title: Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1 activation mediates epithelial to mesenchymal transition in hepatocellular carcinoma cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the molecular mechanism of Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1 (VEGFR-1) in invasion and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction was performed to test expression of VEGFR-1 and its ligand VEGF-B19 in four hepatoma carcinoma cell. Fluorescent immunohistochemistry and western blotting were used to test the change of expression of E-cadherin or α-catenin.
  
  
  RESULTS
  VEGF-B-treated cells exhibited a change in E-cadherin from an organized, membrane-bound structure to a disorganized state that was dispersed throughout the cytoplasm. The maximal changes in E-cadherin were observed 24 hr after treatment of cells with VEGF-B. α-catenin was observed to translocate to the nucleus from its usual membrane-bound location 24 hr after treatment with either VEGF-B. Expression of the epithelial adhesion molecules E-cadherin was observed to decrease 48 hours after VEGF-B treatment. The nuclear expression of α-catenin was observed to increase 24 hr after treatment with VEGF-B.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  VEGFR-1 on tumor cells may contribute to the aggressive behavior of hepatocellular carcinoma cells by inducing epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT). Targeting VEGFR-1 and downstream mediators of EMT may provide the foundation for the development of novel therapeutic approaches for this morbid and lethal disease.
authors.affiliation: Liver Disease Center of the First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China.
authors.forename: Zeng Yong
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Yi
authors.forename: Liu Jing
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Zhang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Xiang
authors.forename: Huang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yao
mesh_terms: D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000473:pathology*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D058750:Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D042561:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor B / Q000494:pharmacology; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1 / Q000502:physiology*; D051178:alpha Catenin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015820:Cadherins; C467485:VEGFB protein, human; D042561:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor B; D051178:alpha Catenin; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1