Silencing of tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 by siRNA in EC109 cells affects cell proliferation and apoptosis.

Tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 (TNFR1) is a membrane receptor able to bind TNF-alpha or TNF-beta. TNFR1 can suppress apoptosis by activating the NF-kappaB or JNK/SAPK signal transduction pathway, or it can induce apoptosis through a series of caspase cascade reactions; the particular effect may depend on the cell line. In the present study, we first showed that TNFR1 is expressed at both the gene and protein levels in the esophageal carcinoma cell line EC109. Then, by applying a specific siRNA, we silenced the expression of TNFR1; this resulted in a significant time-dependent promotion of cell proliferation and downregulation of the apoptotic rate. These results suggest that TNFR1 is strongly expressed in the EC109 cell line and that it may play an apoptosis-mediating role, which may be suppressed by highly activated NF-kappaB.

1. Introduction

Esophageal carcinoma is one of the six most common malignant tumors in the world and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. With a high incidence in the provinces of Hebei, Henan, and Guangdong, China, esophageal carcinoma has become a serious public health threat [1]. Both genetic and environmental factors have been implicated in the development of esophageal carcinoma: however, its etiology and pathogenesis are not well understood [2-5]. At present, research into esophageal cancer is concentrated on the isolation and identification of genes and proteins involved in tumor development. Several biological markers, including cyclin D1, surviving, p53, p21, Pax, Rb, COX-2, Ras, c-Myc, Mdm2, and caveolin-1, have all been found to be aberrantly expressed in esophageal adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma [6-10]. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) is a cytokine that is produced by activated macrophages as well as by several other cell types, including lymphocytes, fibroblasts, and hepatocytes. The effects of TNF are mediated by two distinct cell-surface receptors that are expressed simultaneously on almost all cell types: TNFR1 and TNFR2 [11]. TNFR1 seems to have a greater role than TNFR2 in TNF signaling in most cell types. TNFR1 can suppress apoptosis by activating the NF-κB and JNK/SAPK signal transduction pathways, and can induce apoptosis through a series of caspase cascade reactions [12, 13]. However, it is not yet clear what role TNFR1 expression may play in human esophageal carcinoma.

RNA interference (RNAi) induces sequence-specific posttranscriptional gene silencing in many eukaryotes, by using 21- and 22-nt RNA fragments that are homologous with sequences of the target gene [14]. This effect can also be observed in mammalian cells when small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) are used, and hence the method has been exploited as a powerful tool for reverse genetics in the post-genome era [15]. In the present study we detected expression of TNFR1 at the gene and protein levels in the esophageal carcinoma cell line EC109. Then, by applying a specific siRNA, we silenced the expression of TNFR1 and recorded the changes in cell proliferation and apoptosis.

2. Materials and Methods

2.1. Cell Culture

The human esophageal carcinoma cell line EC109 was obtained from the State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, and grown in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (DMEM, Invitrogen) supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum. The cells were kept in culture at 37°C under an atmosphere of 5% carbon dioxide. To keep the cells under optimal proliferation conditions, they were passaged at 80% confluence and seeded at 20% confluence.

2.2. Transfection with siRNAs

The siRNA duplex oligonucleotides used in this study were based on the human cDNA coding for TNFR1, the efficacy of the oligonucleotides in silencing having been confirmed in a prior publication [16]. TNFR1-specific siRNA duplexes and nonsilencing control siRNA duplexes were obtained from GeneChem. The siRNA sequences applied to target the TNFR1 mRNA were 5′-GGAACCUACUUGUACAAUGACtt-3′(sense) and 5′-GUCAUUGUACAAGUAGGUUCCtt-3′(antisense). The siRNA sequences employed as negative controls were 5′-UUCUCCGAACGUGUCACGUtt-3′(sense) and 5′-ACGUGACACGUUCGGAGAAtt-3′(antisense). Twenty-four hours before transfection, 5 × 104 cells were seeded in a 6-well plate. The transfection was performed using Lipofectamine 2000 transfection reagent (Invitrogen) according to the manufacturer's instructions. The EC109 cells were divided into three groups: blank control group (without transfection reagent or siRNA), negative control group (with transfection reagent and negative control-siRNA) and experimental group (with transfection reagent and TNFR1-siRNA).

