Role of WNT1-inducible-signaling pathway protein 1 in etoposide resistance in lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells.

OBJECT The aim of this study was to explore the role of WNT1-inducible-signaling Pathway Protein 1 (WISP-1) in etoposide resistance in lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells. METHODS WISP-1 overexpression A549 lung adenocarcinoma cell was established. After exposure to ultraviolet (UV) and etoposide, cell viability and apoptosis were evaluated. Moreover, western-blot was employed to examine the expression of apoptotic pathway proteins. In addition, a nude mice tumor model was established to examine the effect of WISP-1 overexpression in vivo and TUNEL staining was used to assess cell apoptosis of tumor tissue. RESULTS WISP-1 overexpression significantly increased cell viability and decreased cell apoptosis after treatment with UV and etoposide. Decreased expression of Bad and Bax and increased expression of Bcl-2 was found after etoposide treatment in WISP-1 overexpressed cells. A significantly increasing of tumor volume in WISP-1 overexpressed group was found and TUNEL staining revealed that decreased cell apoptosis in WISP-1 overexpressed group. CONCLUSION Our results demonstrated that WISP-1 may have a facilitating role in etoposide resistance through increasing cell viability and decreasing cell apoptosis.