BACKGROUNDTo investigate the correlation between BRI gene expression and the metastatic potential in human non small cell lung cancer cell lines.

METHODSBRI gene differential expression was detected between human lung adenocarcinoma cell lines AGZY83-a and Anip973 by RT-PCR and Northern blot. Anip973 was isolated from AGZY83-a with a higher metastatic potential than its parent line. Other 6 human non small cell lung cancer cell lines, A549, TKB-18, SPC-A-1, GLC-82, 95D and PAa, were also detected for the relationship between BRI expression and metastatic potential.

RESULTSThere was a significant difference in BRI gene expression between AGZY83-a and Anip973 cell lines. BRI was overexpressed in Anip973 cells comparing to AGZY83-a cells. Up regulation of BRI gene was also observed in other 6 lung cancer cell lines, and partly correlated with their metastatic potential. Furthermore, there were two mRNA transcripts in the lung cancer cells, in which the 1.6 kb transcript was the major one.

CONCLUSIONSThe up-regulated expression of BRI 1.6 kb mRNA transcript may indicate the formation of metastatic potential of NSCLC. BRI is possibly a metastasis related gene.