Hypoxia induces epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in human tongue squamous cell carcinoma via hypoxia inducible factor-1α

doi:10.19438/j.cjoms.2017.02.008

Abstract

Abstract: PURPOSE : To investigate the effect of hypoxia on epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in human tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC) and the role of HIF-1α in this process. METHODS : TSCC cell lines SCC9 and CAL27 were cultured under hypoxia (1% O₂) or normoxia (20% O₂) for 48 h. Western blot and qRT-PCR were used to detect expression of vimentin, fibronectin, E-cadherin and HIF-1α at protein and mRNA level, respectively. Transwell assay was used to detect cell invasion. After transfected HIF-1α with siRNA, HIF-1α, vimentin, fibronectin and E-cadherin expression, as well as invasion, were furthered detected in SCC9 and CAL27 cells. SPSS 13.0 software package was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS : Both SCC9 and CAL27 cells under hypoxia for 48 h showed upregulated vimentin and fibronectin, downregulated E-cadherin and upregulated HIF-1α expression, as well as increased invasion. After knocking down of HIF-1α with siRNA, HIF-1α, vimentin and fibronectin were significantly downregulated but E-cadherin was upregulated in SCC9 and CAL27 cells under hypoxia, with decreased invasion. CONCLUSION : Hypoxia induces epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and metastasis of TSCC via upregulating HIF-1α.

Key words: Hypoxia, Tongue squamous cell carcinoma, Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, HIF-1α

CLC Number:

R739.8

WU Ze-jian, ZHOU Bin, CHEN Wei-sheng, WU Xiao-ping, HUANG Zhi-quan. Hypoxia induces epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in human tongue squamous cell carcinoma via hypoxia inducible factor-1α[J]. China Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, 2017, 15(2): 136-141.

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