Vinculin orchestrates prostate cancer progression by regulating tumor cell invasion, migration, and proliferation.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Prostate cancer (PCa) is a leading cause of death in men, and effective treatment of PCa requires further development. Our study aimed to investigate the potential role of vinculin (VCL) in PCa progression in vitro and in vivo.

METHODS:

We investigated the methylation level of the VCL promoter based on the TCGA database. The knockdown efficacy of VCL gene expression was confirmed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction, Western blot analysis, and immunofluorescence. Furthermore, morphological changes in PCa cells were detected using phalloidin staining. The mobility of PCa cells was measured using transwell assays and high-content analysis. Moreover, cell growth and viability were determined using the colony formation and cell counting kit-8 assays. The role of VCL in tumor growth in vivo was investigated using a subcutaneous xenograft model generated by injecting tumor cells into the right flank of BALB/c nude mice.

RESULTS:

The methylation level of the VCL promoter in PCa was significantly downregulated concomitant with age and the progression of nodal metastasis. VCL expression was markedly decreased by shRNA. Importantly, VCL knockdown significantly changed the cell morphology; inhibited the migration, invasion, and movement; and repressed colony formation and viability of PCa cells in vitro. Furthermore, downregulation of VCL suppressed tumor growth in vivo.

CONCLUSIONS:

Our study comprehensively evaluated the role of VCL in PCa progression in vivo and in vitro. The findings of the present study suggest that VCL can be a potential target for PCa prognosis and treatment.

• Authors: Xiaonan Zheng, Hang Xu, Lina Gong, Dehong Cao, Tao Jin, Yan Wang, Jinkui Pi, Yang Yang, Xianyanling Yi, Dazhou Liao, Xi Jin, Qiang Wei, Lu Yang, Hong Li, Jianzhong Ai
• Journal: The Prostate (Prostate) Vol. 81 Issue 6 Pg. 347-356 (05 2021) ISSN: 1097-0045 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 33710645 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: © 2021 Wiley Periodicals LLC.

Chemical References

• Vinculin

Topics

• Animals
• Cell Movement
• Cell Proliferation
• Disease Models, Animal
• Disease Progression
• Gene Expression
• Humans
• Male
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred BALB C
• Neoplasm Invasiveness
• Neoplasm Metastasis
• Neoplasm Transplantation
• Neoplastic Processes
• Prostatic Neoplasms (genetics, pathology, physiopathology, secondary)
• Vinculin (genetics)