High-mobility group protein B1 (HMGB1) and its potential in diagnosis and treatment of ovarian cancer

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this research is to study the serum level of the high-mobility group protein B1 (HMGB1) in human ovarian tumor (OvCa) and in a healthy control. This study also aims to identify different HMGB1 levels before and after surgery and to explore the inhibitory effect of HMGB1 gene silencing in the proliferation and invasion ability of OvCa. Methods: Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to measure the serum level of HMGB1 in OvCa patients and healthy subjects. Lentivirus vector with HMGB1 shRNA was constructed and used to infect OvCa cells. The expressions of HMGB1 mRNA and protein were tested by real-time PCR and Western blot. Cell proliferation was detected using the Cell Counting Kit-8 assay, whereas cell invasion and migration were detected by Transwell assay. Results: The serum level of HMGB1 was more elevated in patients with malignant diseases compared with individuals with benign diseases and the control groups. In the malignant group, the serum level of HMGB1 decreased noticeably after therapy. Down-regulation of HMGB1 expression resulted in the inhibition of the biological behavior and metastasis of ovarian cancer cells. Conclusion: HMGB1 is closely associated with clinicopathologic features of OvCa. Knockdown of HMGB1 expression can significantly inhibit cell proliferation, cell migration, and cell invasion of OvCa. These findings indicate that HMGB1 can function as a therapeutic target for ovarian neoplasm in the future.