RESUMEN
Objective To research the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) effects of cuprous oxide nanoparticles (CONPs) on melanoma.Methods Cuprous oxide nanoparticles were prepared hydrothermally.The B16 cells were cultured with cuprous oxide nanoparticlesat different concentrations (5,25,50 μg/ml).The changes of the morphology of the B16 cell were observed under the inverted microscope.The effects of CONPs on B16 cell migration ability were detected through the Wound healing assay and the Transwell assay.Then cell immunofluorescence and western blotting were used to test the EMT related molecular markers, including E-cadherin, N-cadherin, Cytokeratin, and Vimentin.Results The synthesized cuprous oxide nanoparticles distribute uniformly with a diameter of 40 nm.Our study indicated that CONPs inhibited the EMT of B16 cell.A conversion process was discovered in this study.In B16 cells, CONPs inhibited B16 cell migration, promoted the expression of E-cadherin, Cytokeratin and Desmoplakin, while the expression of N-cadherin and Vimentin was repressed in protein level.Conclusion Cuprous oxide nanoparticles can significantly restrain the invasion and metastasis of melanoma cells and inhabit the EMT of B16 cells.