TBX3 stimulates proliferation and stem cell self-renewal in bladder carcinoma
Lifu Huang1,5, Wenfei Shao2,5, Xiaohong Wang3,5, Feiping Li1,5 and Weijun Mao4,5
1Department of Urology, Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province Affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, 2Health Management Center, Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province Affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, 3Department of Obstetrical, Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province Affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, 4Department of Central Sterile Supply, Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province Affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, Linhai City and 5Enze Hospital, Taizhou Enze Medical Center (Group), Taizhou City, Zhejiang Province, China
Corresponding Author: Weijun Mao, Department of Central Sterile Supply, Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, 150 Ximen Street, Linhai City, Zhejiang Province, 317000, China, Enze Hospital, Taizhou Enze Medical Center (Group), No. 1 East of Tongyang Road, Luqiao District, Taizhou City, Zhejiang Province, 318050, China. e-mail: maoweijun_mwj@163.com
Summary. Background. With the change of people’s lifestyle in recent years, bladder carcinoma has been the second leading cause of death for men. Nevertheless, surgical results of bladder carcinoma are unsatisfying with recurrence and distant metastasis. Therefore, it is urgent to find a new target for bladder carcinoma treatment.
Methods. The protein and mRNA expression levels of TBX3 in bladder carcinoma tissue samples and cells were tested using western blot and qRT-PCR assays, respectively. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) were separated with immunomagnetic beads. Expression levels of cell stemness-associated proteins CD44, CD24 and ESA in T24 CSCs and T24 cells were detected by western blot assay. Cell self-renewal ability was detected by stem cell sphere formation assay. CCK-8 and colony formation assays examined cell viability and proliferation. Cell apoptotic level was examined by flow cytometry.
Results. Elevated TBX3 expression in bladder carcinoma stimulated cell proliferation and inhibited cell apoptosis. Stemness-related proteins and TBX3 were highly expressed in T24 CSCs relative to those in normal bladder carcinoma cells. In addition, TBX3 promoted stem cell self-renewal and inhibited cell apoptosis. Finally, qRT-PCR, western blot and cell sphere formation assays revealed that the potential role of TGF-β1 in the regulation of TBX3.
Conclusion. TBX3, mediated by TGF-β1, can promote bladder carcinoma cell proliferation, inhibit apoptosis, and enhance cell stemness. Hence, TBX3 is a potential target to stem cells of bladder carcinoma. Histol Histopathol 38, 65-72 (2023)
Key words: Bladder carcinoma, Stem cells, TBX3, Apoptosis, Proliferation
DOI: 10.14670/HH-18-496
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©The Author(s) 2023. Open Access. This article is licensed under a Creative Commons CC-BY International License. |
