缺氧微环境对胰腺癌细胞发生上皮向间叶转化的诱导作用

Objective To investigate whether hypoxic environment can promote the metastasis of pancreatic cancer cells by inducing epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT). Methods The Panc-1 cells were cultured in hypoxia environment. After cultured for indicated periods, the in vitro invasive ability of Pane-1 cells was compared with normoxia group using Transwell invasion assay. The epithelial marker E-cadherin and the mesenchymal marker vimentin were assayed by Western blot. The expression of Snail, a strong activator of EMT, was detected by real-time PCR. The HIF-1 α encoding cDNA was transiently trans-fected into the Pane-1 cells, and the E-cadherin and vimentin were analyzed. Results The number of cells invading to the lower side of the membrane under hypoxia was ( 121±5 ), whereas only ( 84±3 ) in no-morxia group ( P < 0.05 ). The relative expression of E-cadherin in normoxia, hyoxia groups at 12,24,48 hwas (0.59±0.04 vs 54.00±0.05,0.45±0.10,0.36±0.03 ), and that of vimentin was (0.36±0.05, 0.41±0.04,0.48±0.06,0.58±0.05 ) ( P < 0.05 ). The relative expression of Snail mRNA was in-creased in hypoxia environment, and the difference was significant after 72 h ( P < 0.05 ). Before and after HIF-1α cDNA was transfected into the Panc-1 cells, the relative expression of E-cadherin was 0.63± 0.05, and 0.47±0.07, and that of vimentin was 0.47±0.07, and 0.32±0.04 respectively ( P < 0.05 ). Conclusion Hypoxia microenvironment can activate HIF-1α and Snail to trigger EMT of pancreatic cancer cells.

The epithelial to mesenchymal transition of pancreatic cancer cells under hypoxia