Iodine-125 Seeds Inhibit Carcinogenesis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells by Suppressing Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition via TGF-β1/Smad Signaling

Figure 7

Graphical abstract: TGF-β signaling mediates EMT. (a) TGF-β is an important player in the activation of EMT, which is characterized by downregulation of epithelial markers and upregulation of mesenchymal markers. TGF-β via either Smad or non-Smad signaling can promote EMT. The polyhedral fibroblasts were replaced by typical cobblestone like epithelioid cells when EMT takes place. The certain radiation of gamma-ray dose from I-125 seed increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in almost tested cells, which shows downregulation of TGF-β1, Smad2, Snail, N-cadherin, and vimentin in our tested cells by RT-PCR and WB assay. Inhibition of the TGF-β1/Smad signaling pathway causes the inhibition of invasion and metastasis. The diagram has been partly adapted from the concepts of ref. 34, 35.