The roles of HOXB9 and MMP12 in proliferation, migration, and invasion of human laryngeal cancer cells LCC and TU212.

OBJECTIVE

HOXB9 and MMP12 are involved in the initiation and progression of various tumors. This study aimed to investigate the roles of HOXB9 and MMP12 in the proliferation, migration, and invasion of human laryngeal cancer cells (LCC and TU212).

METHOD: The experiment was divided into five groups: control, sh-HOXB9, sh-MMP12, sh-HOXB9 + MMP12-OE, and sh-MMP12 + HOXB9-OE. Cell proliferation was assessed using the CCK-8 assay, migration was evaluated using the scratch assay, and invasion was measured using the Transwell assay. The mRNA and protein expression levels of HOXB9, MMP12, MMP-9, fibronectin, β-catenin, N-cadherin, vimentin, and Snail were detected by qPCR and western blotting.

RESULTS

Compared with the control group, sh-HOXB9 and sh-MMP12 groups exhibited significantly reduced proliferation, migration, and invasion capacities, accompanied by decreased expression of HOXB9, MMP12, MMP-9, fibronectin, β-catenin, N-cadherin, and vimentin in both LCC and TU212 cells (p < 0.05). In the sh-HOXB9 + MMP12-OE group, no significant change in proliferation, migration, or invasion was observed in LCC compared with that in the sh-HOXB9 group (p > 0.05), but a notable increase was observed in TU212 cells (p < 0.05). Additionally, MMP12, MMP-9, fibronectin, β-catenin, N-cadherin, and vimentin expression levels significantly increased in both LCC and TU212 cells (p < 0.05). In the sh-MMP12 + HOXB9-OE group, there was a significant increase in the proliferation, migration, and invasion of both LCC and TU212 cells compared with the sh-MMP12 group (p < 0.05), along with elevated expression of HOXB9, MMP12, MMP-9, fibronectin, β-catenin, N-cadherin, and vimentin (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

HOXB9 and MMP12 may modulate the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway and regulate the proliferation, migration, invasion, and EMT of LCC and TU212 cells.