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. 2015 Nov;10(5):1720-1724.
doi: 10.3892/etm.2015.2748. Epub 2015 Sep 15.

CXCR7 functions in colon cancer cell survival and migration

Hongxian Wang  1 , Linyu Tao  1 , K E Qi  1 , Haoyun Zhang  1 , Duo Feng  1 , Wenjun Wei  1 , Heng Kong  1 , Tianwen Chen  1 , Qiusheng Lin  1 , Daojin Chen  2
Affiliations

CXCR7 functions in colon cancer cell survival and migration

Hongxian Wang et al. Exp Ther Med. 2015 Nov.

Abstract

C-X-C chemokine receptor 7 (CXCR7) is a known promoter of tumor progression and metastasis; however, little is known about its role in colon cancer. The aim of the present study was to investigate the function of CXCR7 in human colon cancer cells. CXCR7 mRNA levels were examined in HT-29 and SW-480 human colon cancer cell lines using a quantitative polymerase chain reaction. CXCR7-knockdown was performed with small interfering RNA and lentiviral-mediated gene delivery. Immunofluorescence (IF) was conducted to examine CXCR7 expression and localization in colon cancer cells. Cell survival and migration were evaluated using MTT and migration assays, respectively. HT-29 cells expressed higher levels of CXCR7 mRNA and were therefore used in subsequent experiments. IF staining revealed that the CXCR7 protein was expressed on the cell membrane, and its expression decreased following CXCR7-short hairpin RNA lentiviral transfection. Lentiviral CXCR7-knockdown resulted in decreased cell survival and migration; however, MTT assays revealed that the lentiviral vector itself was cytotoxic. This cytotoxicity was indicated as the cell survival of the negative control group cells was significantly decreased compared with that of the blank control group cells (P<0.05). In conclusion, it is becoming increasingly evident that CXCR7 plays a role in colon cancer promotion, suggesting that CXCR7 is a promising biomarker for chemokine receptor-based drug development. Furthermore, the fact that CXCR7 is expressed on the membrane and not intracellularly makes it a prime target for drug-based intervention.

Keywords: C-X-C chemokine receptor 7; RNA interference; colon cancer; lentiviral vector.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
qPCR analysis of C-X-C chemokine receptor 7 mRNA expression in HT-29 and SW-480 cells. qPCR, quantitative polymerase chain reaction.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Lentiviral transfection efficiency in HT-29 cells, as assessed using fluorescence microscopy: (A) Magnification, ×100; (B) magnification, ×400.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Immunofluorescence analysis of C-X-C chemokine receptor 7 protein in HT-29 cells (magnification, ×400). (A) Experimental group; (B) negative control group; (C) blank control group.
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
Effect of C-X-C chemokine receptor 7-silencing on cell survival. ∆P<0.05 vs. the negative control and blank control groups; ▽P<0.05 vs. the blank control group.
Figure 5.
Figure 5.
Cell migration activity. HT-29 cells that had migrated to the external surface of the membrane were stained with hematoxylin and eosin. Data represent the mean number of migrating cells in five fields at ×400 magnification. (A) Experimental group, (B) negative control group, (C) blank control group; (D) quantification of the number of migrated cells for each group. ∆P<0.05 vs. the negative control and blank control groups; ▽P>0.05 vs. the blank control group.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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