CRISPR/Cas9-mediated high-mobility group A2 knockout inhibits cell proliferation and invasion in papillary thyroid carcinoma cells

Metastasis and recurrence are the prognostic risk factor in patients with thyroid carcinoma. High-mobility group A2 (HMGA2) protein plays a crucial role in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) metastasis. The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanisms underlying the HMGA2 effect on PTC cell proliferation and invasion. We used the CRISPR/Cas9 system to perform knockout of the HMGA2 gene in the human PTC cell line TPC-1. The knockout monoclonal cells were screened and verified by PCR analysis and genomic sequencing. Cell proliferation was examined after the knockout of the HMGA2 gene using cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assays. Furthermore, cell migration and invasion after the knockout were examined by cell scratch tests. Additionally, the changes in cell cycle and apoptosis after the knockout were detected by flow cytometry. The results of the PCR analysis and the genomic sequencing confirmed that the human PTC TPC-1 ​cell line with knockout of HMGA2 gene was successfully established. The knockout of the HMGA2 gene significantly reduced the cell proliferation, growth, and invasion. Meanwhile, the knockout of the HMGA2 gene delayed the conversion of the G2/M phase and promoted cell necrosis. The CRISPR/Cas9-mediated HMGA2 knockout in the TPC-1 ​cell line inhibited cell proliferation and invasion, which might be due to the blockage of the cell cycle in the G2/M phase and the promotion of cell necrosis.