2.3. RT-PCR Assays

Total RNA was extracted using RNAiso Reagent (Takara) and reverse transcription was performed using the ImProm-II Reverse Transcription System (Promega) according to the manufacturer's instructions. The primer sequences for the genes and expected product sizes were as follows: 5′-ACCAAGTGCCACAAAGGAACC-3′(forward), 5′-TACACACGGTGTTCTGTTTCTCC-3′(reverse) for TNFR1 (320 bp) and 5′-ATGGATGATGATATCGCCGCG-3′(forward), 5′-CTCCATGTCGTCCCAGTTGGT-3′(reverse) for β-actin (249 bp). The thermal cycler conditions were as follows: 94°C for 5 minutes, followed by 30 cycles of 94°C for 1 minute, 55°C for 45 seconds, 72°C for 1 minute, and then 72°C for 10 minutes. RT-PCR products were visualized by ethidium bromide-stained agarose gels.

2.4. Western Blot Assays

The cells were washed twice with cold phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) and then membrane protein components containing TNFR1 were extracted from EC109 cells using a ProteoExtract Subcellular Proteome Extraction Kit (Merck) according to the manufacturer's instructions. The proteins were separated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and then transferred to a nitrocellulose membrane (Huamei). After blocking with 5% skim milk at room temperature for 1 hour, the nitrocellulose membrane was incubated with monoclonal antibodies recognizing TNFR1 or actin (R & D) at 37°C for 2 hours and then with horseradish peroxidase (HRP)-conjugated secondary antibodies (Jackson) for 1 hour at room temperature. The proteins were visualized with chemiluminescence regents (Santa Cruz) and analyzed with a FluorChem 8900 system.

2.5. MTT Assay

Twenty-four hours before transfection, 5 × 103 cells were seeded in a 96-well plate. The transfection was performed using Lipofectamine 2000 transfection reagent according to the manufacturer's instructions. Four duplicate wells were set up for each group and after 8, 16, 24, and 32 hours of incubation, 10 μL MTT (5 mg/mL, Sigma) was added to each well and incubated for 4 hour. The reaction was stopped by the addition of 100 μL of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO, Sigma). Absorbance of the samples was measured at 570 nm and each assay was performed in triplicate. Cell proliferation (mean absorbance ± standard deviation) was plotted versus time.

2.6. Cell Count

For cell count analyses, cell suspensions were diluted in PBS 8, 16, 24, 32 hours after transfection. Fifty microliters of trypan blue (0.4%) were added into 50 μL of cell suspension. The number of cells without stain was counted using a hemocytometer under an inverted phase contrast microscope.

2.7. Apoptosis Detected by Flow Cytometry

Apoptosis was determined by using the Annexin V-FITC Apoptosis Detection Kit (Merck) according to the manufacturer's instructions. In brief, cells were washed twice in cold PBS and then resuspended in 1 × binding buffer at a concentration of 1 × 106 cells/mL. A volume of 500 μL of the solution (5 × 105 cells) was transferred to another tube, and 1.25 μL Annexin V-FITC were added. The cells were gently agitated and incubated in the dark for 15 minutes at room temperature, and then 500 μL of cold 1 × binding buffer and 10 μL propidium iodide (PI) was added and the cells were analyzed with a FACScalibur flow cytometer (BD) within 1 hour.

