Protein arginine methyltransferase 7 induces epithelial-mesenchymal transition andpromotes metastasis in hepatocellular carcinoma

Abstract

Objective To study the relationship between protein arginine methyltransferase 7 (PRMT7)expression and hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)cell line metastatic potential and epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT). Methods Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blotting were applied to detect PRMT7 expression of HCC lines L02, Hep3B, Huh7, MHCC97H, LM3.Markers of EMT, matrix metalloproteinase(MMP)-2, MMP-9 and invasion and migration capacity were studied after inhibiting or overexpressing PRMT7 expression. Results The PRMT7 expression was leveled with increasing metastasis potential of cell lines.EMT, MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression, invasion(2. 35±0. 34 vs.3. 11±1. 09 vs.11. 92± 2. 32)and migration(4. 50±2. 17 vs.3. 43±1. 29 vs.13. 21±2. 27) capacity were promoted after PRMT7 were overexpressed of Huh7 cell with lowly metastasis potential, on the contrary, EMT and invasion(19. 01±1. 88 vs.21. 02±2. 14 vs.10. 15±1. 52)and metastasis(22. 55±3. 06 vs.23. 93± 4. 08 vs.13. 11±1. 31) capacity were repressed after the expression of PRMT7 were inhibited of LM3 cell lines. Conclusion Expression of PRMT7 is correlated with metastasis and EMT in HCC. Key words: Carcinoma, hepatocellular; Protein arginine methyltransferase 7; Epithelialmesenchymal transition; Hetastasis