Objective: To investigate the effect of Ras-related protein 23 (Rab23) on the invasion capacity of Sa3 cutaneous squamous cell carcinaoma (cSCC) cells and determine whether Rab23 can enhance the invasion of Sa3 cells through regulation of Ras-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate 1 (Rac1).
Methods: Sa3 cells stably expressing exogenous Rab23 or Sa3 cells deprived of endogenous Rab23 were generated using lentivirus transfection. Transwell(TM) invasion assay was used to evaluate the invasion capacity in the above-mentioned cells. The effects of Rab23 overexpression or knockdown on Rac1 expression were assessed using Western blotting. In the last experimental setting, the engineered cells were pretreated with Rac1 inhibitor Z62954982 before being subjected to the assessment of invasion capacity by Transwell(TM) assay.
Results: Rab23 overexpression enhanced the invasion ability, whereas ablation of Rab23 attenuated the invasion in Sa3 cells. Rab23 could up-regulate the expression level of Rac1. Finally, using Rac1 inhibitor, we successfully suppressed the invasion capacity of Sa3 cells stably overexpressing Rab23.
Conclusion: Rab23 may enhance cSCC cell invasion via up-regulating Rac1 signaling.