GSE1 promotes the proliferation and migration of lung adenocarcinoma cells by downregulating KLF6 expression

Abstract Lung cancer is one of the most prevalent human cancers with a high lethality rate worldwide. In this study, we demonstrated that GSE1 (genetic suppressor element 1) expression is aberrantly upregulated in lung adenocarcinoma and that GSE1 depletion inhibits the proliferation and migration of both A549 and H1299 cells. Immunoprecipitation assays demonstrated that GSE1 interacts with histone deacetylase 1 (HDAC1) and other BRAF–HDAC complex (BHC) components in cells. The transcriptome of GSE1‐knockdown A549 cells indicated that 207 genes were upregulated and 159 were downregulated based on a p ‐value < .05 and fold change ≥ 1.5. Bioinformatics analysis suggested that 140 differentially expressed genes harbor binding sites for HDAC1, including the tumor suppressor gene KLF6 (Kruppel‐like factor 6). Indeed, quantitative reverse‐transcription polymerase chain reaction and western blot analysis revealed that GSE1 could inhibit the transcription of KLF6 in lung cancer cells. In conclusion, GSE1 cooperates with HDAC1 to promote the proliferation and metastasis of non‐small cell lung cancer cells through the downregulation of KLF6 expression.