Objective: To analyze the influences of secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteines-like protein 1 (SPARCL1) on the proliferation, apoptosis and invasion of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells, and to explore the role of Mitogen activation inhibitor (MEK) / Extracellular regulated protein kinase (ERK) pathway in it. Methods: From September 2019 to June 2021, the cancer tissues and corresponding adjacent tissues of 84 NSCLC patients who received surgical treatment in our hospital were collected, real time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) method was applied to measure and compare the expression level of SPARCL1 messenger RNA (mRNA) in tissues and normal lung epithelial cells HBEpiC and NSCLC cells A549, HCC827, H1299 and H292. A549 and HCC827 were selected for culture and grouping, they were divided into control group, NC siRNA group, SPARCL1 siRNA group, U0126 group (MEK/ERK specific inhibitor), and SPARCL1 siRNA+U0126 group. Cell counting kit 8 (CCK8) method and the plate cloning method were used to measure the proliferation of A549 and HCC827 cells, flow cytometry was applied to determine the apoptosis of A549 and HCC827 cells, Transwell chamber method was applied to determine the invasive ability of A549 and HCC827 cells, Western blot was applied to detect the protein expression of SPARCL1, p-MEK, MEK, p-ERK1/2, ERK1/2. Results: The SPARCL1 mRNA expression level in NSCLC tissues was lower than that in adjacent tissues (P<0.05). Compared with HBEpiC cells, the SPARCL1 mRNA expression level in NSCLC cells A549, HCC827, H1299 and H292 cells decreased (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the SPARCL1 mRNA expression level, protein expression and apoptosis rate of A549 and HCC827 cells in SPARCL1 siRNA group decreased (P<0.05), the OD450, number of colonies formed, number of invasive cells, p-MEK/MEK, and p-ERK1/2/ERK1/2 protein expression increased (P<0.05), the SPARCL1 mRNA expression level, protein expression and apoptosis rate of A549 and HCC827 cells in the U0126 group increased (P<0.05), the OD450, number of colonies formed, number of invasive cells, p-MEK/MEK, and p-ERK1/2/ERK1/2 protein expression decreased (P<0.05). Compared with the SPARCL1 siRNA group, the SPARCL1 mRNA expression level, protein expression and apoptosis rate of A549 and HCC827 cells in SPARCL1 siRNA+U0126 group increased (P<0.05), the OD450, number of colonies formed, number of invasive cells, p-MEK/MEK, and p-ERK1/2/ERK1/2 protein expression decreased (P<0.05). Conclusion: SPARCL1 may affect the proliferation, invasion and apoptosis of A549 and HCC827 cells by regulating MEK/ERK pathway. |