Carcinogenesis, Teratogenesis & Mutagenesis ›› 2017, Vol. 29 ›› Issue (6): 411-417.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1004-616x.2017.06.002

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Alteration of mitochondrial synthesis and function in epithelial-mesenchymal transition by TGF-β1

ZHANG Jiaxin, LIU Ying, ZHANG Wei, ZHOU Qingbiao, KONG Deqin, LIU Rui, HAI Chunxu   

  1. Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Shaanxi Key Lab of Free Radical Biology and Medicine, Medical University of the Air Force, Xi'an 710032, Shaanxi, China
  • Received:2017-05-15 Revised:2017-09-11 Online:2017-11-30 Published:2017-11-30

Abstract: OBJECTIVE:To investigate changes of ROS and mitochondria on epithelial-mesenchymal transition. METHODS:Human lung cancer A549 cells were divided into control and treated groups. The latter were treated with different concentrations of TGF-β1 (0,2.5,5,10,20,40 ng/mL) and morphological changes were observed after 48 hours. In addition,cell viability was detected by using the CCK-8 kit and cell apoptosis by flow cytometry. DCFH fluorescent probe,MitoSOX fluorescent probe and Rhodamine-123 staining were used to detect ROS and changes in mitochondrial membrane potential, respectively. The content of ATP was detect by using the enhanced ATP kit. The epithelial-mesenchymal transition-related markers and mitochondrial-related proteins were detected by Western blot. RESULTS:The treated groups showed major differences from the control group:cell viability increased gradually and showed a dose-effect relationship with increased concentrations of TGF-β1 (r=0.941,P < 0.05);there was a significant difference on cell apoptosis after treatment with 5-20 ng/mL TGF-β1;mesenchymal cells were observed after treatment with TGF-β1 for 48 hours, indicating the appearance of epithelial mesenchymal transition;Western blot showed that the expression of epithelial marker E-cadherin decreased gradually and the expression of mesenchymal marker α-SMA increased gradually (P < 0.05);the detection of intracellular reactive oxygen showed that treatment with 5-20 ng/mL TGF-β1 induced generation of ROS and mitochondrial ROS (P < 0.05);mitochondrial membrane potential declined as indicated by fluorescence intensity (P < 0.05);the content of ATP also decreased (P < 0.05);and expression of mitochondrial-related proteins were downregulated (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION:TGF-β1 caused increase of reactive oxygen species which led to the occurrence of mitochondrial dysfunction and promotion of EMT.

Key words: epithelial mesenchymal transition, reactive oxygen species, mitochondrial dysfunction

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