Plk1 promotes the migration of human lung adenocarcinoma epithelial cells via STAT3 signaling.

Polo-like kinase (Plk)1 contributes to the development of human cancer via multiple mechanisms, such as promoting the migration of cancer cells. However, the mechanistic basis for the regulation of cell migration by Plk1 remains unknown. To address this question, the present study investigated the effect of Plk1 inhibition on the migration of human lung adenocarcinoma epithelial A549 cells and the molecular factors involved. A549 cells were treated with the Plk1 inhibitor, BI2536, and cell migration was evaluated with the wound-healing assay. The expression of matrix metallopeptidase (MMP)2, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)A, total and phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)3 was assessed by western blotting and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction following Plk1 knockdown and/or STAT3 overexpression. The interaction between Plk1 and STAT3 was evaluated by co-immunoprecipitation. The levels of MMP2 and VEGFA were decreased by treatment with Plk1 inhibitor. The phosphorylation of STAT3, which acts upstream of MMP2 and VEGFA, was also decreased by Plk1 knockdown, an effect that was abrogated by STAT3 overexpression. In addition, Plk1 was detected to bind with STAT3 either directly or as part of a complex by co-immunoprecipitation experiments. These results indicated that Plk1 may promote the migration of A549 cells via regulation of STAT3 signaling.