Hedgehog/Gli1 signal pathway facilitates proliferation, invasion, and migration of cutaneous SCC through regulating VEGF

AbstractSince hedgehog (HH)/Gli1 that contributes to cancer proliferation and metastasis has been masked for decades, the signaling pathway was investigated about its exact role in proliferation and metastasis of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Sonic hedgehog homolog (Shh), GLI family zinc finger 1 (Gli1), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expressions in cutaneous SCC tissues were analyzed with immunohistochemistry, and their correlations with cutaneous SCC patients ’ prognosis were conducted with Kaplan-Meier curve. Regarding in vitro studies, effects of the HH signaling pathway, and cyclopamine on patched 1 (Ptch1), smoothened/frizzled class receptor (Smo) and VEGF expressions were assessed in A431 cells based on western blot and quantitative real-time poly merase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Besides, Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay was implemented to evaluate cell proliferation, while wound-healing assay and transwell assay were performed to assess cell migration and invasion, respectively. Mice models were also established to observe effects of Gli1 o n tumor diversity and incidence during a period of 20 weeks. Positively expressed VEGF, Gli1, and Shh proteins in cutaneous SCC tissues were correlated with poor survival of patients (P <  0.05). Besides, Gli1 messenger RNA (mRNA) and VEGF mRNA were observed to be significantly over-expressed in A431 cells (P <  0.05), and they were associated with incremental cell proliferation, invasiveness...
Source: Tumor Biology - Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research