Paraquat promotes the epithelial-mesenchymal transition in alveolar epithelial cells through regulating the Wnt/β-catenin signal pathway

S.-D. Su, S.-G. Cong, Y.-K. Bi, D.-D. Gao

Department of ICU, Daqing Oilfield General Hospital, Daqing, Heilongjiang, China. 540672122@qq.com

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• Pharmacology

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether paraquat (PQ)-induced rat alveolar type II cells (RLE-6TN) epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and to explore the underlying molecular mechanism.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the present study, RLE-6TN cells were treated by 20 μmol/L PQ, and then the morphology was observed under an inverted microscope; RT-PCR and Western blot were performed to detect the expression level of EMT related markers, E-cadherin, and vimentin, as well as Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. In addition, we performed the transwell invasion assay to detect the ability of cell invasion.

RESULTS: We demonstrated that PQ was able to induce the transition of RLE-6TN cells from epithelial morphology to fibroblast-like morphology, associated with the acquisition of migratory properties. Phenotypically, PQ induced-EMT was characterized by loss of epithelial cell markers including E-cadherin, while upregulation of mesenchymal cell markers including vimentin, was concurrent with the activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Furthermore, knockdown of β-catenin by using specific siRNA could reverse PQ triggered EMT process and attenuated cell migration ability.

CONCLUSIONS: PQ promotes RLE-6TN epithelial-mesenchymal transition by upregulating the expression of Wnt/β-catenin.

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