Overexpression of TRIM25 in Lung Cancer Regulates Tumor Cell Progression

Lung cancer is one of the most common causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Although great efforts and progressions have been made in the study of the lung cancer in the recent decades, the mechanism of lung cancer formation remains elusive. To establish effective therapeutic methods, new targets implied in lung cancer processes have to be identified. Tripartite motif-containing 25 has been associated with ovarian and breast cancer and is thought to positively promote cell growth by targeting the cell cycle. However, whether tripartite motif-containing 25 has a function in lung cancer development remains unknown. In this study, we found that tripartite motif-containing 25 was overexpressed in human lung cancer tissues. Expression of tripartite motif-containing 25 in lung cancer cells is important for cell proliferation and migration. Knockdown of tripartite motif-containing 25 markedly reduced proliferation of lung cancer cells both in vitro and in vivo and reduced migration of lung cancer cells in vitro. Meanwhile, tripartite motif-containing 25 silencing also increased the sensitivity of doxorubicin and significantly increased death and apoptosis of lung cancer cells by doxorubicin were achieved with knockdown of tripartite motif-containing 25. We also observed that tripartite motif-containing 25 formed a complex with p53 and mouse double minute 2 homolog (MDM2) in both human lung cancer tissues and in lung cancer cells and tripartite motif-containing 25 silencing increased the expression of p53. These results provide evidence that tripartite motif-containing 25 contributes to the pathogenesis of lung cancer probably by promoting proliferation and migration of lung cancer cells. Therefore, targeting tripartite motif-containing 25 may provide a potential therapeutic intervention for lung cancer.