Objective To investigate the effect of osteopontin (OPN) on the biological behavior of thyroid cancer. Methods SW579 cells were cultured in 6-well plate and randomly divided into control group, negative control group and OPN small interfering RNA (siRNA) interference group, with 2×104 cells in each group, 3 replicates in each group. The control group did not receive any treatment, the negative control group was transfected with OPN negative sequence, and OPN siRNA interference group was transfected with OPN siRNA sequence. qRT-PCR was used to determine the mRNA levels of OPN, MMP-2, MMP-9 and Caspase-3 in each group after transfection. The inhibitory rate of each group after transfection was detected by MTT. The apoptosis of each group after transfection was detected by flow cytometry. The invasiveness of each group was detected by Transwell chamber after transfection. The protein levels of OPN, MMP-2, MMP-9 and Casepase-3 were detected by Western blot. Results The expression of OPN mRNA in OPN siRNA interference group was significantly lower than that in control group and negative control group (P<0.05), and the apoptotic rate was significantly higher than that in control group and negative control group (P<0.05). The invasion ability was significantly lower than that in control group and negative control group (P<0.05). The mRNA and protein levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9 were significantly lower than those of control group and negative control group, and the levels of Casepase-3 mRNA and protein were significantly higher than those of control group and negative control group (P<0.05). Conclusion After OPN interference, the proliferation and invasion ability of SW579 cells decreased, while the apoptotic rate increased significantly. The mechanism may be related to the increase of apoptotic protein caspase-3 level and the decrease of MMP-2 and MMP-9 levels. |