group, and MeCP2 analog plasmid, blank plasmid and MeCP2 si-RNA plasmid was used respectively to transfect the cells.The expression of MeCP2 mRNA in the cells was detected by using real-time PCR 24 hours after transfection.At 48 hours after transfection, the migration rate of the cells was evaluated by scratching test, and the expression of Wnt3a protein in the cells was detected by immunofluorescence stainning.The relative expressions of β-catenin, E-cadherin, Vimentin, matrix metallo proteinase (MMP)-9, MMP-7 and secreted frizzled-related protein 5 (SFRP5) proteins in the cells were detected by Western blot.@*Results@#After 24 hours of transfection, the relative expression of MeCP2 mRNA in the cells was significantly different among the MeCP2-mimic group, MeCP2-NC group and si-MeCP2 group (F=4 773.00, P<0.00 1). The migrating rate of the cells in the MeCP2-mimic group, MeCP2-NC group and si-MeCP2 group was (57.45±5.20)%, (32.71±10.02)% and (17.77±9.22)%, respectively, showing a significant difference among the three groups (F=124.00, P<0.001), and the migrating rate of the cells in the si-MeCP2 group was significantly lower than that of the MeCP2-mimic group or MeCP2-NC group (both at P<0.001). The relative expressing intensity (absorbance) of Wnt3a in the cells of the MeCP2-mimic group, MeCP2-NC group and si-MeCP2 group was 75.92±6.10, 52.03±5.22 and 28.75±3.39, respectively, with a significant difference among three the groups (F=221.30, P<0.001), and the relative expressing intensity (absorbance) of Wnt3a in the cells was significantly lower in the si-MeCP2-mimic group than that of the MeCP2-NC group and MeCP2-mimic group (both at P<0.001). The relative expressing level of E-cadherin protein was significantly elevated and the expressions of β-catenin, Vimentin, MMP-9 and MMP-7 were significantly reduced in the si-MeCP2 group compared with the MeCP2-mimnic group and MeCP2-NC group (all at P<0.01). The relative expressing level of SFRP5 protein in the MeCP2-mimic group, MeCP2-NC group and si-MeCP2 group was 27.19±0.03, 47.54±0.05 and 74.93±0.05, respectively, showing a statistical difference among the three groups (F=183.49, P<0.001), and the relative expressing level of SFRP5 in the si-MeCP2 group was significantly higher than that in the MeCP2-mimic group and MeCP2-NC group (both at P<0.001).@*Conclusions@#MeCP2C can promote EMT of human LECs by down-regulating the expression of SFRP5 and therefore activating the Wnt3a/β-catenin signal pathway.