Effect of WNT5A on epithelial-mesenchymal transition and its correlation with tumor invasion and metastasis in nasopharyngeal carcinoma

ObjectiveTo investigate the correlation between nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell WNT5A and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (emt)/metastasis, and investigate its possible mechanisms.MethodsRT-PCR and gene transfection were used to detect the expression of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell strains WNT5A and EMT related factor 5–8F. Transient transfection of NPC cell line 5–8F was determined by liposome of plasmid with WNT5A gene. The differential expressions of WNT5A and EMT-related factors in cells before and after transfection were detected by RT-PCR. Cell scratch assay and Transwell assay were used to detect the motility abilities of cells before and after 5–8F transfection.ResultsThe expressions of WNT5A and EMT related factors matrix metalloproteinase-2 of the WNT5A transferred group in the nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell line 5–8F were higher than the blank control group and the empty vector transferred group, and the transfer ability of the WNT5A transferred group was higher than that in the blank control group and the empty vector transferred group, while the expressions of EMT related factors E-cadherin were lower than that in the blank control group and the empty vector transferred group, and the transfer ability of the WNT5A transferred group was higher than that in the blank control group and the empty vector transferred group.ConclusionsIn nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells, WNT5A can regulate the epithelial-mesenchymal transition and affect the ability of tumor invasion and metastasis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma.