Aurora kinase A induces migration and invasion by inducing epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in colon cancer cells

• Published in: BMB reports Vol. 55; no. 2; pp. 87 - 91
• Main Authors: Hong, On-Yu, Kang, Sang Yull, Noh, Eun-Mi, Yu, Hong-Nu, Jang, Hye-Yeon, Kim, Seong-Hun, Hong, Jingyu, Chung, Eun Yong, Kim, Jong-Suk
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Korea (South) Korean Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 28-02-2022; 생화학분자생물학회
• Subjects: Aurora Kinase A - genetics; Aurora Kinase A - metabolism; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Movement; Colonic Neoplasms; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Humans; Neoplasm Invasiveness - genetics; 화학
• ISSN: 1976-6696; 1976-670X
• DOI: 10.5483/BMBRep.2022.55.2.169

Aurora kinase is a family of serine/threonine kinases intimately associated with mitotic progression and the development of human cancers. Studies have shown that aurora kinases are important for the protein kinase C (PKC)-induced invasion of colon cancer cells. Recent studies have shown that aurora kinase A promotes distant metastasis by inducing epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in colon cancer cells. However, the role of aurora kinase A in colon cancer metastasis remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the effects of aurora kinase A on PKC-induced cell invasion, migration, and EMT in human SW480 colon cancer cells. Treatment with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol- 13-acetate (TPA) changed the expression levels of EMT markers, increasing α-SMA, vimentin, and MMP-9 expression and decreasing E-cadherin expression, with changes in cell morphology. TPA treatment induced EMT in a PKC-dependent manner. Moreover, the inhibition of aurora kinase A by siRNAs and inhibitors (reversine and VX-680) suppressed TPA-induced cell invasion, migration, and EMT in SW480 human colon cells. Inhibition of aurora kinase A blocked TPA-induced vimentin and MMP-9 expression, and decreased E-cadherin expression. Furthermore, the knockdown of aurora kinase A decreased the transcriptional activity of NF-κB and AP-1 in PKC-stimulated SW480 cells. These findings indicate that aurora kinase A induces migration and invasion by inducing EMT in SW480 colon cancer cells. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that showed aurora kinase A is a key molecule in PKC-induced metastasis in colon cancer cells. [BMB Reports 2022;55(2): 87-91].