[Expression of IκBα in bladder cancer cell lines is negatively correlated with epithelial-mesenchymal transition and cell invasion in vitro].

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression of inhibitor of nuclear factor κBα (IκBα) in bladder cancer cell lines and its correlation with epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and invasive potential in vitro. METHODS: The expressions of IκBα, epithelia cadherin (E-cadherin), neuronal cadherin (N-cadherin) and vimentin in human bladder cancer RT4, 5637, 235J, J82 and T24 cell lines were detected by Western blotting. Invasive potential of these cell lines was evaluated by Transwell(TM) assay. In addition, morphological characteristics of those cells were carefully observed under a microscope. RESULTS: RT4 and 5637 cells exhibited epithelial cell morphological features, but 253J, J82 and T24 cells had mesenchymal cell morphological features. E-cadherin was over-expressed in RT4 and 5637 cell lines, but the expressions of vimentin and N-cadherin could not been detected in the two cells. E-cadherin could be detected in 253J cells with a lower expression level; J82 and T24 cells had no expression of E-cadherin; vimentin and N-cadherin were highly expressed in 253J, J82 and T24 cells. Transwell(TM) assay showed higher invasive potential of 253J, J82 and T24 cells than RT4 and 5637 cells in vitro. In addition, RT4 and 5637 cells expressed higher levels of IκBα than 253J, J82 and T24 cells. CONCLUSION: Expression of IκBα in human bladder cancer cells is negatively correlated with EMT and tumor invasion in vitro.