3. Results

3.1. TNFR1 mRNA and Protein Are Expressed in EC109

RT-PCR analysis of TNFR1 mRNA in EC109 cells is shown in Figure 1(a): the 320 bp bright band reflects high expression of TNFR1 at the genetic level. A representative Western blot analysis of TNFR1 in lysates of EC109 cells is shown in Figure 1(b): specific antibodies detected TNFR1 as a distinct band with a molecular weight of about 55 kDa.

Figure 1

TNFR1 expression in EC109 cells. (a) Expression of TNFR1 mRNA in EC109 detected by RT-PCR. (1) TNFR1; (2) DNA marker. (b) Expression of TNFR1 at the protein level in EC109 cells detected by Western blot. Two bands with a molecular weight of 55 kDa are expressed in EC109.

3.2. Silencing of TNFR1 in EC109 Cells by siRNA

To confirm the silencing of TNFR1 expression in EC109 cells, RT-PCR and Western blot analysis were performed 24 hours after the transfection (Figure 2). The expression intensities of TNFR1 mRNA in the blank control group (1), the experimental group (2), and the negative control group (3) are shown (Figure 2(a)). A representative Western blot analysis of cell lysates from the blank control group (1), the experimental group (2), and the negative control group (3) is shown in Figure 2(b).

Figure 2

Silencing of TNFR1 in EC109 cells by siRNA. (a) The levels of TNFR1 mRNAs were analyzed by RT-PCR: (1) blank control group; (2) experimental group; (3) negative control group. (b) Expression of TNFR1 was analyzed by Western blot: (1) blank control group; (2) experimental group; (3) negative control group. Results are from one representative experiment from a total of three performed.

3.3. Silencing of the TNFR1 Gene Increases Tumor Cell Growth

To address whether siRNA directed against TNFR1 had a promoting effect on EC109 cell growth, cell proliferation was assessed by using the MTT assay (Figure 3(a)) and by cell counting (Figure 3(b)). We found that treatment of EC109 cells with TNFR1-siRNA was associated with a time-dependent promotion of cell proliferation, with an accelerated cell proliferation level (P < .05) observed 24 hours after transfection. No significant promotion effect was observed in cells of the blank control group or the negative control group (P > .05).

Figure 3

Silencing of the TNFR1 gene resulted in increased EC109 cell growth as determined by the MTT analysis (a) and cell count (b). CTL-1: blank control group; CTL-2: negative control group; Si-TNFR1: experimental group. The results show that the levels of proliferation between CTL-1 and CTL-2 were similar (P > .05); the levels of proliferation between CTL-1 and Si-TNFR1 were significantly different for the 24-hour and 32-hour time points (P < .05). Data represent the mean ± SD values of three experiments.

3.4. Silencing of TNFR1 Gene Expression Reduces Apoptosis

Twenty-four hours after transfection, the Annexin V-FITC Apoptosis Detection Kit was employed to assess levels of apoptosis in the blank control, the negative control, and the experimental groups. The rates of apoptosis were 8.93 ± 1.24% and 8.60 ± 2.75% in the blank control group and the negative control group, respectively, with no statistically significant difference (P > .05). In contrast, the rate of apoptosis in the experimental group after transfection with TNFR1-siRNA was 4.64 ± 1.59%, which is significantly lower than in the control groups (P < .05) (Figure 4).

Figure 4

Silencing of the TNFR1 gene reduced the level of apoptosis: (1) blank control group; (2) negative control group; (3) experimental group. The results show no statistically significant difference between the rate of apoptosis in the blank control group and the negative control group. The rate of apoptosis in the experimental group was significantly lower after transfection with TNFR1-siRNA (P < .05). Apoptotic cells were detected by flow cytometry. Results are from one representative experiment from a total of three performed.

4. Discussion

The EC109 cell line, derived from a surgically excised squamous cell carcinoma specimen, was established in 1976 by researchers in the Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Cancer Institute, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences. Today, the cell line is widely used for esophageal cancer-related disease research [17, 18]. We first detected TNFR1 expression by RT-PCR and Western blot, and the results show TNFR1 has a high expression in EC109 cells compared with the immortalized esophageal epithelial cell line SHEE (data not shown).

