Dexamethasone inhibits hypoxia-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition in colon cancer

Figure 1 Effects of dexamethasone on vascular endothelial growth factor and hypoxia-inducible factor-1α expression in HCT116 and HT29 cells under hypoxia. A and B: RNA was extracted from cells treated with DEX (100, 200 nmol/L) and/or hypoxia for 24 (A) or 72 h (B). VEGF mRNA expression was analyzed by qPCR and normalized to glyceraldehyde phosphate dehydrogenase. DEX-treated HCT116 and HT29 cells in hypoxic conditions displayed the reduction of VEGF mRNA level; C and D: HIF-1α and β-actin protein expression in cells treated with DEX (50, 100, and 200 nmol/L) and/or hypoxia for 24 h was assessed by western blot analysis. HIF-1α protein level was inhibited in HCT116 and HT29 cells treated with DEX under hypoxic conditions. The error bar represents the standard deviation. ^aP < 0.05 vs hypoxia-only group. DEX: Dexamethasone; VEGF: Vascular endothelial growth factor; HIF-1α: Hypoxia-inducible factor-1α; N: Normoxia; H: Hypoxia; qPCR: Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction.