The oncogene EIF3c promotes esophageal squamous cell carcinoma tumorigenesis by inhibiting cell proliferation and inducing cell apoptosis

Abstract

Abstract Background It has been reported that EIF3c (Eukaryotic initiation factor 3c) was associated with carcinogenesis of several cancer. However, the role of EIF3c in human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is still unknown. The aim of present study was to explore the relationship between EIF3c and ESCC, and further investigate the effect of EIF3c in ESCC cells and potential molecular mechanism. Methods The MRNA expression data and the clinical information of ESCC patients was obtained from TCGA and used for the analysis of association between EIF3c and ESCC. SiRNA transfection was performed to knock down EIF3c in ESCC cells. Cellomics ArrayScan, colony formation and CCK-8 assay was used to test cell proliferation. Flow cytometry assay was used to test apoptosis and cell cycle. Western blot assay was used to measure protein expression. Microarray assay and Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) was used to profile gene expression and physiological processes effected by EIF3c in ESCC cells. Results Firstly, EIF3c exhibited higher expression in ESCC tissue compared with normal esophageal tissue. Furthermore, silencing EIF3c resulted in cell proliferation inhibition in ESCC cells. In addition, EIF3c knockdown induced cell apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. Moreover, microarray assay and Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) revealed 1081 differentially expressed genes (DEGS) including 593 upregulated genes and 488 downregulated genes, and the related canonical pathways and possible up-regulators after silencing EIF3c in ESCC cells. Conclusion Our study for the first time demonstrated the role of EIF3C as oncogene in ESCC and the underlying molecular mechanism.