HGF induces EMT in non-small-cell lung cancer through the hBVR pathway

The epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a crucial event during non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) invasion and metastasis. However, the mechanisms involved in NSCLC EMT have not been fully clarified. Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and human biliverdin reductase (hBVR) are reported to contribute to EMT in several diseases. Here, we show that compared with transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β), fibroblast growth factor (FGF), and epidermal growth factor (EGF), HGF is an important cell factor for EMT in NSCLC cell lines A549 and H460. Met protein, HGF receptors, and hBVR were found to be highly expressed and positively correlated with EMT in NSCLC tissue sections. In addition, HGF and hBVR induced a decrease in epithelial protein marker expression and an increase in mesenchymal protein marker expression as well as increased cellular migration and invasion, indicating that both HGF and hBVR mediate EMT in A549 and H460 cell lines. Furthermore, HGF-induced EMT and migration and invasion in both cell lines was inhibited by si-hBVR. Taken together, our data show that HGF induces EMT in NSCLC through the hBVR pathway.