Figure 1

Over expression of miR-429 induces morphological and molecular changes consistent with the induction of MET. (A) Representative phase contrast microscopy images of HEY A8 cells transfected with (i) nc-miR and (ii) miR-429, and SKOV-3 cells transfected with (iii) nc-miR and (iv) miR-429, 48 hours post transfection. Scale bars, 50 μm. (B) The accumulation of rounded epithelial-like cells occurred in miR-429 transfected groups (eccentricity: a score of 0 = circular shape, a score of 1 = linear shape). Values represent mean ± standard error of the mean (SEM). Significance of differences between experimental and control samples is evaluated using Mann-Whitney U test (*P <0.05, **P <0.005, n = 127-258 cells analyzed per group). (C) Relative mRNA expression of representative epithelial and mesenchymal biomarkers. Expression values in miR-429 transfection are normalized to negative control in each cell line and represent mean ± SEM of three biological replicates each performed in three technical replicates. Asterisks represent significant differences from the negative control (*P <0.005, **P < 0.0005, Student’s t-test).