STRAP Knockdown Inhibits Migration and Growth of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Serine-threonine kinase receptor-associated protein (STRAP) regulates cell proliferation and apoptosis by binding to many target proteins and plays an important regulatory role in tumor development. We studied the effects of STRAP on non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in vivo and in vitro in order to elucidate possible mechanisms underlying the regulatory effects of this protein. The levels of STRAP in NSCLC tissues and cells were determined by quantitative reverse transcription PCR, immunohistochemical staining, and Western blotting. In in vitro experiments, A549 and HCC827 cells were transfected with small interfering RNA (siRNA) to knockdown STRAP (si-STRAP) or with negative control sequence; cell migration and invasion were detected by scratch and Transwell assays, respectively. The expression levels of X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP), caspase-3, and caspase-9 were determined by Western blotting. In addition, we analyzed changes of tumor volume in a nude mouse NSCLC model. STRAP was highly expressed in NSCLC tissues and cells, but its expression was significantly suppressed in A549 and HCC827 cells transfected with si-STRAP. STRAP knockdown resulted in a significant inhibition of migration and invasion of A549 and HCC827 cells. It also significantly reduced the expression of XIAP and elevated expression of caspase-3 and caspase-9. In nude mice with tumor originated from transplanted A549 cells, inhibition of STRAP expression retarded the tumor growth. Overall, these findings indicate that STRAP is overexpressed in NSCLC, while knockdown of STRAP gene inhibits the growth of NSCLC.