酸性环境诱导肝癌HepG2细胞EMT

目的 研究酸性环境对肝癌HepG2细胞上皮细胞间质转化(EMT)的影响。方法分别在酸性和碱性条件下培养HepG2细胞,观察细胞形态的区别。划痕实验检测两组细胞的迁移能力,Matrigel侵袭实验检测细胞的侵袭能力。RT-PCR检测两组细胞EMT相关基因mRNA的表达水平,Western blot检测两组细胞EMT相关基因蛋白的表达水平。结果 酸性条件下培养的HepG2细胞形态明显从上皮型转变为间质型;酸性条件下HepG2细胞的迁移能力明显强于碱性条件下;酸性条件下HepG2细胞穿越Matrigel的数量明显多于碱性条件下;酸性条件下HepG2细胞EMT相关基因Vimentin、Slug、Snail及Zeb1的mRNA表达以及EMT相关蛋白Vimentin和MMP9的表达强度均明显高于碱性条件下。结论 酸性环境能诱导肝癌HepG2细胞EMT的发生。

Acid conditions induces EMT of hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells

Objective The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of acidic conditions on epithelial mesenchymal transition(EMT) of HepG2 cells.Methods HepG2 cells were cultured under acidic and alkaline conditions to observe the difference of cell morphology.Wound healing assays were performed to detect the migration ability of the two groups.Matrigel invasion assays were used to detect the invasive ability of the cells.The expression of EMT-related genes at mRNA level was detected by RT-PCR.The expression level of EMT-related gene protein was detected by Western blot.Results The morphology of HepG2 cells was changed from epithelium to interstitial type under acid conditions.The migration ability of HepG2 cells under acidic condition was stronger than that of alkaline conditions.The number of HepG2 cells crossing Matrigel was higher than that of alkaline condition.The mRNA expression of Vimentin,Slug,Snail and Zeb1 related to EMT and the protein expression of Vimentin and MMP9 related to EMT in HepG2 cells were significantly higher than those under alkaline condition.Conclusion The acid conditions can induce the occurrence of EMT in HepG2 cells.