Effect of Berbamine on Migration and Invasion of Human Liver Cancer SMMC-7721 Cells

OBJECTIVE To study the effect and possible mechanism of berbamine on migration and invasion of human liver cancer SMMC-7721 cells. METHODS After SMMC-7721 cells were incubated with different concentration berbamine in vitro. The cell survival rate was assessed by MTT assay. The effect of berbamine on the migration and invasion of SMMC-7721 cells were detected by wound healing and transwell assays. The expression of E-cadherin and Vimentin protein involved in epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) was determined by Western blot assay. RESULTS MTT results showed berbamine exhibited no effect on SMMC-7721 cell survival rate in a range of concentrations. Both wound healing and transwell results showed that berbamine inhibited the migration and invasion of SMMC-7721 cells in a concentration-dependent manner. The Western blot assay confirmed that berbamine could decrease the expression of Vimentin, and increase the expression of E-cadherin. CONCLUSION Berbamine could influence the SMMC-7721 cells migration and invasion, which might be associated with the regulation of the expression of proteins involved in EMT.