Background & objective: Fascin 1 is the 55kDa F-actin- binding cytoskeleton protein. Fascin 1 gene was cloned from a human teratocarcinoma. Up to now, the carcinogenesis mechanism of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma is unclear. The study was designed to identify the differentially expressed proteins and mRNAs between the human immortalized esophageal epithelial cell line (SHEE) transfected by human papillomavirus type 18 E6E7 and the malignant transformation cell line (SHEEmt), which is derivated from SHEE, and to further understand the carcinogenesis mechanisms of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.
Methods: Cellular proteins were separated by two-dimensional electrophoresis and differentially expressed proteins were identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flying mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS). The mRNA of fascin 1 gene was assayed by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and its product was analyzed by sequencing assay.
Results: The results manifested 9 genes expressed differently in the progress of malignant transformation of SHEE to SHEEmt, fascin 1 protein increased about 3.64 times and its mRNA increased about 16.17 times.
Conclusion: The upregulated expression of fascin 1 gene may be correlated with the malignant transformation of SHEE to SHEEmt.