Effects of phosphatase of regenerating liver cell-3 gene on invasion and anoikis of human colon cancer cell

Objective To explore the effects of phosphatase of regenerating liver cell-3(PRL-3) gene on human colon cancer cell. Methods After human colon cancer HCT116 cells were transfected by PRL-3 small interfering RNA(siRNA),we detected the expression of PRL-3 mRNA and protein by using real-time PCR and Western blot assays,respectively. Anchorage-independent growth of the cancer cells was measured using clony forming in soft agar. Invasion of the cancer cells was measured using boyden chamber model. And Anoikis was measured using DNA fragmentation assay and terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) assay. Results The PRL-3 mRNA and protein level in HCT116 cells decreased markedly in a time-and dose-dependent manner,so did the colonies formed in soft agar and cells traversed membrane,compared with those not transfected cells. The results from agarose gel electrophoresis and TUNEL showed significant increasing apoptosis index and DNA ladder in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusions Knock-downing PRL-3 with siRNA might inhibit growth and invasion ability of colon cancer through induing anoikis.