Effect of Rapamycin on TGF-β1- induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition in LoVo colonic adenocarcinoma cells

Objective:To investigate the effect of Rapamycin on epithelial-mesenchyrnal transition(EMT) of LoVo colonic adenocarcinoma cells in vitro.Methods:Cultured LoVo colonic adenocarcinoma cells were divided into three groups: negative control group,EMT-inducing group(TGF-β1) and EMT-interfering group(TGF-β1 plus Rapamycin).E-cadherin expression in LoVo cells was detected by Western Blot,while the expression of vimentin was evaluated through immunocytochemistry.The Snail mRNA in LoVo cells was examined by RT-PCR.Results:TGF-β1 induced LoVo cell switching from polygonal to spindle-shaped.TGF-β1 enhanced the expression of vimentin,but lowered the level of E-cadherin.In contrast,Rapamycin impaired the transition induced by TGF-β1.Rapamycin dramatically abrogated TGF-β1-induced vimentin expression and restored E-cadherin expression in LoVo cells.Rapamycin significantly repressed the up-regulation of Snail mRNA expression induced by TGF-β1.Conclusion:Rapamycin dramatically abrogated TGF-β1 induced Snail mRNA expression in LoVo cells,hence inhibiting EMT of these cells in vitro.