The effect of total saponins of Schizocapsa plantaginea Hance on epithelial-mesenchymal transition of rat hepatic oval cell line WB-F344

Objective: To investigate the effect and mechanism of total saponins of Schizocapsa plantaginea Hance (SSPHs) on epithelial mesenchymal transformation (EMT) of rat hepatic oval cells WB-F344 induced by transforming growth factor- β1 (TGF- β1). Methods: WB- F344 cells were divided into control group, model group, low - , medium - and high- dose SSPHs groups and PI3K/AKT signaling pathway inhibitor LY294002 group. Except the control group, all the other groups were induced with 10 μg/L TGF-β1 to establish the EMT model. MTT assay and cell scratch assay were used to detect cell proliferation and migration. Reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) and western blotting were used to detect the mRNA and protein expression of E-cadherin, N-cadherin and Vimentin, respectively. The expression of key proteins in PI3K/AKT signaling pathway was detected by western blotting. Results: SSPHs inhibited the proliferation of TGF-β1-induced WB-F344 cells, with a half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) value of 3.02 μg/mL at 24 hours. Compared with the control group, the model group showed significantly increased mRNA and protein expression levels of N- cadherin and Vimentin, significantly decreased mRNA and protein expression of E- cadherin, and significantly increased ratio of p-PI3K/PI3K and p-AKT /AKT (all P＜0.05). Compared with the model group, N-cadherin and Vimentin mRNA and protein expression was down-regulated, E-cadherin mRNA and protein expression was upregulated, and P-PI3K/PI3K and P-AkT/AKT ratios were decreased in the THE SSPHs medium and high-dose groups (all P＜0.05), with results similar to those observed in the LY294002 group (all P＜0.05). Conclusion: SSPHs can inhibit the EMT process in TGF-β1-induced WB-F344 cells, and its mechanism may be related to the inhibition of PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.