Silencing of aquaporin5 inhibits the growth of A549 lung cancer cells in vitro and in vivo.

Abstract

The water channel protein aquaporin5 (AQP5) is highly expressed in numerous tumors. However, its expression pattern and functions in lung cancer in humans remain unknown. In the present study, the role of AQP5 in the development of lung malignancies was examined. A short hairpin RNA construct targeting AQP5 mRNA was transfected into A549 cells to generate a lung cancer cell line in which AQP5 expression was stably silenced. In vitro and invivo experiments were then performed to establish the effects of AQP5 on A549 cell apoptosis, proliferation and cell cycle progression. The results demonstrated that AQP5 silencing significantly inhibited the proliferation and promoted the apoptosis of A549 lung cancer cells invitro and invivo. In addition, it resulted in decreased activation of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase1/2 signaling pathway in A549 cells, and reduced levels of the downstream proteins c‑Fos and phosphorylated cAMP response element-binding protein. Furthermore, inhibition of AQP5 expression effectively reduced the tumorigenicity of A549 cells invivo. In conclusion, silencing of AQP5 suppressed the growth of A549 cells invitro and invivo, suggesting that it may serve as a therapeutic target in lung cancer.