Gas6 protein promotes the progress of NSCLC cells through VEGFAKT pathway

摘要

Purpose: To investigate the expression and mechanism of Gas6 in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Method: Western blot was performed to measure Gas6 expression in NSCLC tumor and adjacent tissues. Cultured NSCLC cell line A549 or normal epithelial cell HBE was treated with 100 or 200 ng/ml Gas6, and proliferation was measured by MTT assay. Caspase 3 activity was measured and cell invasion was described by Transwell assay. VEGF and AKT expression was detected by Western blot and the expression of interleukin-2 (IL-2) and IL-6 was assessed by ELISA. Results: Gas6 was significantly up-regulated in NSCLC tumor tissues compared to adjacent tissues (P<0.05). Treatment of A549 cells using Gas6 significantly facilitated tumor cell proliferation, decreased caspase 3 activity, facilitated tumor cell invasion, and enhanced VEGF protein level, pAKT, IL-2 and IL-6 expression (P<0.05) in a dose dependent manner. Conclusion: Gas6 is up-regulated in NSCLC tumor tissues and facilitates NSCLC cell proliferation or invasion, suppresses apoptosis to enhance NSCLC tumor progression probably via modulating VEGF/AKT signal.