Abstract:

Objective To investigate the influence of FOXK1 on the invasion and migration of hepatocellular carcinoma cell line Huh7. Methods Levels of  FOXK1 were examined in 40 cases of liver cancer and adjacent normal tissues using real-time PCR(qRT-PCR). The expression of FOXK1 in normal hepatocellular cells HL7702, hepatocellular carcinoma cells BEL7402 and hepa-tocellular carcinoma cell line Huh7 were measured using qRT-PCR and Western blotting, and influence of FOXK1 on invasion and migration of hepatocellular carcinoma cell line was detected by transwell assay. Results Levels of FOXK1 mRNA were significantly higher in  liver cancer tissues than in adjacent normal tissues(2.87±0.21 vs 1.35 ±0.11, P=0.004). Similarly,levels of FOXK1 mRNA and protein were significantly lower in normal hepatocellular cells HL7702 than in hepatocellular carcinoma cells BEL7402 or hepatocellular carcinoma cell line Huh7(P<0.001). After down-regulated the expression of FOXK1, levels of FOXK1 mRNA and protein were significantly down-regulated in hepatocellular carcinoma cell line Huh7(P<0.01), with lower numbers of invasive and migrating cells(P<0.01). Conclusions Down regulate the expression of FOXK1 can effectively suppress cell migration and invasion in hepatocellular carcinoma cell line Huh7.

Key words: Liver neoplasms, FOXK1, Hepatocellular carcinoma cell line Huh7, Migration, Invasion