transforming growth factor beta-induced factor 2-linked x (tgif2lx) regulates two morphogenesis genes, nir1 and nir2 in human colorectal

a member of homeodomain protein namely tgif2lx has been implicated as a tumor suppressor gene in human malignancy as well as in spermatogenesis. however, to our knowledge, dynamic functional evidence of the tgif2lx has not yet been provided. the aim of the present study was to investigate the human tgif2lx target gene(s) using a cdna-aflp as a differential display method. a pegfp-tgif2lx construct containing the wild-type tgif2lx cdna was stably transfected into sw48 cells. uv microscopic analysis and real-time rt-pcr were used to confirm tgif2lx expression. the mrna expressions of tgif2lx in transfected sw48 cells, the cells containing empty vector (pegfp-n), and untransfected cells were compared. also, a real-time pcr technique was applied to validate cdna-aflp results. the results revealed a significant down-regulation and up-regulationby tgif2lx of nir1 and nir2 genes, respectively. the genes are engaged in the cell morphogenesis process. our findings may provide new insight into the complex molecular pathways underlying colorectal cancer development.