Effects of EZH2 gene on the growth and migration of hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells

Objective: To investigate the effects of EZH2 gene on the growth and migration of hepatocellularcarcinoma HepG2 cell in vitro and in vivo.Methods: EZH2 shRNA plasmid vectors were constructed and transfected into HepG2 cells. A modelof EZH2 gene-silencing HepG2 cell lines was constructed, and the experimental cells were classified into3 groups: HepG2 blank control group, HepG2-V vector control group and HepG2-EZH2 (-) group.The mRNA and protein expressions of EZH2 in these three cells were detected by real-time fluorogenicquantitative PCR and Western blotting, respectively. Cell proliferation was analyzed by MTT assay. Cellswere inoculated subcutaneously in nude mice, and the growth of tumor cells in vivo was observed. Transwellchamber assay was performed to observe any change in the migration ability of cells.Results: The mRNA expression of HepG2 and HepG2-V was 100% and (95.27±10.87)%, respectively.Compared with the control group, the mRNA level of HepG2-EZH2 (-) were significantly decreasedto (20.55±13.21)% (P 0.001). Similarly, the EZH2 protein expression were inhibited in HepG2-EZH2(-) cells. The inhibition rate of tumor growth was 36.3% in vitro and 52.5% in vivo. The migration rateof the HepG2-EZH2 (-) group [(7.15±1.13)%] was significantly lower than those in the HepG2 group[(14.57±4.32)%] and the HepG2-V group [(15.21±5.22)%], with significant differences (both P 0.05).Conclusions: EZH2 silencing can effectively inhibit the proliferation and growth of HepG2 cells in vitroand in vivo and inhibit cell migration. Therefore, the EZH2 gene may be a novel target for the treatment ofliver cancer.