WISP-1 induces epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) functioning via E-cadherin downregulation. (A,B) SCC4 cells were treated with different concentrations of WISP-1 (0–30 ng/mL) for 24 h; cell migration and cell-scattering phenotype were analyzed by wound healing and scatter assays, respectively. Images of living cells were captured by microscope and the width of the gap in each scratch was measured by ImageJ software. (C,D) Cells were incubated with different concentrations of WISP-1 (0–30 ng/mL) for 24 h and EMT marker expression was evaluated by qPCR and Western blot assay. The α-tubulin content was used to normalize for levels of E-cadherin protein. (E) E-cadherin mRNA expression in tumor tissue and adjacent normal tissue was determined in TCGA database records. Mean levels (ranges) of mRNA expression in normal and tumor samples, respectively: 10,660 (2858.6–17,763.1), 9095 (4.929–18,812.1); log2(fold-change): –0.229. Results are expressed as the mean ± SEM. * p < 0.05 compared with the control group.