Silencing of SCEL promotes progression of oral squamous cell carcinoma via activating TGF-β/Smad pathway

Abstract Objective SCEL serves as a precursor protein for the cornified envelope (CE), and its abnormal expression has been identified in various malignancies. Despite this, the functional role and detailed mechanisms of SCEL in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) remain to be clarified. Methods mRN...

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Main Authors: Danping Li, Limei Li, Shu Wu, Jun Zhao, Haishan Zhang, Qiaoli Chen, Yingxi Mo, Liudmila Matskova, Ping Li, Xiaoying Zhou
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Springer 2025-05-01
Series:Discover Oncology
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1007/s12672-025-02423-4
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author Danping Li
Limei Li
Shu Wu
Jun Zhao
Haishan Zhang
Qiaoli Chen
Yingxi Mo
Liudmila Matskova
Ping Li
Xiaoying Zhou
author_facet Danping Li
Limei Li
Shu Wu
Jun Zhao
Haishan Zhang
Qiaoli Chen
Yingxi Mo
Liudmila Matskova
Ping Li
Xiaoying Zhou
author_sort Danping Li
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Objective SCEL serves as a precursor protein for the cornified envelope (CE), and its abnormal expression has been identified in various malignancies. Despite this, the functional role and detailed mechanisms of SCEL in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) remain to be clarified. Methods mRNA and protein expression of SCEL in OSCC cell lines and patient tissues were examined by qRT-PCR and IHC. In vitro and in vivo experiments assessed SCEL's influence on proliferation, apoptosis, cell cycle, ROS production, migration, and invasion. Western blotting was used to analyze SCEL’s effect on various signaling pathways, and a dual-luciferase reporter assay identified the miRNA that targets SCEL. Results SCEL is downregulated in OSCC, which correlates with reduced tumor cell differentiation and lymph node metastasis. SCEL inhibits OSCC proliferation, induces cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, and ROS production. SCEL suppresses the TGF-β/Smad pathway, inhibiting migration and invasion. SCEL also triggers MET and downregulates VEGFC, reducing lymph node metastasis probability. miR-5696 inhibitor effectively inhibits OSCC proliferation and invasion by targeting SCEL. Conclusion SCEL acts as a tumor suppressor in OSCC, influencing its progression and potential metastasis. Loss of SCEL facilitates OSCC progression by activating TGF-β/Smad signaling. Upregulating SCEL and silencing miR-5696 hold therapeutic promise for OSCC.
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spelling doaj-art-0b51e0cea502441aac2b15bba35e7f512025-08-20T01:51:32ZengSpringerDiscover Oncology2730-60112025-05-0116111910.1007/s12672-025-02423-4Silencing of SCEL promotes progression of oral squamous cell carcinoma via activating TGF-β/Smad pathwayDanping Li0Limei Li1Shu Wu2Jun Zhao3Haishan Zhang4Qiaoli Chen5Yingxi Mo6Liudmila Matskova7Ping Li8Xiaoying Zhou9Department of Pathology, College & Hospital of Stomatology, Guangxi Medical UniversityDepartment of Pathology, College & Hospital of Stomatology, Guangxi Medical UniversityDepartment of Pathology, College & Hospital of Stomatology, Guangxi Medical UniversityDepartment of Pathology, College & Hospital of Stomatology, Guangxi Medical UniversityDepartment of Pathology, College & Hospital of Stomatology, Guangxi Medical UniversityDepartment of Pathology, College & Hospital of Stomatology, Guangxi Medical UniversityDepartment of Pathology, Guangxi Medical University Cancer HospitalDepartment of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska InstitutetDepartment of Pathology, College & Hospital of Stomatology, Guangxi Medical UniversityMinistry of Education, Key Laboratory of High-Incidence-Tumor Prevention & Treatment (Guangxi Medical University)Abstract Objective SCEL serves as a precursor protein for the cornified envelope (CE), and its abnormal expression has been identified in various malignancies. Despite this, the functional role and detailed mechanisms of SCEL in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) remain to be clarified. Methods mRNA and protein expression of SCEL in OSCC cell lines and patient tissues were examined by qRT-PCR and IHC. In vitro and in vivo experiments assessed SCEL's influence on proliferation, apoptosis, cell cycle, ROS production, migration, and invasion. Western blotting was used to analyze SCEL’s effect on various signaling pathways, and a dual-luciferase reporter assay identified the miRNA that targets SCEL. Results SCEL is downregulated in OSCC, which correlates with reduced tumor cell differentiation and lymph node metastasis. SCEL inhibits OSCC proliferation, induces cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, and ROS production. SCEL suppresses the TGF-β/Smad pathway, inhibiting migration and invasion. SCEL also triggers MET and downregulates VEGFC, reducing lymph node metastasis probability. miR-5696 inhibitor effectively inhibits OSCC proliferation and invasion by targeting SCEL. Conclusion SCEL acts as a tumor suppressor in OSCC, influencing its progression and potential metastasis. Loss of SCEL facilitates OSCC progression by activating TGF-β/Smad signaling. Upregulating SCEL and silencing miR-5696 hold therapeutic promise for OSCC.https://doi.org/10.1007/s12672-025-02423-4Oral squamous cell carcinomaSCELTGF-β signaling pathwayDifferentiationMetastasisMiR-5696
spellingShingle Danping Li
Limei Li
Shu Wu
Jun Zhao
Haishan Zhang
Qiaoli Chen
Yingxi Mo
Liudmila Matskova
Ping Li
Xiaoying Zhou
Silencing of SCEL promotes progression of oral squamous cell carcinoma via activating TGF-β/Smad pathway
Discover Oncology
Oral squamous cell carcinoma
SCEL
TGF-β signaling pathway
Differentiation
Metastasis
MiR-5696
title Silencing of SCEL promotes progression of oral squamous cell carcinoma via activating TGF-β/Smad pathway
title_full Silencing of SCEL promotes progression of oral squamous cell carcinoma via activating TGF-β/Smad pathway
title_fullStr Silencing of SCEL promotes progression of oral squamous cell carcinoma via activating TGF-β/Smad pathway
title_full_unstemmed Silencing of SCEL promotes progression of oral squamous cell carcinoma via activating TGF-β/Smad pathway
title_short Silencing of SCEL promotes progression of oral squamous cell carcinoma via activating TGF-β/Smad pathway
title_sort silencing of scel promotes progression of oral squamous cell carcinoma via activating tgf β smad pathway
topic Oral squamous cell carcinoma
SCEL
TGF-β signaling pathway
Differentiation
Metastasis
MiR-5696
url https://doi.org/10.1007/s12672-025-02423-4
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