The human hematopoietic stem/progenitor cell 117 (HSPC117) protein is an essential component of protein complexes and has been identified to be involved in many important functions. However, how this gene expression is regulated and whether the
HSPC117 gene affects cell migration is still unknown. The aim of this study was to identify whether
HSPC117 mRNA expression is regulated by epigenetic modification and whether
HSPC117 expression level affects the expression of matrix metalloproteinase 2 (
MMP 2), matrix metalloproteinase 14 (
MMP 14), and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 2 (
TIMP 2), and further affects human placenta choriocarcinoma cell (JEG-3) migration speed. In our epigenetic modification experiment, JEG-3 cells were cultured in medium with the DNA methyltransferase inhibitor 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5-aza-dC), the histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor trichostatin A (TSA), or both inhibitors. Then, the
HSPC117 mRNA and protein expressions were assessed using real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) and Western blot assay. The results showed that, compared to the control,
HSPC117 mRNA expression was increased by TSA or 5-aza-dC. The highest
HSPC117 expression level was found after treatment with both 5-aza-dC and TSA. Further, in order to investigate the effect of
HSPC117 on
MMP 2,
MMP 14, and
TIMP 2 mRNA expressions, pEGFP-C1-HSPC117 plasmids were transfected into JEG-3 cells to improve the expression of
HSPC117 in the JEG-3 cells. Then, the mRNA expression levels of
MMP 2,
MMP 14,
TIMP 2, and the speed of cell migration were assessed using the scratch wound assay. The results showed that over-expression of
HSPC117 mRNA reduced
MMP 2 and
MMP 14 mRNA expression, while
TIMP 2 mRNA expression was up-regulated. The scratch wound assay showed that the migration speed of JEG-3 cells was slower than the non-transfected group and the C1-transfected group. All of these results indicate that
HSPC117 mRNA expression is regulated by epigenetic modification; over-expression of
HSPC117 decreases
MMP 2 and
MMP 14 transcription, reduces cell migration speed, and increases
TIMP 2 transcription.
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