Abstract: Objective To observe the effect of interfering adenosine diphosphate ribosylation factor 6 (Arf6) on proliferation, migration and invasion of human prostate cancer cell line DU145, and to explore its regulatory mechanism. Methods DU145 cells were grown in log phase, and specific siRNA sequences and null sequences targeting Arf6 were transfected into DU145 cells by lipofection, which were set as interference group and NC group. Also take no processing as a blank group. Interference efficiency of siRNA was tested by Western blotting (Western blot). The proliferation of each group was detected and compared by MTT. The migration and invasion of each group were detected and compared by scratch test and Transwell test. Arf6, mitogen-activated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (MEK), extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), Ras-associated C3 botulinum substrate 1 (Rac1) mRNA and protein expressions, phosphorylated MEK (pMEK), pERK protein expressions were detected and compared by real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and Western blot. Results The interference activity of the specific siRNA sequence targeting Arf6 was (62.67±4.38)%. The cell proliferation of the interference group were significantly lower than those of the blank group and the NC group (P<0.05). The cell migration rate and the number of transmembrane cells of the interference group was significantly lower than that of the blank group and the NC group (P<0.05). The relative expressions of Arf6 and Rac1 mRNA and protein, pMEK/MEK and pERK/ERK protein in the interference group were significantly lower than those in the blank group and NC group (P<0.05). Conclusion Interfering with Arf6 can inhibit the proliferation, migration and invasion of human prostate cancer cell line DU145, which may be related to down-regulation of pMEK, pERK, Rac1 protein expression and inhibition of MEK/ERK signaling pathway.

Key words: Adenosine diphosphate ribosylation factor 6, Prostate cancer, Proliferation, Migration, Invasion