Introduction

Colorectal cancer is a heterogeneous disease arising from a complex series of molecular changes [1]. In 1990, Fearon and Vogelstein described the molecular basis of colorectal cancer as a multi-step model of carcinogenesis [2]. The model describes the accumulation of genetic events, each conferring a selective growth advantage to an affected colon cell, including inactivation of tumour suppressor genes and activation of oncogenes.

Using a bioinformatics approach we have identified genes with enhanced expression in colorectal cancer tissue [3, 4]. Myeov, (MYEloma OVerexpressed gene) was initially noted for its association with a subset of multiple myeloma cell lines [4, 5] and it has also been implicated in oesophageal squamous cell carcinomas [6] and breast cancer [7]. Myeov is co-amplified with cyclin D1, a known oncogene [5]. We have previously shown Myeov to play a role in gastric cancer cell proliferation and invasion [3].

Our group has demonstrated a role for Myeov in the pathogenesis of colorectal cancer (CRC), noting a 20-fold increase in Myeov expression in CRC in comparison with normal colorectal tissue [3]. We have also confirmed that Myeov is upregulated in CRC ex vivo using tissue from normal colonic mucosa, adenomas, and carcinomas [3]. Our In vitro RNA interference/knockdown studies, in which Myeov expression was inhibited, revealed a role for Myeov in driving CRC cell proliferation and invasion. However, the role of Myeov expression in CRC cell migration has not been elucidated. We hypothesise, because of its established role in tumour cell invasion, that Myeov is also important for tumour cell migration. The mechanism underlying Myeov expression remains unclear.

In an effort to identify upstream effectors of Myeov expression, we assessed the effect of Prostaglandin E2 (PGE 2) on Myeov. PGE 2 is a well-established mediator in cancer progression, particularly in CRC. It has been shown to enhance intestinal adenoma growth in ApcMin mice models of CRC [8]. Driven by COX-2, PGE 2 can enhance tumour growth by binding its receptors and activating signalling pathways which control cellular proliferation, migration, apoptosis, and angiogenesis, key features of malignancy [9]. We investigated the possibility that PGE 2 may mediate the enhanced expression of Myeov in CRC. Consequently, the objectives of our study were two-fold; firstly, to assess the role of Myeov gene knockdown on CRC cell migration in vitro; secondly, to evaluate the effect of PGE 2 on Myeov mRNA expression in CRC.

Materials and methods

Cell culture

The T84 cell line obtained from the European collection of cell cultures was used in this study as it is an established in vitro experimental model of colorectal carcinoma. The cell were cultured in Dulbecco’s modified Eagle’s medium-F12, with 1 U/ml penicillin, 1 lg/ml streptomycin, and 10% fetal bovine serum under standard conditions.

siRNA knockdown

The functional role of Myeov was assessed using gene knockdown with small interfering RNA (siRNA) designed and synthesized for Myeov knockdown (Qiagen Inc., CA, USA). The siRNA had the following sequences: Myeov sense, 50-GGA UGU AAG UUA UCA ACU A-30; Myeov antisense, 50-UAG UUG AUA ACU UAC AUC C-30. A chemically synthesized non-silencing siRNA duplex with the following sequence; sense, 50-UUC UCC GAA CGU GUC ACG U-30; antisense, 50-ACG UGA CAC GUU CGG AGA A-30 that had no known homology with any mammalian gene was used to control for non-specific silencing events. Gene knockdown was achieved in T84 cells. Briefly, 4 × 10 4 cells were incubated under standard conditions overnight. 5 μg of each siRNA was then mixed with 30 μl of RNAifect (Qiagen) and was added drop wise. Cells were incubated for 48 h again under standard conditions before being assayed.

RNA preparation and PCR

TRIzol (Sigma-Aldrich, Ireland) was used to extract RNA from cells. Reverse transcription was achieved using AMV reverse transcriptase (Invitrogen Ltd., UK). Real-time RT-PCR was performed using a Rotor Gene (Corbett Research, Australia). GAPDH, which was amplified in parallel with the genes of interest, served as a housekeeping gene. All measurements were performed in triplicate. The oligonucleotide primers and probes employed in this study were: MYEOV forward primer: CCT AAA TCC AGC CAC GTC AT, reverse primer; GAC ACA CCA CGG AGA CAA TG, GAPDH forward primer: GAA GGT GAA GGT CGG AGT TC, reverse primer GAA GAT GGT GAT GGG ATT TC.

Cell migration 'Scratch Assay'

Following Myeov knockdown, a "scratch" was placed in a confluent T84 cell monolayer using a 10 μl micropipette tip [10]. Cell migration over this wound scratch was monitored by photographing at 1, 6, 12, 24 and 36 hours. Subsequent image analysis involved measuring scratch width at 5 random points. Average scratch width and standard deviation was calculated for each time point. Cells were photographed using a × 10 objective lens. Carnoy software (Biovolution) was used to measure the pixel width of the scratches.

The effects of PGE 2 on Myeov expression

T84 CRC cells were treated with increasing concentrations (0.00025 μM, 0.1 μM, 1 μM) of PGE 2 (Sigma Aldrich, Ireland) for 30, 60 and 180 mins. The concentrations of PGE 2 used reflect the optimal in-vitro concentration to induce cellular responses as noted in a number of studies [11–14]. RNA extraction and real time PCR were performed as described above.

Statistics

All analyses were performed independently in triplicate. Students paired t-test was used to compare groups with a P value < 0.05 indicating statistical significance.

