Effect of Down-regulating KLF8 Expression by siRNA on EMT in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Cells

Objective To investigate the effect of down-regulating the expression of KLF8 by siRNA interference on the invasion of human nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells CNE1-LMP1 and related mechanism.

Methods The siRNA targeting KLF8 was designed and the eukaryotic expression plasmid was synthesized. The plasmid was transfected into CNE1-LMP1 cells. The expression of KLF8, E-cadherin and N-cadherin protein and mRNA were detected by Western blot and RT-PCR. Transwell invasion assay was employed to observe the invasion ability of CNE1-LMP1 cells through KLF8 siRNA.

Results The expression levels of KLF8 protein and mRNA were down-regulated in the KLF8-siRNA-transfected CNE1-LMP1 cell lines compared with negative control (NC-si) group, which verified that the stable transfected cell lines were successfully established. KLF8 siRNA could up-regulate the expression of E-cadherin and down-regulate the expression of N-cadherin in CNE1-LMP1 cells. Transwell invasion assay showed that siRNA decreased the invasion ability of CNE1-LMP1 cells.

Conclusion KLF8 is highly expressed in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells CNE1-LMP1. KLF8 siRNA could affect the expression of E-cadherin and N-cadherin, and inhibit the invasion and metastasis of CNE1-LMP1 cells.