Apolipoprotein M inhibits proliferation and migration of larynx carcinoma cells.

Prior studies have shown that apolipoprotein M (APOM) is involved in the development of some cancers. Here we investigated the effects of APOM on larynx cancer (LC). 20 patients with vocal cord polyps and 18 patients with LC were included in this study. The protein and mRNA levels of the samples were analysed using the Wes-ProteinSimple system (or traditional Western blot) and PCR technology, respectively. APOM protein level in cancer tissues was lower than that in paracarcinomatous (P = 0.0003) and polyp tissues (P < 0.0001). APOM overexpression significantly inhibited TU686 cell proliferation (P < 0.0001) and migration (P < 0.01), and increased expression of vitamin D receptor (VDR, P < 0.0001) as well as nuclear factor erythroid 2-like 3 (NFE2L3, P = 0.0215). In addition, matrix metalloproteinase-10 (MMP-10) mRNA level was significantly reduced in the APOM overexpression group (P = 0.0077). However, Western blot analysis showed that APOM overexpression did not change VDR, NFE2L3 and MMP-10 protein levels (P > 0.05). In summary, APOM inhibits the proliferation and migration of LC cells, but may not be related to VDR, NFE2L3 and MMP-10, which needs further study.