Macrophage secretory products induce an inflammatory phenotype in hepatocytes

Figure 3 Expression of E-cadherin is reduced and vimentin is increased in hepatocytes treated with macrophage-conditioned media. A, D: Following culture in complete media or 50% macrophage-conditioned media (MφCM) for 24 h, E-cadherin (A) and vimentin (D) mRNA levels in HepG2 and Huh7 cells were measured by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Results are expressed as fold of untreated cells (mean ± SEM, n = 8) (P < 0.05 vs untreated); B, C: Immunofluorescence staining for E-cadherin (green) in untreated (B) and MφCM-treated (C) Huh7 cells; E, F: Immunofluorescence staining for vimentin (green) in untreated (E) and MφCM-treated (F) Huh7 cells. 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole stained nuclei blue (63 × magnification). Untr: Untreated.