Knockdown of ZNF280A inhibits cell proliferation and promotes cell apoptosis of bladder cancer

. Objective. ZNF280A is a member of the zinc finger protein family, whose role in human cancers is little known and rarely reported. This study aimed to investigate the role of ZNF280A in bladder cancer. Methods. Immunohistochemical analysis was performed to detect the expression of ZNF280A in clinical samples. ZNF280A knockdown cell models were constructed by transfection of shRNA-expressing lentivirus. MTT assay and flow cytometry were performed for detecting cell proliferation, apoptosis and cycle. Wound healing and Transwell assays were operated to detect cell migration. Western blotting and Human Apoptosis Antibody Microarray were used to measure expression of related proteins. A mouse xenograft model was constructed for in vivo study. Results. Our study demonstrated that ZNF280A was up-regulated in bladder cancer tissues compared with normal tissues, whose high expression was significantly correlated with advanced malignant grade. Knockdown of ZNF280A inhibited cell proliferation and cell migration, promoted cell apoptosis and G1/G2 phase arrest. The tumor growth in vivo was also proved to be inhibited by ZNF280A. Moreover, ZNF280A may promote bladder cancer through regulation of MAPK9, Cyclin D1 and the Akt pathway. Conclusions. In this study, ZNF280A was shown as a potential tumor promoter and prognosis indicator for bladder cancer. Targeting ZNF280A may be a promising strategy for the development of novel bladder cancer treatment.