Figure 4.

IL-6/STAT3 pathway was involved closely in hypoxia-driven EMT phenotype of HCC cells. A. Hypoxia culture increased the expression of HIF-1α, SNAI1, N-cadherin, Vimentin, repressed E-cadherin expression, and enhanced the phosphorylation of STAT3 protein in Huh7 cells. Knockdown of STAT3 by siRNA sequences decreased p-STAT3 expression and inhibited the impact of hypoxia culture on the expression of HIF-1α and EMT markers. B. Wound healing assay showed that hypoxia culture reinforced the migratory capacity of Huh7 cells, and after silencing STAT3, hypoxia culture did not increase migration of Huh7 cells. C. As assessed by Transwell chamber coated with Matrigel, hypoxia culture promoted invasion of Huh7 cells apparently. And knockdown of STAT3 suppressed the pro-invasion effect of hypoxia in Huh7 cells. D. MTT assay showed that hypoxia enhanced the viability of Huh7 cells and silencing STAT3 attenuated the pro-growth action of hypoxia in Huh7 cells.