Prostaglandin E2 receptor EP2 mediates Snail expression in hepatocellular carcinoma cells

Cheng,Shan-Yu; Zhang,Hai; Zhang,Min; Xia,Shu-Kai; Bai,Xiao‑Ming; Zhang,Li; Ma,Juan; Rong,Rong; Wang,Yi-Pin; Du,Ming-Zhan; Wang,Jie; Chen,Meng; Shi,Feng; Yang,Qin-Yi; Leng,Jing

doi:10.3892/or.2014.3074

Prostaglandin E2 receptor EP2 mediates Snail expression in hepatocellular carcinoma cells

Authors:
- Shan-Yu Cheng
- Hai Zhang
- Min Zhang
- Shu-Kai Xia
- Xiao‑Ming Bai
- Li Zhang
- Juan Ma
- Rong Rong
- Yi-Pin Wang
- Ming-Zhan Du
- Jie Wang
- Meng Chen
- Feng Shi
- Qin-Yi Yang
- Jing Leng
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Affiliations: Cancer Center, Department of Pathology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210029, P.R. China
Published online on: March 11, 2014 https://doi.org/10.3892/or.2014.3074
Pages: 2099-2106

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Abstract

Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) has been shown to influence cell invasion and metastasis in several types of cancer, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). however, the molecular mechanisms underlying it remain to be further elucidated. Snail, as one of key inducers of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), plays pivotal roles in HCC invasion and metastasis. The present study was designed to evaluate the possible signaling pathways through which PGE2 regulates Snail protein expression in HCC cell lines. PGE2 markedly enhanced Huh-7 cell invasion and migration ability by upregulating the expression level of Snail protein, and EP2 receptor played an important role in this process. Src, EGFR, Akt and mTOR were all activated and involved in the regulation of snail protein expression. Our findings suggest that PGE2 could upregulate the expression level of Snail protein through the EP2/Src/EGFR/Akt/mTOR pathway in Huh-7 cells, which promotes HCC cell invasion and migration.

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