The role of EPB41L3 in inhibiting A549 cell invasion was further validated by directly downregulating EPB41L3 via transfecting cells with EPB41L3 siRNA or miR-223 mimic.
Overexpression of DAL-1 in A549 cells, a cell line lacking endogenous DAL-1, inhibited cell migration and invasion by approximately 38 and 48 %, respectively.
Exogenous DAL-1 effectively inhibited cancer cell proliferation, migration, invasion and epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT); exogenous DAL-1 also promoted apoptosis in GC AGS cells.
DAL-1 directly combined with E-cadherin promoter and regulated its expression that could be the reason for impairing EMT and decreasing cell migration and invasion.
Low expression of DAL-1 in cancer tissue was significantly associated with tumor site (p < 0.05), histological grade (p < 0.01), depth of invasion (p < 0.05), lymph node metastasis status (p < 0.05), Lauren classification (p < 0.001), and clinical stage (p < 0.01).