Down-regulation of MTHFD2 inhibits invasion and metastasis in prostate cancer PC3 cells

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of mitochondrial methylenetetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase 2 (MTHFD2) on cell invasion and metastasis in prostate cancer PC3 cells.

MethodsThe prostate cancer PC3 cells were divided into 3 groups: blank control group (ctrl group), negative control group (si-NC group) and transfected siRNA-MTHFD2 group (si-MTHFD2 group).The mRNA expression of MTHFD2 in human normal prostate epithelial cells RWPE-1 and prostate cancer PC3 cells was detected by qRT-PCR.The apoptosis rate in different groups was detected by flow cytometry, the changes of cell migration ability were detected by scratch test, the changes of cell invasion ability were detected by Transwell test, and the changes of E-cadherin, Vimentin and N-cadherin protein expressions were detected by Western blotting.

ResultsThe expression level of MTHFD2 in prostate cancer PC3 cells was significantly higher than that in normal prostate epithelial cells(P < 0.05), and the mRNA expression level of MTHFD2 in si-MTHFD2 group was significantly lower than that in ctrl and si-NC groups(P < 0.05).The results of cell scratch and invasion assay showed that the migration and invasion abilities in si-MTHFD2 group was significantly lower than in ctrl and si-NC groups(P < 0.05).E-candherin protein expression level in si-MTHFD2 group was significantly higher than that in ctrl and si-NC groups(P < 0.05), and the protein expression levels of vimentin and N-cadherin were significantly lower than those in ctrl and si-NC groups.

ConclusionsDown-regulation of MTHFD2 expression can increase the apoptosis of prostate cancer cells and inhibit the migration and invasion of prostate cancer cells.