GLI-1 facilitates the EMT induced by TGF-β1 in gastric cancer

OBJECTIVE: To explore how GLI-1 affects the EMT induced by TGF-beta 1 in gastric cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Following 24 hours of culture of SGC-7901 cells in presence of TGF-beta 1, we observed the changes in morphology as well as mRNA and protein expressions of GLI-1, E-cadherin and Vimentin by RT-PCR and Western blot. Transwell assay was conducted to evaluate the changes in invasion ability of SGC-7901 cells. Then. SGC-7901 cells were co-treated with TGF-beta 1 and GANT 61, and changes of the above indexes were also detected using the corresponding methods. RESULTS: In presence of TGF-beta 1, EMT was initiated in SGC-7901 cells EMT with increased cell invasion ability, and the mRNA and protein expressions of E-cadherin were downregulated, while those of the GLI-1 and Vimentin were upregulated. Conversely, the co-treatment of TGF-beta 1 and GANT 61 suppressed the increased cell invasion ability induced only by TGF-beta 1, and the changes in mRNA and protein expressions of these factors were abolished. CONCLUSIONS: We found that GLI-1 facilitates the EMT induced by TGF-beta 1 in SGC-7901 cells, which may serve as a potential target in developing the clinical treatment of gastric cancer.