Effect of chemokine receptor 7 small interfering RNA on proliferation and invasion of squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck

Abstract

To study the effect of chemokine receptor 7 (CCR-7) small interfering RNA (siRNA) on proliferation and invasion of squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck (SCCHN). CCR-7 siRNA was co-transfected into SCCHN cell line PCI-4B using Lipofectamine 2000. CCR-7 protein level was detected by western blotting. SCCHN cell proliferation was detected by MTT, and the change of actin cytoskeleton observed by confocal laser scanning microscope. Transwell assays were used to determine chemotaxis and invasion of SCCHN cells. The activity and nuclear translocation of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappa B) were detected by TransAM NF-kappa B p65 kit and fluorescence microscope respectively. After CCR-7 siRNA transfection, the protein level of CCR-7 was significantly decreased. The changes induced by CCL-19, including increased proliferation rate, polarized actin polymerization, increased chemotaxis rate and invasion rate, were all abolished by CCR-7 siRNA transfection. CCR-7 siRNA also diminished CCL-19-induced NF-kappaB activation and nuclear translocation. CCR-7 siRNA could inhibit expression of CCR-7 and diminish the increased proliferation and invasion of SCCHN induced by CCL-19 in vitro. CCR-7 siRNA may provide a potential treatment strategy for SCCHN.