Figure 7

DKK1 regulates the expression of MMP7. A: Ectopic expression of DKK1 increased the mRNA and protein expression of MMP7 in HepG2 cells. HepG2 cells without transfection (lane 1) or transfected with Vector (lane 2) or DKK1 (lane 3) were analyzed using RT-PCR and western blotting. B: Knockdown of DKK1 suppressed the MMP7 mRNA and protein level in Bel7402 cells. RT-PCR and western blotting analysis were respectively used to detect the RNA and protein level of MMP7 in Bel7402 cells without transfection or cell transfected with shControl or shDKK1. GAPDH and β-Actin were used as internal controls. C: β-catenin inhibitor inhibited the expression of MMP7 in Bel7402 cells. Bel7402 cells were treated without or with various concentration of β-catenin inhibitor (IWP-2) for 24 h, and then the whole cell lysates were analyzed by western blotting for MMP7 expression, β-actin served as internal control. D: Transient expression of MMP7 in HepG2 cells detected by RT-PCR analysis. HepG2 cells without transfection (lane 1) or transfected with Vector (lane 2) or DKK1 (lane 3) were analyzed using RT-PCR. E: Upregulation of MMP7 mimicked the pro-invasion effect of DKK1 overexpression. HepG2 cells transfected with empty vector (pCMV6-XL5) or pCMV6-XL5-MMP7 were applied to transwell chamber coated with Matrigel. The data are represented as mean ± SEM. **, p <0.01.