Semaphorin 4C Plays a Key Role in Colorectal Cancer Cells Development

Objective: Purpose of this work was to discuss effects and mechanisms of Sema 4C in colon cancer development. Results: Sema4C were significantly upregulated in cancer tissues (P < 0.001). Following transfection, the expression levels of Sema4C mRNA were significantly downregulated in the si-Sema4C groups compared with those in the si-negative control groups of both HT-29 and SW620 cells (both P < 0.001). The apoptotic rate was significantly increased, while the invasive and wound healing rates were significantly suppressed in the si-Sema4C groups of HT-29 and SW620 cells (both P < 0.001). The results of the RT-qPCR and western blotting analyses revealed that PI3K, AKT, MMP-2 and MMP-9 mRNA and protein expression levels, respectively, were significantly downregulated, while caspase-3 mRNA and protein expression levels were significantly upregulated in the si-Sema4C groups of HT-29 and SW620 cells. Conclusion: The findings of the present study demonstrated that the knockdown of Sema4C expression suppressed CRC cell biological activities by regulating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Therefore, Sema4C may act as an oncogene in CRC.