Gene expression profile of side population cells in human oral cancer cell line SCC-4

• Published in: Journal of Osaka Dental University Vol. 49; no. 2; pp. 205 - 217
• Main Authors: Nishiitsutsuji, Rie, Nozaki, Tadashige, Ohura, Kiyoshi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Osaka Odontological Society 2015
• Subjects: Anti-cancer drug; Drug resistance; Gene expression; Oral cancer; Side population
• ISSN: 0475-2058; 2189-6488
• DOI: 10.18905/jodu.49.2_205

To define the properties of side population (SP) cells of the oral squamous cell carcinoma cell line SCC-4, we compared their gene expression profile with that of main population (MP) cells. SP cells accounted for approximately 1.5% of the cell population. The gene expression profile in SP cells versus MP cells revealed that 15.8% of genes were up-regulated by more than 10%, and 16.6% were down-regulated by more than 10%. Gene Ontology and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses were carried out on the DAVID online tool for 26,879 distinct probes (p<0.05). The terms involved in immune/inflammatory responses, cell migration and angiogenesis were detected as up-regulated genes. The terms related to DNA replication, DNA metabolic process, mismatch repair and base excretion repair were detected as down-regulated genes. Moreover, mRNAs encoding the ABC transporters ABCG2/BCRP1 and ABCC2/MRP2, which mediate the excretion of anti-cancer drugs such as cisplatin and gefitinib, respectively, were expressed at higher levels. In contrast, the level of mRNA encoding the SLC transporter SLC29A1/ENT1, which mediates the uptake of anti-cancer drugs such as fluorouracil, was decreased. These results indicate that SCC-4 SP cells might be potentially resistant to anti-cancer drugs.