Downregulation of Hiwi increases the level of E-cadherin and decreases the levels of N-cadherin, vimentin and snail. (A) The level of E-cadherin protein was detected using western blotting. (B) The relative level of E-cadherin protein was calculated using β-actin as the internal reference. (C) Western blotting was used to detect the protein level of N-cadherin. (D) The relative expression level of N-cadherin was calculated using β-actin as the internal reference. (E) The protein level of vimentin was detected by western blotting. (F) The relative level of vimentin protein was calculated using β-actin as an internal reference. (G) Western blotting was used to detect the level of snail protein. (H) The relative level of snail protein was calculated using β-actin as the internal reference. All experiments were repeated three times, and the results are presented as the mean ± standard deviation. *P<0.05 vs. control cells. **P<0.01, ***P<0.001 vs. control cells. siRNA, small interfering RNA; SNAIL, zinc finger protein SNAI1.