Abstract:

Objective To discuss the effect of exogenous CXC chemokine ligand 10（CXCL10） on the proliferation and migration of the hepatocellular carcinoma（HCC）SMMC-7721 cells， and to clarify its mechanism. Methods The human HCC SMMC-7721 cells were divided into 0 mg·L^－1 CXCL10 group，10 mg·L^－1 CXCL10 group，and 30 mg·L^－1 CXCL10 group according to the CXCL10 concentration. Some of the above cells were treated with extracellular regulated protein kinase（ERK） inhibitor PD98059 （80 μmol·L^－1）， then the SMMC-7721 cells were divided into 0 mg·L^－1 CXCL10+PD98059 group， 10 mg·L^－1 CXCL10+PD98059 group， and 30 mg·L^－1 CXCL10+PD98059 group. The proliferation rates of the SMMC-7721 cells in various groups were detected by CCK-8 method； the EdU positive expression rates in SMMC-7721 cells in various groups were detected by EdU method； the migration rates of the SMMC-7721 cells in various groups were detected by Transwell chamber assay； the expression levels of ERK， phosphorylated ERK（p-ERK）， and Cyclin D1 proteins in the SMMC-7721 cells in various groups were detected by Western blotting method. Results The CCK-8 results showed that after cultured for 24 h， compared with 0 mg·L^－1 CXCL10 group， the proliferation rates of the cells in 10 mg·L^－1 CXCL10 group and 30 mg·L^－1 CXCL10 group were increased （P<0.05 or P<0.01）；the EdU detection results showed that compared with 0 mg·L^－1CXCL10 group， the positive expression rates of EdU in the cells in 10 mg·L^－1 CXCL10 group and 30 mg·L^－1CXCL10 group were increased （P<0.01）. The Transwell chamber assay results showed that after cultured for 48 h， compared with 0 mg·L^－1 CXCL10 group， the migration rates of the cells in 10 mg·L^－1CXCL10 group and 30 mg·L^－1 CXCL10 group were increased （P<0.01）.The Western blotting results showed that after cultured for 24 h and treated with CXCL10 for 24 h，compared with 0 mg·L^－1 CXCL10 group， the expression levels of ERK， p-ERK，and Cyclin D1 proteins in the SMMC-7721 cells in 10 mg·L^－1 CXCL10 group and 30 mg·L^－1 CXCL10 group were increased （P<0.05）. The CCK-8 method results showed that after treated with ERK inhibitor PD98059， compared with 0 mg·L^－1 CXCL10 group， the proliferation rates of the SMMC-7721 cells in 10 mg·L^－1 CXCL10+PD98059 group and 30 mg·L^－1 CXCL10+PD98059 group were decreased （P<0.05）； compared with 10 mg·L^－1 CXCL10 group， the proliferation rate of the SMMC-7721 cells in 10 mg·L^－1 CXCL10+PD98059 group was decreased （P<0.05）； compared with 30 mg·L^－1 CXCL10 group， the proliferation rate of the SMMC-7721 cells in 30 mg·L^－1 CXCL10+PD98059 group was decreased （P<0.05）. Conclusion CXCL10 can promote the proliferation and migration of the HCC SMMC-7721 cells， and its mechanism is mainly related to the up-regulation of the expressions of ERK/p-ERK/Cyclin D1 pathway proteins.

Key words: CXC motif chemokine ligand 10, Hepatocellular carcinoma, Extracellular signal related kinase, Cyclin D1, Cell proliferation