ZEB1-mediated EZH2 overexpression promotes induction of autophagy via PTEN in colorectal cancer / 重庆医学

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate whether EZH2 participates in the process of authphagy and its regulatory mechanism in CRC (colorectal cancer) .Methods ZEB1 ,EZH2 and PTEN expression were measured by Western blot and immunohistochemistry respectively .ZEB1 ,EZH2 and PTEN mRNA level were measured by real-time PCR .Electron microscopy was introduced to validate the existence of autophagy .Results Knockdown of EZH2 induced the formation of autophagosome in colorectal cancer cell lines , which was evident on electron microscopy .Furthermore ,Western Blot and real-time PCR data showed that ZEB1 and EZH2 may regulate the expression of PTEN ,which played a vital role in autophagy .Moreover ,downregulation of ZEB1 significantly reduced the expression of EZH2 .An inverse correlation between the expression of EZH2 and ZEB1 ,and the expression of PTEN was also revealed in CRC tissues ,when compared with normal tissue in patients .Conclusion The impact of EZH2 on autophagy via PTEN during CRC carcinogenesis is revealed .At the same time ,EZH2 expression may be regulated by ZEB1 in colorectal cancer .