Knock-down of cadherin 17 inhibits proliferation and promote apoptosis in noscapine-resistant human SW480 colon cancer cells

Objective To investigate the effects of cadherin 17 (CDH17) on the proliferation and apoptosis of noscapine-resistant human SW480 colon cancer cells. Methods The level of CDH17 in noscapine-resistant human SW480 colon cancer cells was knocked down by small interfering RNA (siRNA), and the silence was confirmed by Western blotting and real-time quantitative PCR. Transfected SW480 cells were treated with noscapine, and then the proliferation and cell viability of SW480 cells were measured by MTT assay and plate clone formation assay, respectively; the apoptosis of SW480 cells was detected by flow cytometry combined with annexinV-FITC/PI staining; the expressions of poly-ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) and caspase-3 were determined by Western blotting. Results Compared with NC-siRNA group and control group, the expression levels of CDH17 protein and mRNA were down-regulated in the CDH17-siRNA-transfected SW480 cell lines. After noscapine treatment, compared with NC-siRNA and control group, the colony-forming ratio and cell viability were significantly lower in CDH17-siRNA -transfected cell lines, and the expression levels of cleaved-PARP and cleaved- caspase-3 were up-regulated in CDH17-siRNA group, and the cell apoptosis rate increased. Conclusion Knock-down of CDH17 in SW480 cells can effectively inhibit cell proliferation and promote cell apoptosis as well as improve SW480 cell sensitivity to narcotine.