Aims
The chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan serglycin (SRGN), a hematopoietic cell granule proteoglycan, has been implicated in promoting tumor metastasis; however, the underlying mechanisms remain to be elucidated. The present study aimed to investigate the SRGN gene expression and its regulation as downstream signaling of hypoxia-inducible transcription factor 1 alpha (HIF-1α) in colorectal cancer (CRC) cells and tissues.
Background/aims
The chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan serglycin (SRGN), a hematopoietic cell granule proteoglycan, has been implicated in promoting tumor metastasis; however, the underlying mechanisms remain to be elucidated. The present study aimed to investigate the SRGN gene expression and its regulation as downstream signaling of hypoxia-inducible transcription factor 1 alpha (HIF-1α) in colorectal cancer (CRC) cells and tissues.
Conclusions
In conclusion, we demonstrated that dysregulated HIF-1α/SRGN signaling promotes CRC progression and metastasis. SRGN may serve as a potential candidate therapeutic target for metastatic CRC.
Methods
The expression of SRGN was analyzed in CRC specimens for its correlation with progression and metastasis. Using chromatin-immunoprecipitation (ChIP), quantitative real-time PCR, Western blot, and transwell assay, the functional role and underlying mechanism of SRGN in CRC metastasis were elucidated. Thus, this study provides evidence of a critical role of SRGN in metastatic progression of CRC.
Results
Our results indicated that SRGN overexpression was significantly associated with poor prognosis in CRC specimens. SRGN overexpression promoted CRC cell migration and invasion in vitro; however, SRGN depletion exhibited contrasting effects. Mechanistic investigations revealed that HIF-1α regulated SRGN transcription via physically binding to a hypoxia response element in its promoter region. Conclusions: In