OBJECTIVETo investigate the influence of CCL21 on the invasion and metastasis of colorectal cancer (CRC).

METHODSCCL21 over-expressing CRC cell line was constructed by lentivirus infection and CCL21 low-expressing CRC cell line was constructed by lipofection. The effects of CCL21 on the invasion and metastasis of CRC cells and the stem cell-like phenotype were investigated by Transwell migration, invasion assay, wound healing assay and sphere formation assay.

RESULTSReal-time quantitative PCR and western blot confirmed that the expression of CCL21 was up-regulated by lentiviral transfection and down-regulated by siRNA liposome transfection. In vitro, Transwell assays showed that the invasion and migration in CCL21 over-expressing CRC cells decreased significantly as compared to those of CCL21 low-expressing cells. In wound healing assay, the CCL21 over-expressing CRC cells showed a significantly lower rate of migration. In addition, the sphere formation rate and density of CCL21 over-expressing CRC cells were lower than those with low-expression of CCL21.

CONCLUSIONCCL21 can suppress the migration and invasion of CRC cells and weaken their stem cell-like phenotype.