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Notch4 inhibition suppresses invasion and vasculogenic mimicry formation of hepatocellular carcinoma cells

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Summary

Vasculogenic mimicry (VM) is a process by which aggressive tumor cells generate non-endothelial cell-lined channels in malignant tumors including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). It has provided new insights into tumor behavior and has surfaced as a potential target for drug therapy. The molecular events underlying the process of VM formation are still poorly understood. In this study, we attempted to elucidate the relationship between Notch4 and VM formation in HCC. An effective siRNA lentiviral vector targeting Notch4 was constructed and transfected into Bel7402, a HCC cell line. VM networks were observed with a microscope in a 3 dimensional cell culture system. Cell migration and invasion were evaluated using wound healing and transwell assays. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) activity was detected by gelatin zymography. Furthermore, the role of Notch4 inhibition in Bel7402 cells in vivo was examined in subcutaneous xenograft tumor model of mice. The results showed that downregulation of Notch4 destroyed VM network formation and inhibited migration and invasion of tumor cells in vitro (P<0.05). In vivo, tumor growth was also inhibited in subcutaneous xenograft model (P<0.05). The potential mechanisms might be related with down-regulation of MT1-MMP, MMP-2, MMP-9 expression and inhibition of the activation of MMP2 and MMP9. These results indicated that Notch4 may play an important role in VM formation and tumor invasion in HCC. Related molecular pathways may be used as novel therapeutic targets for HCC antiangiogenesis therapy.

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Author notes

  1. The authors contributed equally to this article.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Union Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350001, China

    Rui Cheng  (程 锐), Xin-ran Cai  (蔡欣然) & Yan-ling Chen  (陈燕凌)

  2. Department of Interventional Radiology, Union Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350001, China

    Kun Ke  (柯 坤)

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  1. Rui Cheng  (程 锐)
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  2. Xin-ran Cai  (蔡欣然)
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  3. Kun Ke  (柯 坤)
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  4. Yan-ling Chen  (陈燕凌)
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yan-ling Chen  (陈燕凌).

Additional information

This work was supported by grants from the Sci-Tech Research Foundation of Fujian Province (No. 2011J05067) and the National Clinical Key Specialty Construction Project (General Surgery) of China (No. [2012]649).

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Cheng, R., Cai, Xr., Ke, K. et al. Notch4 inhibition suppresses invasion and vasculogenic mimicry formation of hepatocellular carcinoma cells. CURR MED SCI 37, 719–725 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11596-017-1794-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11596-017-1794-9

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