Overexpression of KiSS-1 reduces colorectal cancer cell invasion by downregulating MMP-9 via blocking PI3K/Akt/NF-κB signal pathway

Metastasis of colorectal cancer (CRC) depends critically on MMP-9. KiSS-1 is a human malignant melanoma metastasis-suppressor gene. Thus, the interaction between MMP-9 and KiSS-1 has drawn considerable attention in recent years. In the present study, it was hypothesized that KiSS-1 gene could repress the metastatic potential of colorectal cancer cells by inhibiting the expression of MMP-9. Stable transfection of KiSS-1 specific siRNA and KiSS-1 expression vector in human CRC cell line HCT-116 was achieved by lentivirus infection. Moreover, the cell proliferation, invasiveness, and apoptosis were evaluated by CCK-8 method, transwell experiment, and fluorescence activated cell sorter, respectively. We also investigated the expression of MMP-9, PI3K, Akt, pAKt, and NF-kappa B subunit p65 using western blotting. KiSS-1 overexpression significantly decreased the cell proliferation and invasiveness of HCT-119 cells, while apoptosis was enhanced. The result of western blotting showed that synthesis of MMP-9, PI3K, p65, and phosphorylation of Akt were significantly blocked by overexpression of KiSS-1. Concatenated treatment of KiSS-1 overexpression vector with PI3K and Akt agonists attenuated the effect of KiSS-1 on the biological activity of CRC cells and also released the expression of MMP-9, PI3K, p65, and phosphorylation of Akt from the influence of overexpression of KiSS-1. Overexpression of KiSS-1 suppressed the invasiveness of CRC cells, and the gene exerted its function by reducing the expression of MMP-9 via blocking of tge PI3K/Akt/NF-kappa B pathway.