Effects of recombinant adenovirus with high expression of osteopontin gene on malignant biological behaviors of hepatocellular carcinoma cells

Objective To study the effect of recombinant adenovirus with high expression of osteopontin (OPN) gene on malignant biological behaviors of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells. Methods HCC (HepG2) cells were cultured and divided into rAd-OPN group and rad NC group. HCC cells in rAd-OPN group were transfected with recombinant adenovirus with high expression of OPN gene, and thsose in NC group were transfected with recombinant adenovirus containing invalid fragment. The expression of OPN, and cell migration, invasion and metastasis associated genes was detected. Results At 12, 24, 36, and 48 h after adenovirus transfection, mRNA expression of OPN in rAd-OPN group was 1.93±0.25, 2.58±0.30, 3.61±0.57 and 3.88±0.63, cell migration rate was (18.20±2.76)%, (43.76±7.17)%, (62.48±9.25)% and (77.33±10.24)%, and transmembrane cell number was (25.24±4.26), (32.13±4.97), (40.27±6.24) and (47.95±7.25) cells respectively, significantly higher than in rAd-NC group (P<0.05). At 48 h after transfection of adenovirus, mRNA expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2, MMP-9, urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) in rAd-OPN group was respectively 2.32±0.49, 1.78±0.28, 3.14±0.51, significantly higher than that in rAd NC group (P<0.05). Conclusion Recombinant adenovirus with high expression of OPN gene can promote the migration, invasion and up-regulate the metastasis-related gene expression. Key words: Carcinoma, hepatocellular; Osteopontin; Migration; Invasion