Regulation between two alternative splicing isoforms ZNF148FL and ZNF148ΔN, and their roles in the apoptosis and invasion of colorectal cancer

Pathol Res Pract. 2019 Feb;215(2):272-277. doi: 10.1016/j.prp.2018.10.036. Epub 2018 Nov 3.

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the effect of two alternative splicing isoforms of zinc finger protein (ZNF) 148 gene on the invasion and metastasis of human colorectal cancer (CRC) cells and their related mechanisms.

Methods: Quantitative RT-PCR assays were used to detect the expression of twoZNF148 alternative splicing isoforms in SW480 cells. ZNF148FL-siRNA, ZNF148FL-over express vector, ZNF148ΔN-siRNA, and ZNF148ΔN-over express vector were introduced into SW480 cells. The transfection efficiency was confirmed by RT-PCR. The proliferation, invasion, and migration in vitro as well as the apoptosis of SW480 cells were detected by MTT, transwell, scratch assay and flow cytometry, respectively.

Results: Both ZNF148FL and ZNF148ΔN were expressed in SW480 cells, and the level of ZNF148FL protein was higher than ZNF148ΔN. After ZNF148FL-siRNA and ZNF148ΔN-over express transfection, the expression level of ZNF148FL and ZNF148ΔN were significantly decreased and increased, respectively. In contrast, the expression of ZNF148FL and ZNF148ΔN were significantly increased and decreased, respectively, after ZNF148FL-over express and ZNF148ΔN-siRNA transfection (all P < 0.05). The proliferation of SW480 cells was increased in ZNF148FL-over express group and the ZNF148ΔN-siRNA group, while decreased in ZNF148FL-siRNA group and ZNF148ΔN-over express group. The invaded cell number and migrated distance in ZNF148FL-siRNA group and ZNF148ΔN-over express group were significantly decreased, but the apoptotic rate was significantly increased. In contrast, ZNF148FL-over express and ZNF148ΔN-siRNA group showed the significantly increased ability of invasion and migration but decreased apoptosis rate (all P < 0.05).

Conclusion: ZNF148FL could increase proliferation, invasion, and migration of CRC cells, while ZNF148ΔN showed opposite effect; the two splicing isoforms of ZNF148 may exert a mutual antagonistic effect to each other on the malignant biological activities.

Keywords: Alternative splicing isoform; Apoptosis; Colorectal cancer; Invasion; Metastasis; SW480 cells; Zinc finger protein 148.

MeSH terms

  • Alternative Splicing
  • Apoptosis / genetics*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Movement / genetics
  • Cell Proliferation / genetics
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / genetics
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / pathology*
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics*
  • Humans
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness / genetics
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness / pathology*
  • Protein Isoforms
  • Transcription Factors / genetics*

Substances

  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Protein Isoforms
  • Transcription Factors
  • ZNF148 protein, human