Reverse effect of shikonin on epithelial-mesenchymal transition induced by HGF in lung cancer cells

AIM:To investigate the effects of shikonin on the migration, invasion and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in human non-small-cell lung cancer PC9 cells induced by hepatocyte growth factor (HGF). METHODS:The effect of shikonin on the viability of PC9 cells was measured by MTT assay. The cell migration and invasion abilities were analyzed by wound healing assay and Transwell method, respectively. The protein expression levels of E-cadherin, N-cadherin and vimentin in the PC9 cells were determined by Western blot. RESULTS:The viability of PC9 cells was significantly inhibited by shikonin in a dose-dependent manner (P<0.01), with IC₅₀ at 9.364 μmol/L. HGF significantly promoted the abilities of migration and invasion, and induced EMT in the PC9 cells. Shikonin significantly inhibited HGF-induced migration and invasion in the PC9 cells. The expression of E-cadherin was significantly down-regulated and the expression of N-cadherin and vimentin was significantly up-regulated in the presence of HGF (50 μg/L). However, shikonin reversed HGF-induced EMT, as indicated by up-regulation of E-cadherin and down-regulation of N-cadherin and vimentin (P<0.01). CONCLUSION:Shikonin reverses HGF-induced EMT in lung cancer PC9 cells.