Early Growth Response Protein-1 Involves in Transforming Growth factor-β1 Induced Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition and Inhibits Migration of Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer Cells.

The zinc finger transcription factor EGR1 has a role in controlling synaptic plasticity, wound repair, female reproductive capacity, inflammation, growth control, apoptosis and tumor progression. Recent studies mainly focused on its role in growth control and apoptosis, however, little is known about its role in epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Here, we aim to explore whether EGR 1 is involved in TGF-β1-induced EMT in non-small- cell lung cancer cells. Transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 was utilized to induce EMT in this study. Western blotting, RT-PCR, and transwell chambers were used to identify phenotype changes. Western blotting was also used to observe changes of the expression of EGR 1. The lentivirus-mediated EGR 1 vector was used to increase EGR1 expression. We investigated the change of migration to evaluate the effect of EGR 1 on non-small-cell lung cancer cells migration by transwell chambers. After stimulating with TGF-β1, almost all A549 cells and Luca 1 cells (Non-small-cell lung cancer primary cells) changed to mesenchymal phenotype and acquired more migration capabilities. These cells also had lower EGR 1 protein expression. Overexpression of EGR 1 gene with EGR 1 vector could decrease tumor cell migration capabilities significantly after adding TGF-β1. These data showed an important role of EGR 1 in the EMT of non-small-cell lung cancer cells, as well as migration.