The Epression Of Hypoxia-inducible Factor-1 Alpha In Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma And Its Role In Promoting Cell Proliferation

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the expression of hypoxia inducible factor-1α(HIF-1α) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma, and the impact of HIF-1αknockout on squamous cell carcinoma.Methods: The expression of HIF-1α, VEGF messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) and protein was evaluated in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma cell line (A431 cell line) and immortalized keratinocyte cell line (hacat cell lines) by RT-PCR and western-blot respectively. After knocking down HIF-1αgene by siRNA targeting HIF-1α, we analyzed not only the expression of HIF-1α, VEGF mRNA and protein in A431 cells, but also the proliferation and proliferation of A431 cells.Results: Comparing with hacat cells, A431 cells HIF-1α, VEGF mRNA and protein expression increased (P <0.05) by RT-PCR and western-blot respectively. The experiment group (knockout of HIF-1αgene in A431 cells) showed less HIF-1α, VEGF mRNA and protein expression (P <0.05) than the contrast group (unknockout of HIF-1αgene in A431 cells). We detected A431 cells proliferation and apoptotic by flow cytometry and CCK8 (cell counting kit-8), showing that the experiment group cells had higher apoptotic ratio and slower growth rate than the contrast group cells and the difference was significant (P<0.05)Conclusion: HIF-1αand VEGF are constitutively and more intensely expressed in A431 cells than that in hacat cells. Knocking out HIF-1αgene could inhibit HIF-1α, VEGF expression in A431 cells and cell proliferation, and also increase the number of apoptotic cells. These showed that HIF-1αRNA interference (RNAi) inhibited VEGF expression, cancer cell proliferation and promoted apoptosis, suggesting that RNAi can be used as a new means of squamous cell carcinoma.