Molecular Mechanism of HGF Mediating Cell Migration in Uveal Melanoma
ZHU Xian, ZHENG Dandan, HOU Qiang*
HGF (hepatocyte growth factor) plays an important role in the progression of UM (uveal melanoma). This study aimed to investigate the molecular mechanism by which HGF regulates UM cell migration. A series of migration-related genes regulated by HGF were screened by microarray analysis. Quantitative PCR and Western blot experiments verified the results of gene microarray, and it was found that HGF inhibited the levels of mRNAs and proteins encoded by NF2 (neurofibromatoprotein) and TIMP3 (tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 3) genes. UM cells were transfected with siRNA to interfere with the expression of candidate genes NF2 and TIMP3, and their effects on the migration ability of UM cells were detected. Cell migration experiments showed that downregulating the expression of NF2 and TIMP3 genes enhanced the migration ability of UM cells. These results suggest that HGF mediates UM cell migration by influencing the expression of proteins encoded by the NF2 and TIMP3 genes.
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