EMT and Stem Cell-Like Properties Associated with HIF-2α Are Involved in Arsenite-Induced Transformation of Human Bronchial Epithelial Cells
Figure 1
Chronic exposure to arsenite induces EMT in HBE cells.
Abbreviations: E-cad, E-cadherin; N-cad, N-cadherin; Vim, vimentin. Densities of bands were quantified by Eagle Eye II software. GAPDH levels, measured in parallel, served as controls. HBE cells were exposed to 0.0 or 1.0 µM arsenite for 0, 5, 10 or 15 weeks. (A) Morphology of HBE cells during arsenite treatment for 0, 5, 10, and 15 weeks; bars = 250 µm, or bars = 100 µm. The mRNA levels of E-cadherin, N-cadherin, and vimentin were determined by RT-PCR (B) and by quantitative RT-PCR (C, means ± SD, n = 3) after HBE cells were exposed to 0.0 or 1.0 µM arsenite for 0, 5, 10 or 15 weeks. *P<0.05 difference from control HBE cells. Western blots (D) and relative protein levels (E, means ± SD, n = 3) of E-cadherin, N-cadherin, and vimentin in HBE cells exposed to arsenite for 0, 5, 10, or 15 weeks. (F) Immuofluorescence staining of E-cadherin and vimentin in HBE cells for the indicated times. Red represents E-cadherin and vimentin staining. Blue represents nuclear DNA staining by DAPI; bars = 25 µm.