Effects of UBE3C on proliferation and invasion in ovarian cancer SKOV3 cells / 上海交通大学学报（医学版）

ABSTRACT

Objective • To explore the effects of ubiquitin protein ligase E3C (UBE3C) on proliferation and invasion in epithelial ovarian cancer SKOV3 cells. Methods • Western blotting was used to detect the expression difference of UBE3C in epithelial ovarian cancer cell lines and normal ovarian cell lines. SKOV3 cells were transfected with si-UBE3C to knockdown UBE3C protein level, while ex-UBE3C plasmid was used to upregulate the expression of UBE3C. Cell proliferation was measured by CCK-8 assay and colony formation assay. Wound healing assay and Transwell assay were performed to investigate the effect of UBE3C on migration and invasion. Protein levels of β-catenin and c-Myc were also detected in different groups, which were closely related to proliferation and invasion. Results • UBE3C was highly expressed in epithelial ovarian cancer cell lines. UBE3C was successfully silenced with si-UBE3C transfection in SKOV3 cells. Inhibition of UBE3C significantly weakened the abilities of cell proliferation, migration and invasion. A reduction of β-catenin and c-Myc protein levels was also accompanied by UBE3C knockdown. Overexpression of UBE3C with ex- UBE3C plasmid promoted the abilities of proliferation, migration and invasion. Enhanced expression levels of β-catenin and c-Myc were also verified. Conclusion • UBE3C promotes proliferation and invasion of epithelial ovarian cancer SKOV3 cells. This might be to do with upregulation of β-catenin and c-Myc protein levels.