TGF-β1 promotes human hepatic carcinoma HepG2 cells invasion by upregulating autophagy

C.-L. Ma, S. Qiao, Y.-C. Li, X.-F. Wang, R.-J. Sun, X. Zhang, R.-K. Qian, S.-D. Song

Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, No. 1 People’s Hospital in Jining, Shandong Jining, China. qiaosen12345@126.com

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• Oncology

OBJECTIVE: To study the role of TGF-β1 in autophagy and invasion ability of human hepatic carcinoma HepG2 cells.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cultured HepG2 cells were treated with different concentrations of TGF-β1 for 24 h. The protein expression levels of autophagy relative marker LC3 and Beclin1 were detected by Western blot. The effect of TGF-β1 on invasion ability of HepG2 cells was detected with transwell method.

RESULTS: The results demonstrated that TGF-β1 was able to activate autophagy of HepG2 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine (3-MA) could reverse TGF-β1 induced autophagy process. Also, TGF-β1 significantly promotes the invasion ability of HepG2 cells; however, this process could effectively reverse by autophagy inhibitor 3-MA.

CONCLUSIONS: TGF-β1 enhances HepG2 cells invasion by upregulating autophagy.

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