Downregulation of Id1 by small interfering RNA in gastric cancer inhibits cell growth via the Akt pathway

Abstract

Inhibitor of differentiation or DNA binding (Id1) is a member of the helix-loop-helix transcription factor family that is overexpressed in various types of cancer, including gastric carcinoma. Previous studies showed that Id1 is a prognostic marker in patients with gastric cancer. However, the role of Id1 in the proliferation of human gastric cancer cells has yet to be clarified. In the present study, we downregulated the Id1 gene in SGC-7901 gastric cancer cells by RNA interference, and we also constructed a recombinant plasmid-expressing Id1 to investigate its effects on the proliferation of SGC-7901 cells. Results showed that the downregulation of Id1 inhibited proliferation of SGC-7901 cells, while the upregulation of Id1 had no effect on SGC-7901 cell proliferation. The potential mechanism was also investigated. The changes of certain proteins associated with cell proliferation, apoptosis and the cell cycle were detected by western blotting. Furthermore, we demonstrated a positive correlation between Id1 and phospho-Akt expression in SGC-7901 cells.

Introduction

Gastric carcinoma is a common disease with high incidence rates in several Asian countries, particularly in Japan and China. Lower incidence has been observed in certain Western European countries and the United States (1,2). Although the incidence of gastric carcinoma has decreased in recent years, it remains the second cause of cancer-related death worldwide (3). Due to the majority of the cases being detected at advanced stages, the 5-year survival rate in these cases is low (4). Therefore, it is imperative to find new targets to improve therapeutic or preventive strategies.

Inhibitor of DNA binding 1 (Id1) belongs to the inhibitor of DNA binding/differentiation (Id) family, which lacks a DNA-binding domain (5), so it acts as a negative regulator of HLH transcription factors to inhibit gene expression (6,7). Id1 was previously reported to regulate various cell processes, including proliferation, apoptosis, cell cycle, differentiation and angiogenesis (8–11). The upregulation of Id1 may inhibit the ability to differentiate in several cell models. Certain reports have suggested that cell cycle-associated proteins, such as p16, p21, p27 and cyclin D1, are transcriptionally inhibited by Id1; the upregulation of Id1 may stimulate G1-S cell cycle transition (12–14). The role of Id1 in cell proliferation or apoptosis showed different effects in different cell types: the upregulation of Id1 induces apoptosis in dense mammary epithelial cells and cardiac myocytes, but promotes proliferation and tumor growth in lung cancer cells (14–16). Id1 is regarded as a valuable marker for both the diagnosis and prognosis of gastric carcinoma (17,18). Although several reports have suggested that Id1 is involved in the growth and migration of gastric cancer cells (19), the role of Id1 in the proliferation and migration abilities of gastric cancer cells remains to be determined.

In this study, we mainly investigated the role of Id1 in the proliferation of SGC-7901 cells by knockdown and overexpression techniques, and a possible mechanism was also found. Our findings indicated that Id1 is involved in the growth and migration abilities of gastric cancer cells.

Materials and methods

Cell culture

The SGC-7901 gastric cancer cell line was a gift from Dr Yang Zhang (Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Zhongshan Medical College, Sun Yat-Sen University, China) (20). The cell line was cultured in high-glucose DMEM (Gibco, BRL, Guangzhou, China) supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum at 37˚C with 5% CO₂.

Id1 small interfering RNA (siRNA)

Id1-specific siRNA used for Id1 knockdown and the control siRNA were synthesized by GenePharma (Shanghai GenePharma Co., Ltd.). The sequences of siRNA targeting the Id1 coding region were as follows: sense, 5′-CUCGGAAUCCGAAGUUGGADTDT-3′ and antisense, 5′-UCCAACUUCGGAUUCCGAGDTDT-3′ (21). The siRNAs were then transfected into the PC3 cells by Lipofectine 2000 (Invitrogen, USA), according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Construction of the Id1 expressing vector

The full-length Id1 cDNA was amplified from total cDNA of SGC-7901 cells by PCR, and was then subcloned between the KpnI and EcoRI sites of pcDNA3.1(+) vector. Purified plasmids were sequence-verified by Invitrogen (Shanghai, China). The plasmid was transfected into SGC-7901 cells by Lipofectine 2000. The primers used for PCR were as follows: forward, 5′-GATGGTACCATCATGAAAGTCGCCAGTG-3′ and reverse, 5′-GATGAATTCTCAGCGACACAAGATGCGA-3′.

MTT assay

SGC-7901 cells were seeded in 96-well plates at a concentration of 5,000 cells/well in a volume of 150 μl of cell culture medium. After 24 h, transfection was performed. The plates were incubated at 37˚C with 5% CO₂ for 48 and 72 h. MTT solution (20 μl) (5 g/l, dissolved in PBS) was added to each well and the plates were incubated at 37˚C for another 4 h. Subsequently, the supernatant was discarded and l50 μl dimethylsulfoxide was added to dissolve the insoluble MTT formazan. The absorbance values at 570 nm were detected by a multi-well plate reader (Tecan).

