Objective To investigate the effect of hypoxia on epithelia-mesenchymal transition of prostate cancer cells PC3.

Methods PC3 cells were cultured under aerobic condition (Normal group) and hypoxia condition (Hypoxia group) for 24 h, respectively. Then, the ability of proliferation was detected by MTT, the ability of invasion was assayed by Transwell, and the protein expressions of HIF-1α, E-cadherin, N-cadherin and Vimentin were assayed by Western blot. Meanwhile, PC3 cells were treated with siRNA to inhibit expression of HIF-1α under aerobic condition and then the protein expressions of HIF-1α E-caldherin, N-cadherin and Vimentin were assayed by Western blot.

Results Compared with Normal group, the abilities of cell invasion and proliferation were significantly enhanced by hypoxia; and the protein expressions of HIF-1α(P=0.0004), N-cadherin(P<0.0001) and Vimentin(P<0.0001) were significantly increased, but the protein expression of E-cadherin(P<0.0001) was significantly decreased in Hypoxia group; meanwhile, hypoxia promoted HIF-1α to translocate to nucleus.Furthermore, compared with normal group, inhibition expression of HIF-1α by siRNA significantly decreased the protein expressions of N-cadherin(P=0.0002) and Vimentin(P=0.0002), but significantly increased the protein expression of E-cadherin(P<0.0001). C onclusion Hypoxia might promote epithelia-mesenchymal transition of prostate cancer cells PC3 via regulating the expression of HIF-1α.