SRPK1 is a poor prognostic indicator and a novel potential therapeutic target for human colorectal cancer

Nan Yi,1,2,* Mingbing Xiao,1,2,* Feng Jiang,2 Zhaoxiu Liu,2 Wenkai Ni,2 Cuihua Lu,2 Runzhou Ni,2 Weichang Chen1 1Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215006, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu 226001, People’s Republic of China *These authors contributed equally to this work Background: Serine/arginine protein kinase 1 (SRPK1) is a protein kinase that belongs to the serine/arginine-rich domain family of splicing factors which are essential for splice-site selection, especially the modulation for RNA metabolism, localization, and translation. High expression of SRPK1 has been found in numerous human cancers, but its mechanism in colorectal cancer (CRC) is still rarely reported. Purpose: To investigate the expression of SRPK1 in CRC tissues and cells and determine its functions and mechanism in CRC. Methods: The expression of SRPK1 was explored in human CRC patients and cells by immunohistochemistry, real-time quantitative PCR, and Western blot; Cell Counting Kit-8, Transwell, flow cytometry, and tube formation assay were used to investigate the CRC cell viability, migration, apoptosis, and angiogenesis, respectively. Results: SRPK1 was overexpressed in CRC tumor tissues and cells, and correlated with tumor node metastasis stage; inhibition of SRPK1 by siRNA resulted in decreased cell growth and migration, significantly increased apoptosis, and suppressed angiogenesis. Conclusion: SRPK1 can be a prognostic indicator of CRC and may be a therapeutic target for CRC. Keywords: serine/arginine protein kinase 1, colorectal cancer, growth, angiogenesis, apoptosis