Abstract: Objective To investigate the expression of methionine sulfoxide reductase (MsrA) in colorectal cancer stem cells and
its association with the tumorigenesis and progression of colorectal cancer. Methods The CD133+/CD44+/ESA+ subpopulation of
colorectal cancer cell line SW480 was obtained by magnetic activated cell sorting (MACS). The expression of MsrA, VEGF,
MMP-13 and CXCR4 in the cancer cells, cancer stem cells and normal colon mucosa cells were detected using RT-PCR. The
proliferation of colorectal cancer stem cells was evaluated with MTT assay. Results The expression of MsrA was significantly
higher in cancer stem cells than in the cancer cells and normal mucosa cells. Overexpression of MsrA inhibited the
proliferation of colorectal cancer stem cells and down-regulated the expression of VEGF, MMP-13 and CXCR4. Conclusions
MsrA suppresses the tumorigenesis and progression of colorectal cancer cells possibly by inhibiting cell proliferation and
down-regulating VEGF, MMP-13 and CXCR4.