Flow cytometry assay

SGC-7901 cells were transfected with the above-mentioned siRNA or plasmid for 72 h and were then presented for flow cytometry assay. For cell cycle analysis, DNA labeling was performed using the Cycletest Plus DNA Reagent kit (BD Biosciences Pharmingen, USA), and the samples were analyzed using a flow cytometer (Beckman Counter, USA). For the detection of apoptotic cells, labeling tests involving both propidium iodide (PI) and annexin-V were performed using an Annexin-V staining kit (Invitrogen, USA), according to the manufacturer's instructions. Briefly, at least 1×10⁶ cells were harvested by trypsinization, incubated with FITC-labeled annexin-V and PI stock solutions for 10 min at room temperature and analyzed using a flow cytometer (Beckman Counter).

Western blot analysis

SGC-7901 cells were transfected for 72 h, harvested and lysed for total protein extraction. Protein concentration was determined using the Bio-Rad protein assay kit (Bio-Rad, China). Equal amounts of protein were separated by 15% SDS-PAGE and transferred onto PVDF membranes. The membranes were rinsed with TBST and incubated in blocking buffer (5% dried milk in PBS) for 1 h at 37˚C, followed by incubation with primary antibodies at 4˚C overnight. The antibody against cyclin D1 used in western blotting was purchased from Beyotime (China), antibody against β-actin was purchased from PTG (USA), and other antibodies were purchased from Santa Cruz (USA). After washing with TBST three times, the membranes were incubated with their corresponding secondary antibodies for 1 h. The blots were visualized by an enhanced chemiluminescence detection system (Amersham). The expression of β-actin was used as a normalization control for protein loading.

Statistical analysis

Data were expressed as the means ± SD. Statistical analyses were performed using Student's t-test. P<0.05 indicated statistical significance.

Results

Effects of Id1 siRNA or pcDNA3.1-Id1 on the levels of Id1 in SGC-7901 cells

The effect of siRNA or pcDNA3.1-Id1 on the levels of Id1 was evaluated using both reverse transcriptase-PCR and western blotting. As shown in Fig. 1, significantly decreased Id1 mRNA and protein levels were detected in siRNA transfected cells compared to the control group (siControl), indicating that Id1 siRNA successfully downregulated the Id1 gene in SGC-7901 cells. Furthermore, pcDNA3.1-Id1 upregulated the levels of Id1 in SGC-7901 cells.

Figure 1.

Levels of Id1 mRNA and protein in SGC-7901 cells transfected with Id-siRNA or pcDNA3.1-Id1 for 72 h. (A) RT-PCR assay indicated that Id1-siRNA potently decreased the quantity of Id1 mRNA, while pcDNA3.1-Id1 increased the mRNA in the SGC7901 cells. (B) Western blotting indicated that the protein levels of Id1 in SGC-7901 cells were successfully regulated by Id1-siRNA or pcDNA3.1-Id1. β-actin was used as an internal loading control.

Regulation of SGC-7901 cell proliferation by Id1 expression

To evaluate the effect of Id1 on the proliferation of SGC-7901 cells, MTT assay was performed. As shown in Fig. 2, Id1 was involved in the proliferation of SGC-7901 cells; the inhibitory effect was evident after 72-h transfection with Id1-siRNA. However, the upregulation of Id1 in SGC-7901 cells could not promote cell proliferation.

Figure 2.

MTT assay was performed when the cells were transfected for 72 h. (A) Id1-siRNA showed inhibitory effects on the proliferation of SGC-7901 cells. (B) Upregulation of Id1 in SGC-7901 cells showed no affect on cell proliferation. Values are the means ± SD of 3 wells. ^*P<0.05 compared to the control group cells.

Regulation of Id1 did not affect the apoptosis of SGC-7901 cells

To examine the effect of altered Id1 expression on cell apoptosis, transfected cells were analyzed by Annexin V-FITC/PI double staining. As shown in Fig. 3A, compared to the control group, no significant change was found in the annexin V-positive or annexin V and PI-double positive cell fractions in the Id1 siRNA-transfected group. Moreover, Id1 overexpression in SGC-7901 cells transfected with pcDNA3.1-Id1 showed no impact on cell apoptosis; it suggested that Id1 is not involved in the apoptosis of SGC-7901 cells. Bax and Bad are important in the apoptotic pathway. In this study, although the changes of Id1 levels did not affect the apoptosis of SGC-7901 cells, we detected the protein levels of Bax and Bad in SGC-7901 cells. As shown in Fig. 4A, the expression of Bax and Bad increased when cells were transfected with Id1 siRNA, as expected, whereas their expression decreased when cells were transfected with pcDNA3.1-Id1.

