[EGF/PI3K signaling pathway regulates the expression of osteopontin in liver cancer HepG2 cells].

Objective: To investigate the effect of epidermal growth factor (EGF) on the expression of osteopontin (OPN) in liver cancer HepG2 cells.

Methods: Human liver caner cells of HepG2 line were cultured in medium without bovine serum. EGF was added. Another cells were pretreated with specific phosphatidylinositol 3 (PI3) inhibitor Wortmannin and then added with EGF. HepG2 cell were collected. RNase prote4ction assay and Western blotting were used to examine the expression of OPN in the HepG2 cells.

Results: HepG2 cells cultured in the bovine serum free medium expressed very low level of OPN. EGF increased the expression of OPN mRNA and protein in a dose- and time-dependent manners. Pretreatment of Wortmannin significantly reduced the EGF-induced OPN expression.

Conclusion: EGF increases the OPN expression, possibly through PI3 signaling pathway. It is possible to block the synthesis of OPN through manipulating several target genes, thus inhibiting the metastasis of liver cancer.