ABSTRACT
Aims: This study explores the effects of curcumin as a therapeutic agent against oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Methods: We acquired the targets of curcumin from three digital databases, including the Comparative Toxicogenomics Database, Search Tool for Interactions of Chemicals, and SwissTargetPrediction. Then, we identified the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and the weighted gene coexpression network analysis-based key modules using the expression profiles of GSE23558 to acquire the OSCC-related genes. Additionally, the GeneCards and Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man databases were also used to identify the OSCC-related genes. Finally, curcumin-OSCC interaction genes were obtained by overlapping curcumin targets and OSCC-related genes. The enrichment analysis was performed by the ClusterProfiler algorithm and Metascape, respectively. Then, a protein-protein interaction network was created, and the maximal clique centrality algorithm was used to identify the top 10 hub genes. Besides, we examined the expression levels of hub genes in OSCC using The Cancer Genome Atlas database. Results: 927 DEGs were identified, including 308 upregulated ones and 619 downregulated ones. The cluster one-step network construction function of the WGCNA algorithm recognized a soft-thresholding power of 6, and 9083 genes were acquired. 2591 OSCC-related genes were obtained by overlapping the GSE23558-identified genes and the OSCC-related genes from disease target bases. Finally, we identified 70 candidate drug-disease interaction genes by overlapping the disease-related genes with the curcumin target. The enrichment analysis suggested that response to oxidative stress, epithelial cell proliferation, and AGE/RAGE pathway might involve in the effect of curcumin on OSCC. The topologic study identified the ten hub genes, including VEGFA, AKT1, TNF, HIF1A, EGFR, JUN, STAT3, MMP9, EGF, and MAPK3. A significant difference was observed in VEGFA, AKT1, TNF, HIF1A, EGFR, MMP9, EGF, and MAPK3 expression levels between head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and the normal controls. However, no significant difference was observed in JUN (P = 0.14) and STAT3 (P = 0.054). Conclusion: This study provided an overview and basis for the potential mechanism of curcumin against OSCC. The following experiments should be performed to further understand the effectiveness and safety of curcumin in treating OSCC.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed at constructing fibroblast activation protein (FAP) over-expression lentivinus vectors to investigate transfection in SCC9 cell lines and establish a stable FAP over-expression oral squamous cell line. METHODS: The cDNA of FAP gene from an oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) tissue was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and subcloned into eukaryotic expression vector pCDH-CMV-MCS-EF1-copGFP. The recombinant plasmid was sequenced and then transfected into an SCC9 cell line. Subsequently, the SCC9 cell line that over-expressed FAP stably was established by fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS). The expression of green fluorescent protein (GFP) was detected with fluorescence microscopy, and the over-expression of FAP was identified by real-time PCR and Western blot. RESULTS: The FAP gene was amplified by PCR and then cloned into the vector, whose sequence was identical to that in the GenBank. GFP was expressed in the transfected cells. Furthermore, FAP over-expression in the transfected cells was detected by real-time PCR and Western blot. CONCLUSIONS: The recombinant eukaryotic expression vector pCDH-FAP was constructed successfully. This result provides a foundation for further studies on the function of FAP in vitro.
