APRIL knockdown suppresses migration and invasion of human colon carcinoma cells

ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to investigate the function of a proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL) gene among the metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) disease.MethodsCell adhesion, cell migration and invasion behavior were detected after knockdown of APRIL expression in the colon carcinoma cell line, SW480 by RNAi and the rescue experiments were performed with recombinant human APRIL (rhAPRIL) in vitro.ResultsThis original study indicated that knockdown of APRIL expression strongly inhibited colon carcinoma cell adhesion, cell migration and invasion in vitro. By contrast, reconstitution of APRIL expression with rhAPRIL in these APRILi cells, prominently restores CRC cell migration and invasion.ConclusionThese results strongly suggest that APRIL play an important role in the tumor development of the invasive or migratory behavior of CRC cells and may be a useful therapeutic target in the malignant colon carcinomas.