CD147 mediates transforming growth factor‑β1‑induced epithelial‑mesenchymal transition and cell invasion in squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue

Abstract

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a physiological process in which epithelial cells attain the motile and invasive characteristics of mesenchymal cells, which results in the development of increased migratory and invasive cell behavior, serving as a vital mechanism of cancer progression. Hence, controlling the EMT for cancer treatment, including head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), is imperative. Among EMT-associated factors, transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) is a well-established potent inducer. Recent research has revealed that CD147, a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily, promotes the EMT. However, the role of CD147 in the EMT and the following tumorigenicity in HNSCC has not been completely elucidated. This study aims to investigate the role of CD147 in the EMT and related tumorigenicity in HNSCC. The present study used two HNSCC cell lines, SAS and FaDu, for in vitro studies. In HNSCC cells, TGF-β1 induced spindle-shaped morphological changes, and western blot analysis revealed that TGF-β1 induced changes in EMT markers, downregulation of vimentin, and upregulation of E-cadherin, yet increased CD147. In addition, TGF-β1 increased cell migration in HNSCC cells. However, a TGF-β1-induced alteration in EMT makers was attenuated with CD147 silencing by small interfering RNA (siRNA) in SAS cells. In addition, the TGF-β1-induced cell invasion of SAS was attenuated with CD147 silencing. In conclusion, the present study suggests that CD147 mediates TGF-β1-induced EMT and tumorigenicity in HNSCC. Hence, CD147 may serve as a vital therapeutic target in HNSCC.

Melatonin suppresses epithelial‑to‑mesenchymal transition in the MG‑63 cell line

“…eMT is key to cancer progression and can be induced by TGF-β (14). MG-63 cells were cultured with TGF-β1 (20 ng/ml) to assess its ability to induce eMT in oa cells (15) through the expression of known eMT markers including e-cadherin, vimentin and n-cadherin by western blot analysis ( Fig.…”

SDF‑1/CXCR4 induces cell invasion through CD147 in squamous cell carcinoma of the hypopharynx

“…The correlation between the expression of CD147 in tumors and poor prognosis has been widely observed in individuals with solid tumors including HNSCC ( 45 ). It has been reported that CD147 is involved in MMP production, cell invasion, cell proliferation, and EMT in head and neck cancer cells ( 26 , 46 ). Moreover, we have reported that CD147 expression in tongue cancer patients is positively correlated with lymph node metastasis ( 23 ).…”

EMT related circular RNA expression profiles identify circSCYL2 as a novel molecule in breast tumor metastasis

“…While MdA-MB-231 cells were incubated in Leibovitz's 15 medium (L15, E600016-0500; BBI Solutions) with 10% (v/v) FBS and 1% P/S and were cultured in a humidified 37̊C incubator with 100% air. These cells, which were incubated in medium with 0.5% FBS, were treated with 20 ng/ml TGF-β1 (100-21-10; Peprotech, Inc.) for 48 h (24,25). The control cells were incubated in medium with 0.5% FBS and treated with DMSO.…”