The Effect of CXCR4 Silencing on Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition Related Genes in Glioma U87 Cells

The epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of tumor cells is deemed to be closely associated with tumor metastasis. CXCR4 has been proved to play an important role in the process of tumor metastasis. This study illustrates the function and expression of CXCR4 silencing and the EMT related genes in the human glioma cell line U87. The results showed that CXCR4 silencing could inhibit the cell invasive and adhesion potentials, expression of N-cadherin, vimentin, -catenin, TGF-1, p-Smad2, and p-Akt, and the activity of transcription factors NF-B, AP-1, Snail, and twist. Meanwhile, CXCR4 silencing could also up-regulate the expression of E-cadherin, indicating that silencing of CXCR4 expression can inhibit the expression of EMT related genes in U87 cells. The study would provide a potential theoretical basis for the further exploration of the role of CXCR4 in human glioma. Anat Rec, 296:1850-1856, 2013. (c) 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.