Abstract: Objective To explore the effects and regulatory mechanisms of dehydrocholesterolreductase 7 ( DHCR7) on the proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and invasion ability of coloncancer (CC) cells. Methods Using bioinformatics methods to analyze the relationship betweenDHCR7 expression and immune infiltration, prognosis, and sensitivity to anti-tumor drugs in colon cancer. qRT-PCR, Western blotting, and IHC were used to detect the mRNA and protein expression levels of DHCR7. Effect of DHCR7 knock-down on cell proliferation, cell cycle and apoptosis, cell migration and invasion was determined by MTT and colony formation assay, flow cytometry, wound-healing and Transwell assay, respectively. The key signaling pathways regulated by DHCR7were screened out through gene enrichment analysis and validated by Western blotting. Results  Bioinformatics analysis shows that the high expression of DHCR7 in colon cancer tissues was associated with the N-stage, specific survival, progression free survival, tumor immune infiltration level, and drug sensitivity of colon cancer. DHCR7 expression was upregulated in colon cancer tissues and cell lines. Knockdown of DHCR7 expression inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion of HCT166 cells. Wnt signaling pathway was one of the key signaling pathways regulated by DHCR7 inCC, and knockdown of DHCR7 inhibited Wnt signaling pathway. Conclusion DHCR7 regulatesthe Wnt signaling pathway to promote EMT in colon cancer cells, thereby promoting proliferation, migration, and invasion of HCT116 cells.

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