Amplification of SOX2 in lung squamous cell carcinoma drives cell migration.

摘要

Recent studies have shown reactivation of SOX2 in number of human cancers. However, the effect of SOX2 reactivation on the growth of cancer is not clearly understood. ChIP-seq for SOX2 in H520 (lung squamous cell carcinoma) was performed and the result suggested that SOX2 binds upstream of many genes implicated in cell migration Therefore, aim of the study was to determine if SOX2 amplification has effect on cell migration. H520 cell line was used as model system and was transfected with SOX2 GFP BAC. Transfected cells gave rise to two populations expressing different levels of BAC. Wound healing assay and colony formation assay was performed and results showed that low_SOX2 GFP cells were more migratory and formed more colonies than high_SOX2 GFP cells. Effect of cell migration upon knockdown of SOX2 showed little or no migration. In conclusion, SOX2 does play role in cell migration, but there is a threshold effect. Upon increasing or knocking down SOX2 beyond that threshold causes them to lose their proliferative and migratory properties.