Open AccessSilencing of Ribosomal Protein L34 (RPL34) Inhibits the Proliferation and Invasion of Esophageal Cancer Cells
Author(s) -
Huijie Fan,
Jing Li,
Yong Jia,
Jingjing Wu,
Long Yuan,
Mingjun Li,
Jiangqi Wei,
Bingying Xu
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
oncology research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.267
H-Index - 57
eISSN - 1555-3906
pISSN - 0965-0407
DOI - 10.3727/096504016x14830466773541
Subject(s) - gene knockdown , cancer research , pi3k/akt/mtor pathway , gene silencing , biology , oncogene , cell growth , metastasis , protein kinase b , esophageal cancer , cancer , ribosomal protein , cancer cell , signal transduction , cell culture , microbiology and biotechnology , cell cycle , ribosome , genetics , gene , rna
Ribosomal protein L34 (RPL34) belongs to the L34E family of ribosomal proteins and contains a zinc finger motif. Aberrant expression of RPL34 has been reported in several human malignancies. However, the precise role and potential underlying mechanisms of RPL34 in human esophageal cancer remain largely unknown. Thus, the objective of this study was to investigate the role of RPL34 in esophageal cancer progression. Our results showed that the expression of RPL34 at both the mRNA and protein levels was frequently upregulated in esophageal cancer cell lines. Knockdown of RPL34 efficiently inhibited esophageal cancer cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in vitro. Mechanistically, knockdown of RPL34 significantly downregulated the protein expression level of p-PI3K and p-Akt in esophageal cancer cells. Finally, knockdown of RPL34 attenuated tumor growth in nude mice. In conclusion, our study revealed that RPL34 functions as an oncogene that modulates the proliferation and metastasis of esophageal cancer cells, in part, by the inactivation of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. Thus, these findings suggest that RPL34 may serve as a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of esophageal cancer.