Effect of Inhibiting FoxM1 Gene Expression on Glycolytic Pathway in Thyroid Papillary Carcinoma TPC-1 Cells

Objective To investigate the effect of inhibiting FoxM1 gene expression on glucose uptake and lactic acid production in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) cells, and to explore the correlation between FoxM1 and PTC cell glycolysis pathway.

Methods The expression of FoxM1 mRNA and protein in PTC TPC-1 cells were detected after lentiviral rLv-hFoxM1 transfection. The effect of inhibiting FoxM1 gene expression on TPC-1 cell viability was detected by MTT method. The changes of glucose intake and lactic acid production in TPC-1 cells transfected with lentiviral rLv-hFoxM1 and the content of the key enzymes of hexokinase isoform 1 (HK1), hexokinase isoform 2 (HK2) and glucose transporter 1 (Glut1) were detected by Western blot.

Results In TPC-1 cells, lentiviral rLv-hFoxM1 transfection significantly inhibited the expression of FoxM1 mRNA and protein in TPC-1 cells and the activity of TPC-1 cells was significantly decreased (P < 0.05). After the FoxM1 gene was inhibited, the glucose intake and the lactic acid production of TPC-1 cells were significantly decreased (P < 0.01). The levels of Glut1, HK1 and HK2 were also significantly decreased (P < 0.01).

Conclusion Inhibition of FoxM1 gene expression could reduce the level of glycolysis in PTC cells.