Effect of siRNA-silencing of SALL2 gene on growth, migration and invasion of human ovarian carcinoma A2780 cells

BACKGROUND: The role of Spalt-like gene-2 (SALL2) in tumorigenesis remains incompletely elucidated. This study investigated the effects of SALL2 on human ovarian carcinoma (OC) A2780 cells and the probable mechanism. METHODS: Expression of SALL2 in human OC cell lines were detected by reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) and Western blot analysis. A2780 cells were transfected with small-interfering ribonucleic acid (siRNA) to silence SALL2. SALL2 expression was detected by RT-PCR, Western blot analysis and immunofluorescence assay. Cell proliferation was measured by CCK-8 assay and flow cytometry (FCM). Apoptosis was measured by FCM. Cell migration was detected by real-time cell analysis. Cell invasion was detected by transwell assay. mRNA expression of p21 was detected by quantitative real-time PCR. Western blot analysis was used to determine the expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)2, MMP9, protein kinase B (PKB, also called Akt), and phosphorylated-Akt (p-Akt). RESULTS: SALL2 was expressed in six OC cell lines, and the expression was the highest in A2780 cells. Compared with that in the Scramble group, SALL2 expression in A2780 was downregulated after transfection with siRNA-2 and siRNA-3 for 48 h. Compared with that in the Scramble group, proliferation of A2780 cells in the siRNA-2 group increased after transfection for 24, 48 and 72 h. In the siRNA-2 group, the proportion of A2780 cells decreased in the G0/G1 phase, and cell apoptosis decreased after transfection for 48 h. Compared with that in the Scramble group, the cell migration and invasion abilities of A2780 cells increased. Compared with that in the Scramble group, p21 mRNA expression in A2780 cells decreased after transfection with siRNA2. When SALL2 was silenced, the expression of MMP2/9 and p-Akt in A2780 cells increased. Furthermore, the PI3K inhibitor LY294002 could effectively reversed SALL2 siRNA-induced phosphorylation of Akt, migration and invasion of A2780 cells. CONCLUSION: Transient silencing of SALL2 promotes cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, and inhibits apoptosis of A2780 cells. In SALL2 siRNA-silenced cells, p21 expression was decreased. SALL2 knockdown by siRNA induces the migration and invasion of A2780 cells; this phenomenon is possibly associated with the increased expression of MMP2/9 and the activation of the PI3K/Akt signalling pathway. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (10.1186/s12885-017-3843-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.