ERO1L promotes the proliferation and metastasis of lung adenocarcinoma via the Wnt2/β-catenin signaling pathway

Purpose: This study aimed to explore the role and underlying mechanism of action of Endoplasmic reticulum oxidoreductin-1 L (ERO1L) in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD).

Materials and methods: The Gene expression profiling interactive analysis database was used to analyze the expression of ERO1L in LUAD cases. The expression of ERO1L and Wnt2 in LUAD tissue was evaluated using immunohistochemistry. We also used western blotting to assess the expression of ERO1L or Wnt2 and the phosphorylation of β-catenin in LUAD cell lines. Plasmid transfection and small interfering RNA were used for overexpression and knockdown of ERO1L in LUAD cells, respectively. The proliferation, invasion and migration of LUAD cells were analyzed using cell viability, Transwell invasion and wound healing assays. The growth of LUAD tumors in animal models was assessed using tumor xenograft experiments.

Results: This study revealed that elevated ERO1L expression was associated with a poor prognosis in LUAD patients. In addition, ERO1L expression was significantly associated with lymph-node metastasis, TNM stage and tumor size. The expression of Wnt2 was positively associated with ERO1L expression in LUAD tissue samples and cell lines. ERO1L overexpression upregulated the expression of Wnt2 and β-catenin phosphorylation in vitro. Additionally, ERO1L was essential for the ubiquitination of Wnt2. Last, ERO1L promoted the proliferation and metastasis of LUAD via the Wnt2 signaling pathway in vitro and in vivo.

Conclusion: These findings suggest that ERO1L was highly expressed in LUAD tissue, and it promoted the proliferation and metastasis of LUAD by activating the Wnt2/β-catenin signaling pathway.