Fos protein is involved in prostaglandin E2ª²induced upregulation of vascular endothelial growth factor mRNA in the human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells

    LI Yongª²Qi1, REN Ning1, ZHANG Xueª²Yong2, FAN Daiª²Ming2

    1Center of Rehabilitation Medicine, 2Department of Gastroenterology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi¬ðan 710033, China

    ¡¾Abstract¡¿ AIM: To examine if cª²fos is involved in the effects of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) on the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) mRNA in the human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells. METHODS: Antisense oligodeoxynucleotide and reverse transcriptaseª²polymerase chain reaction (RTª²PCR) techniques were used. RESULTS: Administration of PGE2 resulted in the increased expression of cª²fos and VEGF mRNA in HepG2 cells. The expression of cª²fos mRNA reached the peak level at 3 h after PGE2 treatment, which was significantly higher than that at 0 h(P < 0ª±01). Whereas, the highest expression level of VEGF mRNA was observed at 6 h after PGE2 treatment, which was significantly higher than that at 0 h (P < 0ª±01). cª²fos ASO significantly reduced PGE2ª²induced upregulation of VEGF mRNA expression (P < 0ª±01). CONCLUSION: PGE2 could increase the expression and secretion of VEGF in hepatocellular carcinoma cells by activating the transcription factor cª²fos, then promote the angiogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma and thus play an important role in the pathogenesis of liver cancer. ......