At present, siRNA has been adapted as a functional genomics tool, although it also has the potential for therapeutic application in cancer [19-21]. Here we employed RNAi to inhibit the expression of TNFR1. We adopted TNFR1-siRNA, following Saito et al. [16], to perform the interference, and obtained data at 24 hours after transfection. Treatment of EC109 cells with TNFR1-siRNA was associated with a time-dependent promotion of cell proliferation, as measured by the MTT assay and direct cell counts, and with a significant reduction in the rate of apoptosis.

TNFR1 is known to mediate two signaling pathways: (1) TNF receptor-associated death domain (TRADD) protein binds to TNFR1 through its death domain (DD) sequence. Then, TRADD recruits the downstream signaling adaptor molecules Fas-associated death domain (FADD) and receptor interacting molecule (RIP) to constitute complex II [22]. FADD interacts with caspase-8 or caspase-10 precursors through a death effector domain (DED) sequence. Then another DD-containing molecule, caspase-2, and RIPK1 domain containing adaptor with death domain (RAIDD) are recruited to TNFR1 where they interact with RIP to activate TNFR1 to initiate apoptotic signaling. (2) TNF receptor-associating factor 2 (TRAF2) is recruited to TNFR1 indirectly through a specific interaction with TRADD. TRAF2 is capable of interacting with downstream signaling molecules, resulting in the activation of NF-κB, p38MAPK, and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) stress kinases [23]. These latter signaling pathways all have anti-apoptotic effects.

Thus, TNFR1 plays different roles in different cells and tissues; we are interested in the role that TNFR1 plays in the EC109 cell line as a model of esophageal cancer. The flow cytometry results showed that TNFR1 may mediate apoptosis in EC109 cells, which is supported by the MTT results. The reduction of apoptosis rate after silencing of TNFR1 may be due to inhibition of the FADD-dependent complex II. Another report showed that NF-κB is highly expressed in EC109, and that an activated NF-κB signaling pathway exists and has an effect on the survival and proliferation of these esophageal carcinoma cells [24]. The relationship between the NF-κB signaling pathway and anti-tumor cell apoptosis has been extensively studied. Initially, Beg et al. [25] observed that the livers of nude mice lacking the NF-κB gene showed degenerative changes because of excessive apoptosis. It was presumed that the NF-κB pathway was involved in suppressing apoptosis. Then a report showed that tumor cells with high NF-κB expression had a higher tolerance to ionizing radiation and anti-tumor drugs, and that inhibition of NF-κB activity could significantly increase the therapeutic sensitivity and induce apoptosis [26]. Therefore, the search for the relationship between the NF-κB signaling pathway and tumor-cell apoptosis has been intensive and includes the study of many functional components, including CIAP1 and 2, FLIP, TRAF1 and 2, A1/BFL1, and BCL-XL. The genes encoding these proteins, all of which have anti-apoptotic effects mediated by TNF-α and similar positive regulatory factors, are up-regulated by activated NF-κB. TNFR1 in EC109 is apt to induce apoptosis and we speculate that this may be suppressed by highly-activated NF-κB. Higher levels of cell proliferation may reflect a reduction in cell apoptosis. It was reported that the expression rate of TNFR1 in ten different cell lines involving EC109 showed no significant differences, but that administration of new recombinant human TNF (nrhTNF) exerted significantly different effects on the different cells [27]. As nrhTNF did not inhibit the growth of five cell lines involving EC109, it was concluded that there was no correlation between the inhibitory effect of the drug and the expression of TNFR1, which supports our theory [27]. However, more research is required to confirm this.

Our results indicate that TNFR1 may mediate apoptosis in EC109 cells but the details are still unclear. Regulation of the numerous factors involved in the pathway, the relationship between TNFR1 and other relevant factors, and the specific mechanism of the pathway still need further study.