Figure 3.

Flow cytometry assays were performed to detect the changes of apoptosis and the cell cycle of SGC-7901 cells transfected with the siRNA or plasmids decribed in Materials and Methods. (A) Regulating the levels of Id1 in SGC-7901 cells did not affect cell apoptosis. (B) Downregulation of Id1 in SGC-7901 cells decreased the proportion of the G2/M phase in the cell cycle, while the upregulation of Id1 did not exert this effect on SGC-7901 cells.

Figure 4.

Western blotting was performed to detect the quantity changes of certain apoptosis-related genes or cell cycle-related genes when SGC-7901 cells were transfected with Id1-siRNA or pcDNA3.1-Id1. (A) The levels of both Bax and Bad were elevated in Id1 downregulated SGC-7901 cells, but decreased in the Id1 upregulated groups. (B) p16 and p21 were increased in the Id1 downregulated SGC-7901 cells, but decreased in the Id1 up-regulated groups. Cyclin D1 was decreased in Id1 knockdown SGC-7901 cells, but increased in the Id1 overexpressing group. β-actin was used as an internal loading control.

Effects of Id1 expression on cell cycle distribution

Cell cycle distribution was analyzed by flow cytometry after the cells were transfected for 72 h. As shown in Fig. 3B, the proportion of the G2/M phase was decreased in Id1 siRNA-transfected cells compared to the control group. The cell cycle did not change when Id1 was overexpressed in SGC-7901 cells. We further analyzed the changes of certain cell cycle regulators. Cyclin D1 was decreased in the Id1 knockdown group, while p16 and p21 were increased; cyclin D1 was elevated in the Id1 overexpression group, while p16 and p21 were decreased (Fig. 4B).

Akt pathway is involved in the growth inhibition of SGC-7901 cells following transfection with Id1 siRNA

The correlation between Id1 and p-Akt expression in SGC-7901 cells was examined by western blotting. As shown in Fig. 5, Akt phosphorylation at Thr308 and Ser473 was reduced in Id1 siRNA-treated SGC-7901 cells, but enhanced in pcDNA3.1-Id1-treated SGC-7901 cells. These results suggest that the expression of p-Akt is associated with Id1 expression in SGC-7901 cells.

Figure 5.

The Akt pathway was involved in Id1-associated SGC-7901 cell proliferation. Western blotting results showed that the quantity of p-Akt (Thr308, Ser473) was reduced in Id1 knockdown SGC-7901 cells, while overexpression of Id1 elevated the levels of p-Akt (Thr308, Ser473). β-actin was used as an internal loading control.

Discussion

Id proteins are involved in cell differentiation, proliferation, migration and angiogenesis. Recent studies have investigated the role of Id1 in cancer development in several tumor models (22,23). Data on its role in gastric carcinoma remain scarce and are derived mainly from tissue resources (17,18). A previous report has shown that Id1, 3 double-knockdown impaired the ability of gastric cancer cells to form peritoneal metastasis. Findings of that study also suggested that proliferation and motility may be inhibited in Id1, 3 double-knockdown gastric cancer cells (19). However, the single role of Id1 in gastric cancer cells was not investigated.

We investigated the role of Id1 in the proliferation of gastric carcinoma by changing the Id1 levels in SGC-7901 cells. Id1-siRNA and the vector expressing Id1 were utilized to regulate the levels of Id1 in SGC-7901 cells. RT-PCR and western blotting showed that the levels of Id1 were successfully regulated by Id1-siRNA and pcDNA3.1-Id1. In this study, the downregulation of Id1 in SGC-7901 cells inhibited cell proliferation and decreased the proportion of G2/M phase of the cell cycle, while the upregulation of Id1 did not show these effects; the reason has yet to be determined. However, both the downregulation and upregulation of Id1 levels changed the levels of several cell cycle-related genes in this study, which is consistent with other recent reports (14,23–25). Our data suggest that Id1 is not involved in the apoptosis of SGC-7901 cells, but that the apoptosis-associated genes Bax and Bad are affected by Id1 levels. Therefore, the downregulation of Id1 did not elevate the levels of Bax and Bad to the extent that cell apoptosis occurred.

p-Akt is known to be involved in cell proliferation in several tumor models. We investigated whether p-Akt (Thr308, Ser473) was involved in Id1-associated proliferation of SGC-7901 cells. Our findings regarding p-Akt in SGC-7901 cells are in agreement with those of other studies in that the downregulation of Id1 was capable of decreasing the levels of p-Akt (Thr308, Ser473).

In conclusion, our findings have shown for the first time that the Akt pathway is involved in Id1 in the proliferation of gastric cancer cells. Therefore, targeting Id1 may be a novel strategy for the treatment of gastric cancer.