G-Protein-Coupled Receptor Kinase-Interacting Protein 1 (GIT1) Promotes Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Metastases via Activating the PI3K/AKT/mTOR Signal Pathway

Comput Math Methods Med. 2022 Jan 25:2022:6881932. doi: 10.1155/2022/6881932. eCollection 2022.

Abstract

Objective: GIT1 is identified as a novel tumor oncogene in breast cancer. In this article, we aimed to explore the role of GIT1 in the progression of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).

Methods: GIT1 expression in HNSCC was detected by RT-qPCR, immunohistochemistry assay, and Western blot. HNSCC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion were examined by CCK-8 assay, Wound healing assay, and Transwell assay, respectively. Cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometric analysis.

Results: In our study, GIT1 was notably upregulated in HNSCC tissues and cells. Moreover, GIT1 expression level had positive corelation with pathological grade and nodal status of HNSCC. Functional experiments showed that knockdown of GIT1 restrained HNSCC proliferation, invasion, migration, and EMT and facilitated cell apoptosis. Furthermore, GIT1 knockdown was found to restrain HNSCC tumor growth and lung metastasis. Additionally, PI3K/AKT/mTOR signal pathway inhibitors suppressed the effect of GIT1 on HNSCC cell progression.

Conclusion: GIT1 was upregulated in HNSCC and facilitated HNSCC cell progression by inducing PI3K/AKT/mTOR signal pathway. Therefore, we suggested that GIT1 might be a potential target for HNSCC treatment.

Publication types

  • Retracted Publication

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / genetics
  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / metabolism*
  • Aged
  • Animals
  • Apoptosis
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / genetics
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / metabolism*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Movement
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Computational Biology
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Gene Knockdown Techniques
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms / genetics
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Heterografts
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / metabolism
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction
  • Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck / genetics
  • Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck / metabolism*
  • Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck / secondary*
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism
  • Up-Regulation

Substances

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • GIT1 protein, human
  • MTOR protein, human
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases