Epidermal growth factor up-regulating the expression of nNav1.5 and promoting glioma U251 cell proliferation and invasion

Abstract

Objective To investigate whether epidermal growth factor (EGF) promoting the proliferation and invasion of glioma U251 cells was involved in the expression of voltage-gated sodium channels (VGSCs) subtype nNav1.5. Methods The synthesis of nNav1.5 specific siRNA was designed and the liposome transfected U251 cells. The transfection efficiency was tested by Western blot. After treating the cells of the blank group and the transfection group, real-time PCR and Western blot were used to detect the changes of expression level of nNav1.5 mRNA and proteins in each group, and the modified MTT method and Matrigel invasion experiment were used to detect the changes of cellular proliferation and invasion ability in each group. Results siRNA were successfully transfected into U251 cells; 100 ng/L EGF significantly upregulated the expression levels of nNav1.5 mRNA and protein in U251 cells (P<0.05), and increased the proliferation and invasion of glioma cells (P<0.05). After the expression of siRNA silenced U251 cells nNav1.5, the ability of 100 ng/L EGF upregulating the nNav1.5 mRNA in U251 cells and protein expression levels was decreased (P<0.05), and the ability of promoting the proliferation and invasion of glioma cells was decreased obviously (P<0.05). Conclusion EGF may promote the proliferation and invasion ability of glioma U251 cells by upregulating the expression of nNav1.5. Key words: Glioma; Epidermal growth factor; Voltage-gated sodium channels; Proliferation; Invasion