Figure 4

The β2-M-induced inhibition of HFE reversed the EMT process. (A) Immunoprecipitation using a monoclonal anti-β2-M Ab and an anti-HFE Ab. Western blot analysis of HFE. An IgG Ab was used as a control. (B) Western blot analysis of HFE and EMT markers (E-cadherin, vimentin, and α-SMA) in control and HFE knockdown HK-2 cells. (C) Graphical representation of relative HFE, E-cadherin, vimentin, and α-SMA protein abundances after normalization with β-actin as indicated. The data are presented as the mean ± SE of three experiments. **P < 0.05 versus controls. (D) HFE knockdown in HK-2 cells blocked β2-M activity and induced epithelial-like phenotypic changes. Photographs were taken using a Nikon TMS microscope at 400x magnification.