@Article{biocell.2026.084368,
AUTHOR = {Xu Chen, Zhen Wang, Qing Hu},
TITLE = {GNA13 Regulates the β-Catenin Pathway to Promote Esophageal Cancer Cell Invasion while Inhibiting Apoptosis},
JOURNAL = {BIOCELL},
VOLUME = {},
YEAR = {},
NUMBER = {},
PAGES = {{pages}},
URL = {http://www.techscience.com/biocell/online/detail/27919},
ISSN = {1667-5746},
ABSTRACT = {<b>Background:</b> G protein subunit alpha 13 (GNA13) plays a role in the progression of many malignant tumors, but its expression in esophageal carcinoma (ESCA) cells and impact on their biological behavior are unknown. This research aims to clarify the functions and mechanisms of GNA13 on the malignant phenotype of ESCA cells. <b>Methods:</b> GNA13 expression in ESCA tissues and cells was assessed using reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and Western blot. Sh-GNA13 was transfected into ESCA cells (TE-1 and KYSE-150) to assess the efficiency of GNA13 silencing. The effects of GNA13 silencing on cell viability, clone formation rate, invasion, and apoptosis of ESCA cells were investigated via Cell Counting Kit-8, clone formation, Transwell, and flow cytometry. The expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) marker proteins, apoptotic proteins, and β-catenin pathway proteins was evaluated by Western blot. <b>Results:</b> GNA13 expression in ESCA tissues and cells was significantly higher than in paracancerous tissues and normal human esophageal cells, HET1A (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.05). Silencing GNA13 suppressed the malignant phenotypes of ESCA cells: cell viability at 48 h was decreased by 25.8%–42.2% (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.01), clone formation rate was reduced by 70%–89% (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.05), and invasion capacity was attenuated by 51%–56% (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.05). Meanwhile, GNA13 knockdown inhibited the EMT process and increased the apoptotic rate by 3.0–3.2-fold (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.05). Silencing GNA13 reduced the expression of β-catenin pathway proteins (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.05), while the β-catenin pathway activator SKL2001 reversed the tumor-suppressive effects induced by GNA13 silencing (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.05). <b>Conclusion:</b> GNA13 increased ESCA cell invasion and prevented apoptosis by stimulating the β-catenin pathway. The findings may lead to new approaches for diagnosing and treating ESCA.},
DOI = {10.32604/biocell.2026.084368}
}