RESUMO
Objective To investigate the impact of wnt3 upon epithelial-mesenchymal transition in mouse hepatic progenitor cells (14-19 cells). Methods Ad-GFP-wnt3 virus and blank Ad-GFP were transfected into 14-19 cells; cell morphology was observed under microscope. The migration ability of 14-19 cells was examined by wound-healing assay and transwell assay. The expression of epithelial and mesenchymal markers in 14-19 cells was detected by real-time PCR and Western blotting analysis. Results Microscopic observation found that 14-19 cells changed from an epithelial characteristic shape into a spindle-like shape. Wound-healing assay and Transwell assay showed that the migration ability of 14-19 cells highly expressing wnt3 was significantly enhanced compared with the blank control group(P<0. 01). Real-time PCR and Western blotting analysis showed that mesenchymal markers N-cadherin, vimentin and twistl were significantly increased at both mRNA and protein levels in Ad-GFP-wnt3 virus group than the blank control group, while the epithelial marker E-cadherin was significantly decreased at mRNA and protein levels(P<0. 01). Conclusion Wnt3 can induce epithelial-mesenchymal transition in mouse hepatic progenitor cells, indicating that wnt3 may take part in the progress of hepatic fibrosis.