Thymosin β10 (Tβ10) expression is associated with malignant phenotypes in many cancers. However, the role and mechanisms of Tβ10 in liver fluke-associated cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) are not fully understood. In this study, we investigated the expression of Tβ10 in CCA tumor tissues and cell lines as well as molecular mechanisms of Tβ10 in tumor metastasis of CCA cell lines.
Sribenja et al BMC Cancer 2013, 13:430 http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2407/13/430 RESEARCH ARTICLE Open Access Suppression of thymosin β10 increases cell migration and metastasis of cholangiocarcinoma Sirinapa Sribenja1,2, Kanlayanee Sawanyawisuth1, Ratthaphol Kraiklang1, Chaisiri Wongkham1, Kulthida Vaeteewoottacharn1, Sumalee Obchoei1, Qizhi Yao2, Sopit Wongkham1 and Changyi Chen2* Abstract Background: Thymosin β10 (Tβ10) expression is associated with malignant phenotypes in many cancers However, the role and mechanisms of Tβ10 in liver fluke-associated cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) are not fully understood In this study, we investigated the expression of Tβ10 in CCA tumor tissues and cell lines as well as molecular mechanisms of Tβ10 in tumor metastasis of CCA cell lines Methods: Tβ10 expression was determined by real time RT-PCR or immunocytochemistry Tβ10 silence or overexpression in CCA cells was achieved using gene delivery techniques Cell migration was assessed using modified Boyden chamber and wound healing assay The effect of silencing Tβ10 on CCA tumor metastasis was determined in nude mice Phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and the expression of EGR1, Snail and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) were studied Results: Ten pairs of CCA tissues (primary and metastatic tumors) and CCA cell lines were studied With real time RT-PCR and immunostaining analysis, Tβ10 was highly expressed in primary tumors of CCA; while it was relatively low in the metastatic tumors Five CCA cell lines showed differential expression levels of Tβ10 Silence of Tβ10 significantly increased cell migration, invasion and wound healing of CCA cells in vitro; reversely, overexpression of Tβ10 reduced cell migration compared with control cells (P