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Effects of thymosin β4-derived peptides on migration and invasion of ovarian cancer cells

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Abstract

Background

Thymosin β4 (Tβ4) is a highly conserved actin binding protein associated with the metastatic potential of tumor cells by stimulating cell migration. The role of Tβ4 and its derived fragment peptides in migration of ovarian cancer cells has not been studied.

Objective

To analyze the effects of Tβ4 and its derived fragment peptides on ovarian cancer cell migration and invasion, we applied Tβ4 and three Tβ4-derived synthetic peptides to SKOV3 ovarian cancer cells.

Method

The migration and invasion of SKOV3 cells treated with Tβ4(1–43), Tβ4(1–15), Tβ4(12–26), Tβ4(23–), and untreated control were analyzed by in vitro migration and invasion assay with transwell plate. Cell proliferation assay was conducted to identify the effect of Tβ4 and its derived peptide on SKOV3 cell proliferation. The expression of Tβ4 related proteins related with cell proliferation was analyzed by Western blot after treatment with Tβ4 and its derived peptides.

Results

Cell migration and invasion were significantly increased in Tβ4 peptide-treated SKOV3 cells compared with untreated control. All three Tβ4-derived fragment peptides including those without an actin binding site significantly stimulated migration and invasion of SKOV3 cells. Tβ4 and its derived peptide significantly stimulated SKOV3 cell proliferation and up-regulated the expression of RACK-1 protein.

Conclusions

The Tβ4 peptide and all of its derived fragment peptides including those without an actin binding motif stimulate migration and invasion of SKOV3 ovarian cancer cells. All peptides significantly increased RACK-1 expression and cell proliferation of SKOV3 cells. These results suggest that Tβ4 stimulates migration and invasion of SKOV3 cells by stimulation of cell proliferation through up-regulation of RACK-1 protein.

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Author information

Author notes

  1. Hyung Joon Yoon and Young Lim Oh contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Pusan National University Hospital, Busan, South Korea

    Hyung Joon Yoon

  2. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kosin University College of Medicine, Busan, South Korea

    Young Lim Oh

  3. Department of Biochemistry, Kosin University College of Medicine, Busan, South Korea

    Ahyun Kang

  4. Department of Parasitology and Genetics, Kosin University College of Medicine, Busan, South Korea

    Eun-Ji Ko, Mee Sun Ock & Hee-Jae Cha

  5. Department of Internal Medicine, Kyung Hee University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea

    Wan Kyu Eo

  6. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Pusan National University Hospital, Busan, South Korea

    Ki Hyung Kim

  7. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea

    Ji Young Lee

  8. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chicago Medical School, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, Vernon Hills, North Chicago, IL, USA

    Ari Kim

  9. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Inje University Haeundae Paik Hospital, Busan, South Korea

    Sungwook Chun

  10. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hallym University Medical Center, Kangnam Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea

    Hongbae Kim

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  1. Hyung Joon Yoon
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  2. Young Lim Oh
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  3. Eun-Ji Ko
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  10. Hongbae Kim
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  12. Hee-Jae Cha
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Correspondence to Hee-Jae Cha.

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Yoon, H., Oh, Y., Ko, EJ. et al. Effects of thymosin β4-derived peptides on migration and invasion of ovarian cancer cells. Genes Genom 43, 987–993 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13258-021-01127-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13258-021-01127-7

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