Expressions of epithelial-mesenchymal transition-associated genes in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells / 西安交通大学学报(医学版)

ABSTRACT

Objective: To investigate the expressions of molecular markers associated with epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells so as to lay foundation for determining related HCC cells model. Methods: We detected the mRNA and protein expression levels of EMT-associated genes, including E-cadherin, ZO-1, N-cadherin, Vimentin, Snail and Slug in five HCC cell lines, using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis, Western blot and immunofluorescence. Results: The mRNA of EMT-associated genes was expressed in all of the five cell lines. The expressions of E-cadherin, ZO-1, N-cadherin and Slug protein were detected in all of the five cell lines. Vimentin protein was found in SNU368, SNU739, HLF and MHCC97L cells. Snail protein was detected in SNU368, SNU739, Huh-1 and MHCC97L cells. Conclusion: HLF seems to display the phenotype of mesenchymal cells whereas Huh-1 and SNU368 remain the epithelial phenotype.