MAL protein suppresses the metastasis and invasion of GC cells by interfering with the phosphorylation of STAT3.

Abstract

Gastric cancer (GC) is the fifth leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide and is accompanied by low diagnosis and survival rates. The molecular mechanism of GC must be elucidated to improve treatment strategies. Recent research has shown that the expression of myelin and lymphocyte (MAL) protein is reduced in a variety of adenocarcinomas and has the function of suppressing tumor growth. However, the mechanism by which MAL regulates the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in GC remains unclear. Here, we showed that MAL expression was downregulated in specimens from patients with GC and was negatively correlated with the clinical stage. Gain- and loss-of function assays showed that interference with MAL significantly increased tumor cell proliferation, metastasis, invasion and the EMT. Overexpression of MAL significantly inhibited the malignant behavior of GC cells. Moreover, MAL suppressed the malignant behavior of GC cells by inhibiting STAT3 phosphorylation in vitro and in vivo. Our data indicate that MAL suppresses the malignant behavior of GC cells via the STAT3/EMT axis. This study also provides insights into the pathophysiological process of GC and a reference for diagnosis and treatment.

• Authors: Zhijun Geng, Jing Li, Sandang Li, Yueyue Wang, Lele Zhang, Qiuzi Hu, Xinru Wang, Lugen Zuo, Xue Song, Xiaofeng Zhang, Sitang Ge, Jianguo Hu
• Journal: Journal of translational medicine (J Transl Med) Vol. 20 Issue 1 Pg. 50 (01 29 2022) ISSN: 1479-5876 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 35093120 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: © 2022. The Author(s).

Chemical References

• MAL protein, human
• Myelin and Lymphocyte-Associated Proteolipid Proteins
• STAT3 Transcription Factor
• STAT3 protein, human

Topics

• Cell Line, Tumor
• Cell Movement
• Cell Proliferation
• Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition
• Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
• Humans
• Myelin and Lymphocyte-Associated Proteolipid Proteins
• Neoplasm Invasiveness (genetics, pathology)
• Neoplasm Metastasis
• Phosphorylation
• STAT3 Transcription Factor (metabolism)
• Stomach Neoplasms (pathology)