Results

The effect of Myeov gene knockdown on CRC cell migration

In order to establish the role of Myeov in colorectal cancer cell migration we performed targeted knockdown using siRNA. A T84 cell line model of colorectal cancer was used. Successful knockdown of Myeov mRNA expression in T84 cells using siRNA was confirmed using quantitative real time PCR (Figure 1A). A 74% reduction in Myeov mRNA expression was observed in knockdown cells in comparison with control cells 48 hr post transfection (P < 0.05). In order to investigate the effect of Myeov depletion on T84 colorectal cancer cell migration, scratch wound healing assays were performed. Myeov knockdown resulted in decreased T84 colorectal cancer cell migration. Myeov knockdown resulted in a 25%, 41%, and 39% reduction in T84 colorectal cancer cell migration was observed at 12, 24 and 36 hrs respectively compared to control cells (P < 0.05) (Figure 1C).

Figure 1
figure 1

(A) Confirmation of Myeov knockdown. Myeov mRNA expression in control and siRNA treated cells was quantitated using real time PCR. (* = p < 0.05). (B) Representative images of the wound healing scratch assay. The lines represent measurements made to assess reduction in "scratch" width as a marker of migration. (C) Effect of Myeov knockdown on cell migration over time (* P < 0.05. ** P < 0.01).

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The effect of PGE2 on Myeov expression

In order to investigate the effect of PGE 2 on Myeov gene expression in colorectal cancer, T84 colorectal cancer cells were treated with varying doses of PGE 2 for varying times in vitro and Myeov mRNA expression was monitored using quantitative real time PCR. Treatment of T84 cells with PGE 2 for 24 hr resulted in increased Myeov expression however the maximum effect occurred at 60 mins (Figure 2A & 2B). Furthermore this effect was dose-dependent. At 60 mins, 0.00025 μ M PGE 2 increased Myeov gene expression by 289%, 0.1 μM PGE 2 increased Myeov expression by 547% and 1.0 μM PGE 2 increased Myeov expression by 961% (P < 0.05). Treatment with PGE 2 for 30 min resulted in decreased Myeov expression with 1.0 μM treatment having a significant inhibitory effect, decreasing Myeov expression by 99% (P < 0.01) (Figure 2B).

Figure 2
figure 2

The effect of PGE 2 on Myeov expression. (A) The % change in Myeov expression in T84 CRC cells treated with increasing doses of PGE 2 at 60 mins in comparison with untreated cells (* = P < 0.05). (B) The time dependent effect of PGE 2 on Myeov expression. T84 CRC cells were treated with 1 μM PGE 2 and Myeov expression was assessed at various time points. Expression is represented as percentage change in expression in comparison with untreated control cells at each timepoint. (* = P < 0.05).

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Discussion

Colorectal cancer has a significant morbidity and mortality, being the fourth most common cancer worldwide [15]. Defining the pathways that drive colorectal cancer will provide a better understanding of neoplastic progression, and may potentially identify targets for therapeutic intervention. Myeov expression has previously been shown to be enhanced in myeloma as well as breast, esophageal and gastric cancers [7, 9]. We have employed Digital Differential Display (DDD) a bioinformatic tool, to identify Myeov as a novel colorectal cancer associated gene [3]. Briefly, we used DDD to compare expressed sequence tags (ESTs) between normal colorectal and cancer tissue, thereby identifying differentially expressed genes. Myeov was shortlisted for further investigation and we demonstrated enhanced Myeov expression in colorectal cancer and that it promotes tumour proliferation and invasion [3], key hallmarks of metastatic cancer. These datasets support the important role of Myeov in this disease.

Gene knockdown using siRNA represents an excellent tool to assess the functional importance of cancer related genes in vitro. We have previously employed siRNA to knockdown Myeov in colorectal and gastric cancer cell lines and have shown knockdown to result in decreased cell proliferation and invasion [3, 9]. Using this technology, the current study further supports the functional importance of Myeov in CRC by showing that it drives colorectal cancer cell migration, a key process in the malignant phenotype. This data consolidates our previous reports that Myeov drives both proliferation and invasion. This new data illustrates a further role for Myeov in the motility of colorectal cancer cell and key hallmark of metastatic tumour cells.

Having established Myeov as a key player in CRC cell biology, we investigated whether Myeov was a downstream effector of COX/PGE 2 bioactivity. PGE 2 is a well established player in the progression of CRC and has been shown to induce increased proliferation, migration, and invasiveness of CRC cells [16]. We hypothesise that enhanced COX/PGE 2 bioactivity in CRC leads to increased levels of Myeov and therefore increased invasion and migration. We have demonstrated in this study that treatment with PGE 2 enhances the expression of Myeov. Although the signalling mechanisms connecting PGE 2 signalling and Myeov transcription remain unknown, our findings support the hypothesis that Myeov is in part PGE 2 regulated and contributes to the downstream oncogenic activity of COX. PGE 2 has been shown to drive CRC cell migration and enhanced Myeov expression may at least in part mediate this process [16]. The precise signalling and transcriptional mechanisms at play here need to be further deciphered. It has been shown that PGE 2-mediated CRC cell migration is related to the intracellular activation of EGFR by PGE 2 [17]. Further work will clarify if Myeov expression is regulated by PGE 2 in a similar manner. Interestingly, we also quantitated the levels of secreted PGE 2 in Myeov knockdown and control cells however no significant difference was observed, confirming that the regulation of PGE 2 expression is not downstream of Myeov bioactivity (data not shown).

These findings further define the role for Myeov bioactivity in colorectal carcinogenesis. Ongoing studies into Myeov expression will expand this pathway to reveal newer insights into colorectal cancer progression and possibly enable a potential therapeutic based on targeting Myeov.